Huevos Rancheros Tosdada

I LOVE Mexican food and flavors.  We live in an area where we can get absolutely AMAZING Mexican food, I have become a snob when it comes to many dishes.  Places I used to love just don't compare anymore.  It's a rough problem to have ;)  

So we can't always head out to the restaurants because we'd go broke...so on occasion I will try and re-create some dishes to eat at home.  This one has become a new favorite at home for a quick dinner or breakfast.  It is fantastic!

Huevos Rancheros Tosdadas

For the Avocado Salsa Verde:
2 medium tomatillos, husked and rinsed
1/2 jalapeno, sliced (seeds removed if you prefer less spice)
1 large California Avocado, peeled and pit removed
1/4 cup cilantro leaves, packed
1/2 lime, juiced
salt to taste

For the Black Beans:
1 (14.5 oz) can black beans, mostly drained
1/2 tsp each: Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Cumin
1/2 lime, juiced
pinch of salt

For the Tostadas:
8 crunchy corn tostada shells
1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
8 eggs
salt and pepper
cotija cheese
fresh cilantro
sliced cherry tomatoes

Instructions

For the Avocado Salsa Verde:
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse a few times, until mixture is mostly combined, but still slightly chunky. Set aside. (can be made up to a week ahead of time, store in an air-tight container in the fridge)

For the black beans:
Combine all the ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. These can be made up to 4 days ahead of time. (store in an air-tight container in the fridge)

For the Tostadas:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with tinfoil and lightly spray with cooking spray. Place the tostada shells in an even layer on the baking sheet.
Spread about 1 to 2 tablespoons of the black bean mixture over the top of each tostada, then sprinkle with a couple tablespoons of shredded cheese. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Meanwhile cook your eggs to your preference. The eggs pictured are "sunny side up." Lightly coat a skillet with non-stick spray and heat over medium-high heat. Crack the egg into the skillet, season with salt and pepper, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until whites have set and yolk is still runny.
Place cooked eggs on top of the hot tostadas, top with the avocado salsa verde, sliced tomatoes, fresh cilantro and a little cotija cheese. Enjoy!

Recipe Source:  I Wash You Dry

Churro Cupcakes

One more Cinco de Mayo recipe for you before I get back to the healthy stuff!  I LOVED my tres leches cake, but with 13 kiddos coming over, I just envisioned how messy chocolate cake would get, so for the kids I made these churro cupcakes.  They turned out so yummy and the frosting is absolutely sinful ;)  I stole a couple spoonfuls after I made it and could have kept going without self-control!  

Churro Cupcakes
Yield:  about 28 cupcakes

For Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups milk

For Cinnamon Sugar Crunchy Topping:
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tablespoon milk (if desired)


For Cupcakes:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line standard muffin tins with paper liners.
Whisk together both flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, cream butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
Beat in vanilla.  Reduce speed to low.  Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of milk, and beating until combined after each.  Fill each cupcake liner three-quarters full.
Bake 20 minutes.

Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes.  Top with cinnamon sugar crunchy topping and cinnamon cream cheese frosting.  Refrigerate until ready to serve. Set out 20 minutes before serving

For Cinnamon Sugar Crunchy Topping:
In a small bowl melt butter.  In another small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon.  When cupcakes are completely cooled brush melted butter on the tops and dip into the cinnamon sugar mixture.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a medium bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until light.  Mix in vanilla and cinnamon; add confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time until all is incorporated.  If the frosting gets too thick, add milk a few drops at a time until it reaches desired consistency.

Recipe Source:  Lady Behind the Curtain

Chocolate Très Leches Cake

Here I am again...posting non-healthy recipes while on my diet.  Just as an update, I am down 6.8 pounds in 2 weeks on the 21-Day Fix.  I am not SUPER strict on sticking with the rules...I am nursing after all and get the munchies here and there, but making better choices when I do get the urge to munch.  But really, the calories allotted keep me content most days.  I also allow myself a cheat meal here and there.  It's necessary to keep my sanity :)  Sometimes I just need a Diet Dr. Pepper after a long day with kids or a piece of chocolate cake on a holiday!

