jalapeño

Let’s Talk Nachos

May 8, 2013 | 21 Comments

Doesn’t it seem like there’s an expert on everything these days?

Surfing experts!
Snake handling experts!
Couponing experts!
I even tuned into the TODAY Show the other day and found Natalie and Savannah being schooled by a dishwasher loading expert! (At which point I questioned, for the 121st time, why I watch The Today Show!)

I have never climbed on a surf board, I generally try to avoid snakes and coupon clipping, and, as A. will most certainly confirm, I am far from an expert when it comes to loading my poor, put-upon dishwasher.

I am, however, a confirmed Nacho Expert, both in terms of preparation and consumption.

And today, I’d like to share some of my most expert tips with you.

Expert! Get ready!

Filed Under: Snacks & Starters Tagged With: avocado, cheddar cheese, guasacaca, jalapeño, Monterey Jack cheese, nachos, pickled chiles, recipe, roasted chickpeas, salsa, savory, tortilla chips

Shrimp Tacos + Coconut Avocado Crema

April 30, 2013 | 14 Comments

What You’ll Be Eating This Cinco de Mayo Week continues with some tacos, some crazy good crema, and some truth talk: tell me true – do you ever find yourself becoming that person???

That person who insists on humming along with the radio throughout an entire 8 hour road trip?
That person who puts empty milk and juice cartons back into the fridge?
That person with that habit you swore you’d never, ever, ever, never -not EVER- be like?

Don’t forget, this is truth talk time…

Filed Under: Main Courses Tagged With: avocado, coconut, crema, flour tortilla, grilled shrimp taco, jalapeño, lime juice, recipe, roasted pepper, savory

Loaded Guacamole Tostada Towers

January 14, 2013 | 64 Comments

This is a special time of year, don’t you think?

Let’s look at the facts:

1. It’s cold outside. Which means you want to stay inside. And probably eat a little more than usual.

2. There are a lot of entertaining things to watch on the TV these days, while you’re stuck inside. Sporting things. Like that big game coming up that’s so super.

3. When you’re inside, watching super games, eating a little more than usual, it’s much more fun to be sitting on the couch with friends. Eating. Watching. Enjoying. Rather than cooking. Working. And hearing all of the fun being had in the next room.

What does all of this mean? Just one thing: it’s time for some simple, super, social snacks that can be enjoyed by friends on couches in front of TVs across the land.

Towering avocado tostadas to the rescue!

I love serving these tostada towers because they are impossibly simple to prepare, incredibly fun to share with friends, and absolutely, absolutely delicious. Plop a platter in front of your couch-sitting friends and watch them disappear – each friend simply pulls off a layer and puts it in their face!

Preparing these babies is the simple work of smashing Avocados From Mexico, then stirring in a few additional ingredients designed to make the fresh, ripe flesh shine: plump cherry tomatoes to bring out the avocados’ natural sweetness, herbaceous cilantro and chives to emphasize their earthy flavor, and of course, bright lime juice and jalapeño to kick things up a notch. Crisp tostada shells provide a vehicle for all of that deliciousness, and stacking them up means you can make a game out of your snacks. Tostada Jenga, anyone?

Filed Under: Snacks & Starters Tagged With: Avocados From Mexico, cherry tomato, chive, cilantro, garlic, guacamole, jalapeño, lime juice, recipe, savory, tortilla, tostada

My Family’s Favorite Green Beans

November 14, 2012 | 27 Comments

I’ve been doing a fair amount of nervous-anxious-comfort eating lately. Here’s what that looks like:

Gee, that doughnut sure looks good. And so does that cupcake. Hey! You got your doughnut on my cupcake! And you got your cupcake on my doughnut! Nothing left to do but eat the whole dang mess…

It’s fifty shades of ugly. For sure.

Things came to a head the other night when I sat down next to A. on the couch with my Dignity Droppin’ Dessert du jour and he looked over and actually started laughing. Out loud.

I, of course, responded in the only way possible – with preemptive aggression: “What?!?!”

He, of course, responded in the only way possible – with a life-saving change of subject: “Uh, I just read something funny online. Have you heard this joke about the fiscal cliff?”

Well played, my friend. Well played.

So, you know, it occurred to me that it may be time to start getting some more veggies into my diet. And then I discovered this recipe.

Let’s just say that when you can get a chicken nugget-shoving, cupcake-pounding, queso fundido-funneling girl to look forward to eating fresh green beans, you’re doing something right.

The idea is to char the whole beans in a screaming hot skillet, then toss them with a light and lovely Harissa sauce. It is such a wonderful alternative to the heavy, cream of mushroom soup-laden green beans that we’re all expected to eat this time of year. You might want to considering switching things up at the Thanksgiving table, green bean-wise.

Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged With: Bon Appétit, charred green beans, coriander, cumin, garlic, Harissa, jalapeño, lime juice, recipe, red bell pepper, salt, savory

Tipsy Weekend Salsa

October 22, 2012 | 12 Comments

Sometimes the simplest recipe can end a weekend on the right note…

or start a week off in the perfect way.

