Category Archives: Mexican Inspired

Tomatillo Salsa

Posted on by October 26, 2014

This Tomatillo Salsa is a very light and versatile salsa. It’s easy to make side by side with the chili lime chicken filling and pairs nicely. It also taught me how to use cilantro sprigs and I’m all for cutting back on kitchen waste. The Tomatillo Salsa has an interesting appearance because it isn’t a true salsa verde- the pasilla chile and the fresh beefsteak tomato give it a light red color that’s flecked with dark red. ½ pound tomatillos 1 pound beefsteak tomato(es) 2 serrano chiles 1 dried pasilla chile 1 medium onion, cut into wedges 1 garlic clove ½ cup packed cilantro sprigs (the leaves went into the chicken) 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice Salt Preheat the oven to 500° F. Husk and halve the tomatillos. Stemmed and seed the chiles (if you like spicy, keep the seeds from one or both of the serranos). Chop the tomatoes and onions and peel the garlic. On a baking sheet, spread the tomatillos, serranos, pasilla, onion and garlic. Roast the vegetables in the center of the oven for about 15 minutes, turning them once or twice, until softened and lightly browned in spots. Cut the beefsteak tomato into quarters and add … Continue reading →

Chili Lime Chicken Filling for Tamales

Posted on by January 20, 2015

When embarking on my first tamale party, I started with the two fillings from Anna Zepaltas, including this Chili Lime Chicken Filling for Tamales. I also created one of my own. Hers were so good, that I stuck with them for party number two. Her chicken filling is a classic. It’s very flavorful, but simple, and really highlights how good this tamale dough is. If you’ve ever had dried out, too much dough, unbalanced tamales then you’ll appreciate what’s special about these. The dough is flavorful and tender, and pairs perfectly with the spicy, acidic chicken of this Chili Lime Chicken Filling for Tamales. This is one of those meals where you should read all the recipes before you get started. There are lots of tasks that can be undertaken simultaneously, which will make things much more efficient. For example, you’re going to want to prep the sauce for the chick at the same time you make its accompanying Tomatillo Salsa. And you’re going to want to combine their grocery lists as well, for simplicity sake. Also, after the first year, I learned that I’ll have more fun if I don’t make the tamales fillings and assemble the tamales on … Continue reading →

Roasted Chayotes

Posted on by October 26, 2014

Ever heard of Roasted Chayotes? They’re newish to me, particularly as something to cook! In the winter I become desperate for new and interesting vegetables- especially ones that can be served warm. I was first introduced to chayote, as mirliton, via Cajun cooking, but as a member of the gourd family (they’re a squash), they’re prevalent in a lot of Central and South American cooking. I eat them most often in a very cool vinegar salad, but this application is perfect as a side with the tamales. Roasting them showcases their subtle nutty flavor in these Roasted Chayotes. Serves 4 3 pounds chayotes 1 tablespoons olive oil 1 clove of elephant garlic if you can find it or 4-5 garlic cloves sea salt Preheat oven to 400°F.   Peel the chayotes. Halve chayotes lengthwise and discard seeds. Cut into substantial wedges- think 8 per chayote. Chayotes secrete a crazy extract that is hard to wash off your hands and is likely to cause irritation. It doesn’t hurt, but it makes your skin feel tight and even a little numb. Then it looks like it’s cracking and peeling, but I think it’s just the extract still on your hands. I tried to research … Continue reading →

Cranberry Frozen Margaritas

Posted on by February 12, 2015

Despite it being the middle of Winter, the high tomorrow is 61° F, so I feel comfortable getting back on the posting track with cold Cranberry Frozen Margaritas. The cranberries and limes make this Cranberry Frozen Margarita both seasonal and tart, but if you keep them in your freezer, you can have Cranberry Frozen Margaritas year ’round. And I have a great tip if you want to keep it simple, and skip all the juicing. Smoothie making has taught me several things in the last year. The most important: when you’re blending something, especially with a powerful blender, you don’t need to juice ANYTHING. Peel the lime and throw it straight in the blender. Add the cranberries, tequila, triple sec and ice. Blend until very smooth. These Cranberry Frozen Margaritas are definitely tart little drinks. Is super tart not your dish? Don’t worry, to make these less tart, use ½ a lime and one orange, and add an extra ¼ cup triple sec. But I like Cranberry Frozen Margaritas really tart. Cranberry Frozen Margaritas makes for an excellent Mocktail if you’re so inclined. Just use some orange juice and simple syrup to taste since you’re not using triple sec in the Cranberry Frozen … Continue reading →