It just so happened that Cinco de Mayo was this week and I have been itching to have people over ever since I've had this baby.  We used to live right in the heart of an agricultural area surrounded by many of Hispanic descent, and got great Mexican cuisine and attended the yearly Cinco de Mayo festivals..and we miss it!  We invited 3 families over and had a taco/nacho bar and it was so fun.  We had the kids break open a piñata and I had 2 desserts with a Mexican theme.

Let me tell you what...this cake is legit...and it is soo good and made me break my diet, twice (yikes!).  My friends each asked for a half a piece initially and ended up going back for more.  It's just that good!  Top it off with homemade sweetened whip cream and some strawberries, and nothing could be better!

Chocolate Très Leches Cake

Note: I used one of my favorite (easy and egg-free) chocolate cakes for this recipe. But you could really use any 9X13-inch chocolate cake recipe, in fact, the beauty of this recipe is that because of the chocolate milk mixture poured on top of the cake, the cake part is especially forgiving (overbaked a little? No problem.). By the way, this cake can (and should) be made in advance - up to 24 hours. Sweet!

Cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup natural cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups water

Chocolate Milk Mixture:
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
6 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
1/3 cup whipping cream or half-and-half
Sweetened whipped cream
Cocoa powder for dusting

For the cake, adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9X13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together in the baking pan.

Make 1 large and 2 small craters in dry ingredients. Add oil to large crater and vinegar and vanilla separately to remaining small craters. Pour water into pan and mix until just a few streaks of flour remain. Use a rubber spatula to spread the batter evenly in the pan if it isn’t level after mixing. 

Immediately put pan in oven.

Bake until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 23-25 minutes. Remove the cake from the oven and let it cool in the pan on a wire rack until cooled completely.

Using a bamboo skewer or tines of a fork, poke holes all over the top of the cake. In a glass liquid measure or a microwave-safe bowl, combine the sweetened condensed milk and the chocolate. 

Microwave for one minute and stir. If not completely melted and smooth, microwave for an additional 30 seconds until melted and smooth. Whisk in the evaporated milk and heavy cream (or half-and-half). The mixture will start out very, very thick. Don't worry! It will thin out as you whisk in the other milks.

Slowly pour or ladle spoonfuls of the chocolate mixture over the top of the cake. Let the liquid absorb before adding more. Ladle the liquid onto the cake until all the chocolate mixture has been used. It's ok if there is excess liquid pooled on top of the cake, it should absorb into the cake while it is refrigerated.

Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
Serve pieces of the cake with sweetened whipped cream (see recipe below) and a dusting of cocoa powder or top with a few sliced strawberries.

Recipe Source:  Meds Kitchen Cafe


Sweetened Whip Cream

(I doubled this for the above recipe)

1 cup Land O Lakes® Heavy Whipping Cream
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Beat chilled whipping cream and sugar in chilled bowl at high speed, scraping bowl often, until stiff peaks form. Gently stir in vanilla. Store refrigerated.


Keeps well in refrigerator for up to 4 days. If mixture softens, rewhip to stiff peaks.

Recipe Source:  Land O Lakes

Puerto Rican Style Beans

One of my FAV trips by far has been a cruise with friends to the Southern Caribbean.  We flew into San Juan, Puerto Rico and got to spend a few days there.  Our absolute favorite thing was just the rice and beans (and mofungo).  Trying to re-create the beans has been tough.  This recipe definitely gave me the flavor I was looking for, finally!  They were super good, I kind of impressed myself ;)  I will post about the chicken I made to go with it soon.  Enjoy!

Puerto Rican Style Beans

For the sofrito:
1/2 small onion
1/2 cubanelle (banana) pepper
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

For the beans:
1 tsp olive oil
15.5 oz can pink or red kidney beans (I like Goya)
1/2 cup canned tomato sauce
1 medium potato, peeled and diced 1/4-inch (4 1/2 oz)
1 1/2 tbsp Sazon seasoning (homemade or store bought)
1 bay leaf
1/8 tsp oregano
kosher salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste

In a mini food processor, chop onions, garlic, pepper and cilantro. Add oil to a medium saucepan and sauté the chopped ingredients, cook on medium heat until soft, about 2 minutes.

Add the beans (not drained) to the saucepan along with 3/4 cup of water. Add tomato sauce, potato, sazon, bay leaf, oregano, salt if needed and pinch of black pepper. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer on low for about 20 minutes, or until potatoes are soft. Discard bay leaf and serve over rice. Makes about 3 cups.

