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'Wich of the Week: Seis de Mayo Sandwich

YumSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:00:13 -0700

As you've probably noticed, we are sort of obsessed with avocados here, and on the rare occasion when I have leftover guacamole, I cannot bear to see it go to waste. So after whipping up a batch of homemade guac for a recent party, I used the remaining deliciousness to make a vegetarian sandwich on my new favorite chili bread.

If you've got some of Cinco de Mayo's best condiment lying around, make your own seis (or siete or ocho) de Mayo sandwich. To see how I did it, read more.

Seis de Mayo Sandwich
Original Recipe

Ingredients

4 slices spicy artisan bread, such as chile bread
4 tablespoons guacamole
6 slices Roma tomato
4-5 slices mozzarella cheese
10 thin slices of cucumber
1 cup alfalfa or clover sprouts
2 leaves of romaine lettuce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Place two of the bread slices on a work surface and cover with 1 tablespoon guacamole. Top each piece of bread with three tomato slices, followed by 2-3 slices of mozzarella.

Place all four slices of bread directly on the oven rack and heat for 5 to 7 minutes, until bread is toasted and cheese is melted.

Evenly lay the cucumber slices on top of the melted cheese. Cover each with sprouts and lettuce.
On the two remaining bread slides, spread the rest of the guacamole, then place bread guacamole side down on lettuce.

Cut in half and serve.

Makes 2 sandwiches.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken Fajitas

partysugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 06:50:45 -0700

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo tonight with a Mexican meal that comes together in minutes. These chicken fajitas are so simple a child could make them! Chicken strips and chunky vegetables are tossed with a super quick marinade of chile powder, cumin, and water.

Then, the ingredients are dumped into a searing hot pan. Once cooked, serve with the usual fajita fixings - shredded lettuce, grated cheese, warm tortillas, spicy salsa, and cool sour cream. For the ultimate fiesta, pair with guacamole and margaritas. Get the recipe and read more.

Chicken Fajitas
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

1 teaspoon pure chile powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 whole skinless, boneless chicken breast (about 1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 green bell pepper-cored, seeded and cut into thin strips
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, plus lime wedges for serving
8 flour tortillas, warmed in the microwave
Shredded lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream, for serving

Directions

In a resealable plastic bag, combine the chile powder with the salt, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, cornstarch, water and 2 tablespoons of the oil. Add the chicken, bell pepper and onion, seal and knead gently to coat. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet until shimmering. Empty the contents of the bag into the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice.
Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a large bowl and serve with the warmed tortillas, lettuce, cheese, salsa, sour cream and lime wedges.

Serves 4.

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Ocho Alternative Uses For Jalapeños

YumSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:30:27 -0700

No matter what you're making for Cinco de Mayo - guacamole, nachos, or some other festive food - chances are, you'll be tossing in some jalapeños. At least, I know I will be. This highly versatile hot pepper pleases in all sorts of recipes, from sweet treats to cheesy breads. Check out eight unexpected uses for jalapeños.

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Served in an Avocado Bowl, Strawberry Salsa Is Scrumptious

YumSugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:00:12 -0700

Here on YumSugar, we've gone a little avocado crazy, but with Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, how can you not be? A little while back, I stumbled across a strawberry-salsa-stuffed avocado recipe, and with the berries' fragrance overpowering my farmers market, I remembered that I had wanted to give it a shot.

Although I've never thought of using strawberries as a base for salsa, the resulting dish is outstanding! The sweet berries are complemented by the acidic lime juice, spicy jalapeno, and creamy avocado. The salsa-stuffed avocado makes a perfect alternative to a side salad, and the strawberry salsa alone would be tasty on pork, mild fish, or tortilla chips. To get started on your own strawberry salsa, read more.

Avocado With Strawberry Salsa
Adapted from Gourmet

Ingredients

For strawberry salsa
1 fresh serrano or jalapeño chili
1 cup finely chopped strawberries
1/4 cup finely chopped white onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh coriander
1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar if desired
For serving
six 5-inch corn tortillas
vegetable oil for frying
4 firm-ripe avocados

Directions

Remove the seeds, stems and ribs from jalapeno, wear rubber gloves, if needed.
In a bowl stir together chili and remaining salsa ingredients. Salsa may be made several hours ahead and chilled, covered.
Stack tortillas and cut them in half. Cut stacks crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick strips. In a heavy skillet, heat 1/2-inch oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Working in three batches, fry tortilla strips until crisp and golden, about 30 seconds, and with a slotted spoon transfer to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle fried tortilla strips with salt to taste.
Halve avocados and remove pits. Slice the avocado in both directions to make it easier to eat. Spoon about 1/3 cup strawberry salsa into the center of avocado. Insert tortilla strips into the avocado.

Serves 4.

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Off to Market Recap: Margarita Glasses

partysugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 06:50:21 -0700

Cinco de Mayo is manana and I plan on celebrating by whipping up a batch of margaritas for my girlfriends. However, the only margarita glasses I own are oversized and more suited for serving dips than sipping tequila. That's why I asked you to help me by searching the Internet for margarita glasses. You looked for festive glasses that I can use through Spring into Summer. You bookmarked your discoveries in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Margarita Glasses. How fabulous are these two-toned glasses? The tropical colors bring to mind the Mexican coast at sunset!

Thank you Bengalspice for finding these delightful dishwasher-safe glasses. For more glasses, browse the collection below.