Guacamole

Posted on by October 26, 2014

For a tamale party, you’re going to need lots of snacks and drinks, so Guacamole is a must. It’s a serious crowd pleaser and you get to eat avocados. My favorite. Make sure you read to the bottom of my Guacamole recipe, the real prize to this recipe is the “notes” at the bottom: what to do to make it special or how to hurry the party along. five ripe avocados ½ cup red onion; minced 1 jalapeño; minced 1-2 cloves garlic; minced ½ cup cilantro chopped ½ cup chopped tomatoes (if it’s winter and you can’t find any you’re happy with, canned diced work) juice of 2 limes 1 ½ teaspoons salt black pepper Juice one lime into a glass bowl (the citrus will keep the avocado from browning too quickly). Halve the avocados. Remove the pits and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. Mash the avocado. Mince the onion, garlic and jalapeño – seed if you like it less spicy, keep the seeds in if you like it spicier. Chop the cilantro and tomatoes. Add in to the avocados. Taste. Add the salt gradually, bearing in mind that guac should be salty and limey, but it’s served … Continue reading →

Tamale Dough

Posted on by October 26, 2014

I’m no tamale expert, unless you count eating them, but last year I adopted the tradition of making tamales for Christmas using Anna Zepaltas recipe (I really liked hers because it used part butter and part lard, rather than the traditional all lard. I think the flavor makes a superior tamale dough). I had never hosted Christmas dinner before and it was a cold December day. I wanted the excuse to hold people captive drinking margaritas all day and playing board games and I’d always wanted to undertake the challenge of tamale making. It was a hugely successful, immensely fun, and seriously challenging undertaking. And I learned a lot. Last year made this year possible, and I have to say that now that I’ve done it twice, I feel confident in my ability to help others make them successfully, and certain that this is well on its way to becoming a yearly tradition. The tamales and salsas are amazing and the day is indeed lots of fun. By breaking the steps down over a couple of days, you’ll make your tamale party fun and low stress. Start with the tamale dough, a few days ahead. It stores well. I make … Continue reading →

Snowstorm Hot Chocolate

Posted on by February 12, 2015

Today it’s the first big snow in Philly (and lots of other places, I’m sure) and with that came Snowstorm Hot Chocolate. If you were watching the Eagles game, you saw that it was a near whiteout. Marc and I celebrated our afternoon walk with a little Snowstorm Hot Chocolate by the fire. The little dash of cayenne and hint of cinnamon along with the scent from the orange peel add a little zing to warm you up and balance the rich chocolate making Snowstorm Hot Chocolate delicious, decadent, and comforting enough to welcome you in from the snow on a Sunday afternoon and shake off even the chilliest of chills. And don’t worry friends in far away places, Snowstorm Hot Chocolate is just as delicious without the cold and the snow- lucky you. And the beautiful and rich chocolate is a lovely excuse to take out those tiny but beautiful tea and coffee cups you never use. Aren’t they gorgeous? You may recognize this shot from my Holiday Card from last year. Now if that isn’t motivation to put yourself on my mailing list, I don’t know what is. Who doesn’t love beautiful and tasty snail mail? If you don’t … Continue reading →

Leftover Thanksgiving Enchiladas

Posted on by October 27, 2014

Every year I yearn for Thanksgiving turkey just so I can have these Leftover Thanksgiving Enchiladas. I’ve been making these for years, but I never get sick of them. This year, I started making a vegetarian version with mushrooms instead of turkey so I don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving. I bet you’ll follow in my footsteps after you’ve had these just once. The squash makes it fall and cozy, and the leftover cranberry relish is perfection in these Leftover Thanksgiving Enchiladas. 2 cups onions 2 cups poblanos and/or green bell peppers 2 cups celery 2 cups butternut squash 2 cups shredded or chopped turkey (sautéed mushrooms to make it vegetarian) ¼ cup flour ¾ cup milk 8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese shredded, plus a little extra for the top 2 tablespoons olive oil ½ cup green salsa salt 16 tortillas green salsa Sour cream leftover cranberry relish Dice the onions, peppers (poblanos will be hotter, bells milder), and celery. Sauté the onions, peppers, and celery in the olive oil until softened. (If you’re making them vegetarian, sauté the mushrooms first, then set aside and use the same pan for the rest of the veggies). Meanwhile, dice the butternut squash. … Continue reading →