Recipe Source: Skinny Taste

Pozole Verde (with Chicken)

 I've talked about it many times, but where we live we are absolutely immersed in Mexican/Hispanic culture.  This is especially true at my hubby's work, where he works with 25 women that are from that background.  Needless to say, many of the potlucks that go on at their office have to do with delicious authentic Mexican dishes.  One potluck I went to recently was a pozole potluck where a few ladies brought their best recipes.  Both my hubs and I fell in love with a green pozole.  Since then, I've thought about it and never thought I could pull it off.  Well, I got brave :)

What is posole you say?  Pozole is a soup/stew that generally has pork or chicken, a delicious broth (mine included tomatillos), and hominy.  What is hominy, you say?  Wikipedia explains is as this: "To make hominy, field corn (maize) grain is dried, then treated by soaking and cooking the mature (hard) grain in a dilute solution of lye, slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) or wood ash, a process termed nixtamalization. The soaked maize is washed, and then ground into masa. When fresh masa is dried and powdered, it becomes masa seca or masa harina." And masa is made into corn tortillas. Hominy is catching it before the drying stage. Then it is all topped off with things like avocado, lime, radishes, cabbage, and cilantro to name a few.

After dinner, my hubby told me "not bad for a white girl!" I'm guessing he liked it!

Pozole Verde (with chicken)

-Two 15 ounce cans cooked hominy, or 4 cups home-cooked hominy (8 ounces dry will yield approximately 4 cups)
-1 large white onion, sliced thin lengthwise
-6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
-bay leaf
-salt
-3 pounds skinless boneless chicken thighs (I'm sure you could also use breast meat, but I don't think the resulting broth would be as flavorful)
-1/2 cup pepitas
-1 pound tomatillos, husks removed and rinsed with warm water
-1 -2 bunches fresh cilantro
-1 teaspoon dried epazote
-2 tablespoons canola oil

Delicious Garnishes:
-avocados, chopped and tossed with salt and lime juice
-radishes, chopped
-small white onion, chopped
-additional chopped cilantro
-lots of limes
-more epazote, or crushed oregano
-very thin-sliced cabbge

As I mentioned above, if you are using dried hominy, it needs to be soaked and cooked before you can make the pozole. I followed the instructions on the package. 

In a stockpot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil.  Add 1/2 sliced onion, 3 cloves garlic, bay, and a teaspoon of salt to the pot. Cover the pot, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Next, add the whole chicken thighs to the pot. Skim off any foam that forms. Simmer very gently, uncovered, for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Use kitchen tongs to remove the chicken and set it on a platter to cool. Strain the broth and set it aside for later. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it with your fingers and set aside.

Grind pepitas in a spice grinder or coffee grinder. ( I think it's brilliant that this recipe uses these ground pepitas for a thickener for the stew.) Set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat 3 cups water with remaining 1/2 onion and tomatillos over high heat. Bring to a boil, then simmer covered for 10 minutes, until veggies are tender. Discard the cooking liquid and place the cooked tomatillos and onions into a standing blender along with 1/4 cup cilantro, 3 more cloves garlic, epazote, and 1.5 teaspoons salt. Blend thoroughly.

Heat canola oil in a large stock pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the pureed veg to the hot pan - be careful as it will be splattery. Cook the sauce uncovered, stirring regularly until it thickens - about 10 minutes. Add the ground pepitas and 1 cup of the broth reserved from cooking the chicken, stir and cook another 5 minutes. 

Finally add the shredded chicken, cooked hominy, and 3 cups of reserved broth to the pot. Simmer partially covered for 20 minutes. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped cilantro. Season with additional salt to taste - though keep in mind that adding freshly squeeze lime to soup will add a nice punch.