Take this salsa borracha, for example: it’s simple, it’s succulent, and it hits all the right garden-fresh notes, with subtle hints of smoky charred chiles and earthy gold tequila. I make it in big batches on Sundays and then serve it with eggs for breakfast, quesadillas for lunch, and a roast and rice for dinner throughout the week. Seriously? Seriously. Simple, simple, simple.

And don’t worry! It’s perfectly fine to make Weekend Salsa on a Monday or Tuesday – the flavor should stay the same. I can’t vouch for any Thursday salsas, though… you’ll have to take on a Thursday Salsa at your own risk.

Filed Under: Condiments & Salsas Tagged With: gold tequila, jalapeño, lime juice, onion, poblano chile, recipe, roasted garlic, salsa borracha, savory, tomato

Weeknight Chorizo Tortilla Pie

August 20, 2012 | 14 Comments

Have I mentioned that I love magazines? I do. Quite a bit. My coffee table looks like something out of a doctor’s office. Minus the stethoscopes, shots, and 63 hour wait.

And pretty much any topic will do: fashion, gossip, travel, what have you.

But the cooking magazines? Oh, the cooking magazines. I read cooking magazines all day, into the night, and then some more the next day.

These are two of my favorite cooking magazines.

Why? Because instead of just doing recipes and commentary from celebrity chefs, they actually get down and dirty with a fair amount of culinary technique and analysis. Things like the proper way to prepare a Bundt pan, or a review of the best tomato pastes. Really great stuff.

Filed Under: Main Courses Tagged With: chorizo, garlic, jalapeño, milk, Monterey Jack cheese, onion, pie, pork, recipe, sausage, savory, tortilla

Monterey-Style Corn

July 24, 2012 | 10 Comments

I may have mentioned that I like to assign themes to my weekends, even when it’s just A. and me.

Themes set the tone. Themes provide direction. Themes get people excited about what’s to come. And everyone can get involved in a theme!

Tell me you’re not going to put your nose to the grindstone to figure out a menu that goes with a ‘Things That Start With ‘F” theme. Or work up a sweat thinking of entertainment options for a ‘Colors Of The Rainbow’-themed weekend? (Green Lantern! Blue Lagoon! Black Swan! Pretty In Pink! [Obvi.])

Themes are just natural party starters.

So color me the giddy planner now that I’ve settled on this coming weekend’s plan: Fresh Stuff.

That’s right - She’s Fresh from Kool & The Gang will be in heavy rotation, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reruns will be all over our TV, and we’ll be eating and drinking all manner of fresh food and beverages for 48 straight hours. I plan to hit up the farmer’s market on Friday and keep the freshness flowing all weekend long in the form of local peaches, some early season Hatch chiles, and tons and TONS of fresh, fresh, fresh corn. I’m going to shuck it myself with these shucking hands. Fresh!

Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged With: butter, cilantro, corn, garlic, green onion, jalapeño, queso Cotija, recipe, salt, savory

Cowboy Beans

May 15, 2012 | 16 Comments

If I was rewriting the lyrics to “I’d Like To Give The World A Coke”, I’m pretty sure it would go something like this:

I’d like to give the world a good, solid, go-to bean recipe.
Soaked overnight, seasoned and flavored.
And, of course, spiced up with a few fresh chiles.
That’s the real thing.

Can’t you just hear it in your head? I can.

Filed Under: Side Dishes Tagged With: bay leaves, cowboy beans, dried beans, frijoles charros, jalapeño, pinto beans, pork hocks, recipe, savory, soaking

Spicy Corn Egg Rolls

January 31, 2012 | 32 Comments

I like parties. Could you tell?

I like planning parties. I like hosting parties. I like attending parties.

Parties. Parties. Parties.

Luckily I don’t have any difficulty finding reasons to party.

Hey, it’s Tuesday. Party time!

Oh, look – you grew out your bangs. Partytown, here we come!

Someone remembered to take out the trash today so the Partytrain’s pulling up and we’re getting on board!

I just think that’s the right way to live.

So it should come as no surprise that while I’m not a football fan, I don’t particularly care for commercials, and I don’t generally enjoy halftime shows, this week is going to be one big fat Super Bowl-themed party at my casa.

Starting today with some spicy, southwestern egg roll business.

And Avocado Crema for dipping. Natch.

Filed Under: Condiments & Salsas, Fried Tagged With: ancho chile, avocado, black bean, corn, cream dip, cumin, fried, jalapeño, recipe, rice, savory, southwestern egg roll

Migas: Back Home Breakfast

August 12, 2011 | 31 Comments

Coming home from vacation is so hard.

Why is there so much junk in the mailbox?
Why is there so much laundry on the floor?
Why is there nothing but condiments in my refrigerator?
Why is my dog attacking my travel loofah?
Why did I think I would need a loofah just for traveling?

Whatever.