Apple Cider Cream Pie

Posted on by May 10, 2016

I think this Apple Cider Cream Pie one of the recipes I’ve made in the past few years with a name that doesn’t do it justice. Cream pies in general don’t look very dramatic in photos (though I’m pleased with this one) and they sound a little old-fashioned and dare I say boring. So, I’ll take it upon myself to make sure that you don’t overlook this Apple Cider Cream Pie. The apple cider is a playful take on the traditional apple pie and reducing the cider down so its full of intense apple flavor is a great move.  The cinnamon cream not only finishes the pie perfectly, but it’s a perfect cool down after our spicy Mexican mains. All in all, this is just the right amount of untraditionally-traditional to makes its way onto my every so unexpected Mexican Thanksgiving Menu. I usually make a double batch of the boiled cider when I’m taking the time to boil it down. It’s another ingredient that is fun and easy to keep on backup in the fridge since it keeps for a long time. And no one is ever said when I’m able to pull it out of the fridge and turn … Continue reading →

Dave and Elena’s Wedding Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake

Posted on by May 8, 2016

Dave and Elena’s Wedding Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake is special to me because our dear friends Dave and Elena were married the weekend before my Thanksgiving party in 2012. They had a beautiful fall wedding that was decorated with pumpkins. Golds, whites, greens and turquoise pumpkins were piled high on tables, in windowsills, and around the ceremony space. After enjoying a happy and fun wedding and weekend, I received a call from the busy fools early Monday morning. “We’re coming over, and we’re bringing pumpkins!” I brought a laundry basket out to their car (how DLK, right?) and filled it to the brim with gourds and pumpkins. I proceeded to spray them gold, stack them into towers, and roast them for snacks and purées. Generous and eco-friendly; because of their thoughtfulness, their décor was used more than once, and the pumpkins were cooked and enjoyed all year long in the form of cakes and breads. Dave and Elena’s Wedding Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake was an homage to their wedding, and their offering. … Continue reading →

Cornbread Stuffing with Cotija, Figs and Sage

Posted on by October 27, 2014

When I set myself upon a Mexican menu, I knew that all of those cornbread stuffing recipes I’d seen over the years would finally have their day in my Cornbread Stuffing with Cotija, Figs and Sage. I started with a favorite cornbread recipe and subbed sage for rosemary to make it a little more Thanksgiving in nature. Then I diced it and toasted it. Finally, it was time to get down to the stuffing. (That said, you don’t need to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy this amazing cornbread; just keep in mind the preheat and butter the pan trick works like a charm for that crunchy, crusty outside to the cornbread). This sweet, savory Cornbread Stuffing with Cotija, Figs and Sage soaked up the mole sauce like a charm. And it paired perfectly with the tart and tangy cranberry relish. 1 ½ cups yellow stone-ground cornmeal ¾ cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 2 tablespoons chopped sage leaves 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk 2 large eggs 8 small, plump dried Black Mission figs, diced ½ cup crumbled cotija cheese 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 cup pine nuts; … Continue reading →

Tequila Cranberry Relish

Posted on by October 27, 2014

This Tequila Cranberry Relish is a variation on the cranberry relish my mom always makes. People often ask about her secret recipe, but it’s really just the recipe on the back of the ocean spray cranberry bags. 1 bag of cranberries, 1 orange, 1 cup sugar. I use less sugar, and mix a tequila sauce with the relish. It adds just a little more depth of flavor that keeps us in our Mexican theme. Whether you update yours, or go with the original, you can’t lose on this Tequila Cranberry Relish; it’s amazing. 12 ounces cranberries 3 tablespoons tequila (white) ½ cup granulated sugar zest and juice of ½ grapefruit In a small pot, combine the cranberries, tequila, sugar, zest and juice. Cook on medium high, stirring occasionally until all the berries have burst. Stir together an remove from heat. 16 ounces cranberries ¾ cup sugar ¼ grapefruit 1 orange (two ends removed) In a food processor, add grapefruit, orange and sugar and pulse a few time, until the citrus is beginning to break down. Add the cranberries. Pulse until the cranberries are well diced but still distinctive. Combine the sauces in a serving bowl. This makes ahead very well. … Continue reading →