Scoop warm pozole into low bowls and serve with all the wonderful garnishes. Now that's good.

serves 6

Recipe Source:  Yummy Supper

Black Bean Soup

 I have been trying to come up with some new quick fix (no to mention healthy) meals.  My usual go-to on a busy night is chili-dogs, cobb salads, tacos, or grilled cheese and canned soup.  This soup is literally one of the easiest things I have made in a while, and I loved it, the hubster loved it, as well as our 5-year old.  Be sure to use low sodium chicken broth and beans to keep this more on the healthy end of things :)

Black Bean Soup


2-3 cans black beans (do not drain)
2 cans chicken broth
1 tsp. salt
3 cups cooked rice, white or brown
avocado, sliced
grated cheese
tortilla chips, crushed
sour cream
red onion
cilantro
(I have also seen people put ham in this, but have yet to try it)

Blend together the black beans with one of the cans chicken broth. Add black bean mixture, the other can of chicken broth, and salt to a large pan. Cook on medium heat until nice and hot. (You don't need to bring it to a boil).

In individual bowls, layer the rice, then the soup, then the other toppings.

Recipe Source: Favorite Family Recipes

Tamale Pie

Last day of October...CRAZY!  Especially since I am planning on having a baby this month...time is FLYING! 

This tamale pie was perfect for a weeknight meal.  It is very similar to a taco soup, but more of an all-in-one meal with the cornbread cooked right on top.  My husband was especially fond of this one :)  Enjoy!

Along with today's recipe, I am sharing a yummy pie recipe over with Kiki and Company today...head on over and check it out along with Kiki's cute holiday ideas and prints! (Click link below)

Tamale Pie

1 lb hamburger

1 can tomatoes with green chiles

1 can tomato sauce

2 medium onions, chopped fine

1 small green pepper, chopped fine

1 can whole kernel corn

1 can kidney beans

1 packet taco seasoning

1 can diced black olives

1-2 cups of grated cheese

1 box Jiffy cornbread or corn muffin mix

Brown beef, taco seasoning, onion, and green pepper in a frying pan (approximately 10 minutes). Drain; add tomatoes, sauce, corn, kidney beans, and olives. Cook slowly for 20 minutes or until meat is done and all ingredients are warm. Put in a 9 X 13 baking dish. Sprinkle cheese over the top. Mix corn bread mix according to package directions, and spread batter over the top. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour or until cornbread is golden brown and a knife in the center comes out clean. May serve with sour cream, salsa, etc.

Recipe Source: ward cooking club via Molly H.

{Overnight} Ham and Cheese Enchiladas

In the last few months I have discovered the wonderful ham steaks from Costco.  They are perfect for all those ham recipes I want to try without having to cook a whole ham...and if you do want to cook a whole ham, this is a great way to use up leftovers.  

These would be great for breakfast, but we actually had them for dinner.  They are definitely hearty enough for either meal!  

{Overnight} Ham and Cheese Enchiladas
2 cups cubed and cooked ham
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided
10 flour tortillas (6-8 inches)
1 1/4 cup half-and-half
4 whole eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon flour
salsa, sour cream, and additional green onions for serving

In a medium bowl stir together ham, green onions and 2 cups of cheese (save the remaining 1/2 cup for later). Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray. Use a 1/3-cup measuring cup to scoop out cheese mixture onto a tortilla. Roll up tortilla and place seam side down in the baking dish. Roll up all tortillas and place them into the baking dish with the sides touching.

Whisk together half-and-half, eggs, salt, and flour. Pour over tortillas. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
In the morning, preheat oven to 350º. Bake covered for 30-40 minutes. Remove foil and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over enchiladas. Bake for 10 more minutes or until tops are golden brown and the egg mixture is set.

Serve with salsa, sour cream, and additional green onions.

Recipe Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything

Sour Cream Rice

Cinco de Mayo is literally around the corner (tomorrow), and Mexican being my favorite kind of food, I am sure to join in the festivities!  I live in an agricultural area that has Mexican culture abounding!  In fact, for lunch my little fam is headed over to the big Cinco de Mayo festival in town, and I can't wait to get some awesome food!

This rice would make a great side to any spicy entree you are serving up for the big day.  Enjoy!

Mexican Sour Cream Rice

1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
1 (14 ounce) can chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 (4 ounce) can diced green chile peppers
2 cups shredded pepper Jack cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups frozen corn
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
salt and ground black pepper to taste 

In a large pot, bring the rice and chicken broth to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 1-1/2 quart casserole dish.

In the pot with the cooked rice, mix the sour cream, green chile peppers, 1 cup pepper Jack cheese, corn, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish, and top with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.