Geeksugar has put together an article that explains how to bookmark on TeamSugar. Check it out for more details!

The Basics: Guacamole

partysugar — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:30:08 -0700

When it comes to Mexican cuisine, there is nothing quite as essential as guacamole. In its most basic form, the creamy dip consists of perfectly ripe mashed avocado seasoned with salt. While there are hundreds of recipes, it's nice to have a simple one to start with. Once you've mastered the technique, it's easy to get creative with lots of variations. You can experiment with different types of onion, substitute lemon or orange juice for the lime juice, and change the texture by blitzing in a food processor. Since Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow, it's a great time to share my favorite guacamole recipe. To check it out and see suggestions on how to jazz it up, read more.

Guacamole
Modified from Rick Bayless

Using the most ripe avocados is the key to a successful guacamole.

Ingredients

4 medium ripe avocados
2 clove garlic, peeled and finely chopped or crushed through a garlic press
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Fresh lime juice, from one lime
1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

Directions

Cut the avocados in half, running your knife around the pit from stem to blossom end and back up again. Twist the halves in opposite directions to free the pits and pull the halves apart. Dislodge the pits, then scoop out the avocado flesh into a medium bowl.
Mash the avocado with a large fork or potato masher. Stir in the garlic, salt, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeno.
Taste and season with additional salt if appropriate. If not using immediately, cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface of the guacamole and refrigerate-preferably not more than a few hours.

Makes 3-4 cups.

Variations:

To make it more complex, stir in seeded and diced fresh tomato and minced onion.

To make it super creamy, puree in a food processer with 1/2 cup sour cream.

To make it spicy, stir in minced chipotle in adobo.

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Sunday Dinner: Tuna- and Potato-Stuffed Ancho Chiles

YumSugar — Sun, 03 May 2009 06:00:16 -0700

Have a lazy Sunday to spare? Then invite some close friends over and celebrate Cinco de Mayo early with an authentic recipe for Chiles Anchos Rellenos de Atún con Papas.

Translation: it's a delicious dish consisting of smoky, dried poblano chiles, softened in sweet brown sugar and stuffed with tuna, red-skinned potatoes, and a mixture of lime juice, cream, and cilantro. To make this crave-worthy Latin course, read more.

Tuna- and Potato-Stuffed Ancho Chiles
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

3 cups water
9 ounces piloncillo*
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 large ancho chiles
1 pound red-skinned potatoes
1 pound 1-inch-thick ahi tuna steaks
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup chopped white onion
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons whipping cream
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
4 ounces mixed baby greens
1 large avocado, halved, pitted, peeled, cut into 12 slices

Directions

Bring 3 cups water and piloncillo to boil in medium saucepan. Add white vinegar, canela, and salt; simmer until piloncillo has dissolved, stirring often, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add chiles and soak until softened, occasionally pressing to submerge, about 1 hour; drain. Pat chiles dry; slit lengthwise and remove seeds.
Cook red-skinned potatoes in pot of boiling salted water until skewer easily pierces centers, about 35 minutes. Drain. Cool, peel, and cut potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Season tuna with salt. Grill until light brown at edges but pink in center, about 3 minutes per side. Cut tuna into 1-inch cubes. Whisk together 1/4 cup oil and next 5 ingredients in large bowl. Fold in potatoes and tuna. Season with salt. Fill chiles with tuna-potato mixture.
Whisk remaining 1/4 cup oil, apple cider vinegar, and cilantro in medium bowl. Season with salt. In large bowl, toss greens with 2 tablespoons vinaigrette to coat. Divide salad among plates. Top with chiles and avocado slices; drizzle with some of remaining vinaigrette.

Serves 6.

*Note: Piloncillo is Mexican raw sugar shaped into hard cones. Smaller chunks are sometimes labeled panocha. If neither is available, substitute an equal weight of packed dark brown sugar.

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Would You Rather Eat Red or Green Salsa?

partysugar — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:30:15 -0700

Source

Come Party With Me: Cinco de Mayo - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:15:04 -0700

Use vibrant colors to decorate the location of your Cinco de Mayo fiesta. Instead of traditional tablecloths, cover the table with festive Mexican blankets. Yellow servingware is perfect for plating the enchiladas. Fill bowls with chips and dip.

So guests can see the floating blackberries, pour the cocktail into a clear pitcher. Arrange glasses nearby. Make the ice cream sundaes in margarita glasses. Don't forget to light candles and fill a vase with fresh flowers.

Source

Come Party With Me: Cinco de Mayo - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:50:10 -0700

When one hears the words, Cinco de Mayo, Mexican beer, and classic margaritas come to mind. However, why not shake things up and surprise guests with a different cocktail?

The agave negro combines tequila, lime juice, and blackberries to create a cocktail that is as refreshing as it is beautiful. A splash of Chambord provides the blush color and club soda adds a touch of fizz. To check out the recipe, read more.

Agave Negro
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

2 blackberries, plus 1 blackberry and 1 lime wheel skewered on a pick
1 cup ice
1 1/2 ounces reposado tequila
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
3/4 ounce Simple Syrup
1/2 ounce Chambord
1 ounce chilled club soda

Directions

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the 2 blackberries.
Add the ice, tequila, lime juice, Simple Syrup, and Chambord. Shake well and pour into a rocks glass.
Stir in the club soda and garnish with the skewered blackberry and lime wheel.

Makes 1 drink.

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