Recipe Source:  Taste of Home Cooking

Crockpot Refried Beans

Continuing on my mission to share some ideas to have for your Cinco de Mayo dinner, today I'd like to share some side dishes you can serve up next to enchiladas or tacos.  All of these can be store-bought easily, but taste SO MUCH BETTER made from scratch!!

Crockpot Refried Beans

1 onion, peeled and halved

3 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed

1/2 fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and

chopped

2 tablespoons minced garlic

5 teaspoons salt

1 3/4 teaspoons fresh ground black

pepper

1/8 teaspoon ground cumin, optional

9 cups water (I used chicken broth instead)

Place the onion, rinsed beans, jalapeno, garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin into a slow cooker. Pour in the water and stir to combine. Cook on High for 8 hours, adding more water as needed. Note: if more than 1 cup of water has evaporated during cooking, then the temperature is too high.

Once the beans have cooked, strain them, and reserve the liquid. Mash the beans with a potato masher, adding the reserved water as needed to attain desired consistency.

Recipe Source:  Allrecipes

Cafe Rio Style Sweet Pork

This is my third version of Cafe Rio pork I have attempted, and do believe it is my favorite.  This one has a little bit more of a kick than the others, and heaven knows I like a kick!  

For the other components of the Cafe Rio meal, click here and start enjoying the goodness!

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa

5-6 lb. pork roast

21 oz. Dr. Pepper (or Coke, do NOT use diet soda)
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
7 oz. can chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
6-ish oz. red taco sauce (I used hot)
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Place roast in crock-pot, cover half-way with water and cook on low for 12 hours.  After 12 hours, drain pork (retain liquid if you want sauce for burritos, simply mix with a can of verde enchilada sauce and away you go).

Mix remaining ingredients until sugar dissolves.  I didn’t keep the actual chilies, I dumped the can into a bowl and added enough Dr. Pepper to get all the sauce off of the chilies, then I tossed them.  I also rinsed out the can with Dr. Pepper for more adobo goodness.  My version had a fairly good kick to it, but if you LOVE hotness, then blend everything + 2 or 3 chilies in the blender.  (Also, the adobo sauce tends to stain plastic, using a glass or metal mixing bowl will make your clean-up of adobo sauce considerably less frustrating).

Add Dr. Pepper mixture to the roast and cook on low an additional 4 hours.

Take out roast and shred, add back into sauce and cook for 2 more hours.  At this point the meat was so tender it practically shredded itself.

Recipe Source:  Heidikins

Smothered Creamy Green Chile Bacon Chicken

Wow...that title is a mouthful!  

I would have to say Mexican flavors are usually my favorite and what I turn to many nights every week.  Sometimes they are on the healthier side, and sometimes I just crave something creamy.  Here is the indulgent side of my Mexican cravings!  

This dish has plenty of spice with jalapenos as well as green chiles.  May be a little much for smaller kiddos :)  Bacon was a perfect compliment to everything.  Enjoy!

Smothered Creamy Green Chile Bacon Chicken

5-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 oz. cream cheese softened
1 (4 oz.) can diced jalapenos drained
1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
1/4 tsp. salt

. . SAUCE
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half and half
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles drained
1 1/2 cups shredded colby jack cheese
1/8-1/4 cup cooked and crumbled bacon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Carefully slice chicken in half to make a pocket so you can stuff it. Don't cut all the way through. You just want to make a good sliced flap for stuffing.

Place chicken breasts in a 9x13 pan.

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, bacon, jalapeños and salt. Stir to evenly combine.

Divide filling into 5-6 equal parts (depending on how many chicken breasts you are making) and stuff the chicken breasts equally, placing back into the 9x13 pan.

Cover 9x13 with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for about 50 minutes or until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, make sauce. To make sauce melt butter in a large sauce pan. Once melted add flour and stir for a minute or two to make a roux. Once roux has been made, add half and half slowly, stirring constantly, until all has been added and sauce thickens to desired consistency. Remove from heat and add garlic salt, onion powder and green chiles. Set aside until chicken has been cooked through.

After chicken has cooked for 50 minutes and is cooked through, remove foil. Cover chicken with sauce. Sprinkle evenly with cheese and bacon and place back in oven and cook additional 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Recipe Source:  Chef In Training