Showing posts with label She Made/Ella Hace. Show all posts
Camarones con Rajas is a delicious Mexican dish that consists of plump shrimp in a creamy garlic sauce with strips of roasted poblano peppers.


Camarones con Rajas y Crema - lacocinadeleslie.com

For this month's installment of She Made/Ella Hace my friend Heather (from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen) and I are celebrating the first Friday of Cuaresma (Lent) with delectable seafood dishes. Heather is serving up Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Mixed Greens Pesto & Lentil Black Rice Salad over on her blog, and I am sharing my recipe for Camarones con Rajas .

Camarones con Rajas (Creamy Shrimp with Roasted Poblano Peppers) {She Made/Ella Hace}

Creamy banana pudding made with galletas Maria's and vanilla-flavored atole mix.



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When you think Valentine's Day, the first things that come to mind are chocolates and roses. I love all things chocolate and my hubby never fails to surprise me with a beautiful bouquet, but he also knows that the best way to win my heart is if the words "banana cream" are involved. Like say, banana cream pie or this easy, no-fuss Banana Cream Pudding. Today, my good friend Heather from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen are sharing Valentine's Day recipes for this month's She Made/Ella Hace. So be sure to visit Heather's blog for a swoon-worthy Love Potion Cocktail.

Comfort Food Classics: Banana Cream Pudding {She Made/Ella Hace}

Spicy Mexican chorizo with nopales topped with loads of ooey, gooey melted queso fresco and queso Oaxaca.


Queso Fundido - lacocinadeleslie.com

Are your ready for some football? Or better yet, are you ready some finger-lickin' good game day eats?! Then you are in the right place, because this month for She Made/Ella Hace my friend Heather, from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen are serving up super appetizers to enjoy while watching the big game. Heather is serving up Bacon-Wrapped Water Chestnuts, while I am sharing a delicious Queso Fundido de Chorizo con Nopales.

Queso Fundido de Chorizo con Nopales {She Made/Ella Hace}

Café de Olla is a delicious and fragrant Mexican coffee brewed with aromatic spices like cinnamon, clove, and star anise.


Mexican Café de Olla - lacocinadeleslie.com

I'm baaaaccckkk! And... I'm not alone. My friend Heather (from All Roads Lead to the Kitchen) and I are teaming up once again to bring back She Made/Ella Hace. To kick things off, we are celebrating Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead). Whether you're looking for something sweet and delicious to serve for your Day of the Dead celebration, or if you're looking for traditional food ofrendas (offerings) for your altar de muertos (altar), we've got you covered. Heather is making Camotes Enmielados (Mexican Candied Sweet Potatoes), while I am serving steaming mugs of classic Café de Olla (Mexican coffee).

She Made/Ella Hace: Café de Olla

Easy semi-homemade peach cobbler with a flaky biscuit topping using canned peaches.


Easy Peach Cobbler with canned peaches - lacocinadeleslie.com


Happy "Eat a Peach" Day! It's a real food holiday that I had no idea existed until Heather (girlichef) suggested it as our theme for this month's She Made/Ella Hace. I'm all for celebrating food holidays so I was more than happy to make one of my favorite peach recipes. Heather whipped up a swoon-worthy Fresh Peach & Whiskey Ice Cream while I've serving up an Easy Peach Cobbler.

Easy Peach Cobbler w/ Biscuit Topping {She Made/Ella Hace}

My good friend girlichef and I are in the cocina once again for She Made/Ella Hace. This month it's all about strawberries. Heather (girlichef) is serving up not one, but TWO sweet strawberry recipes: Strawberry Atole + Strawberry Atole Paletas. (Be sure to head on over to Heather's blog to check out her mouth watering recipes.) And I whipped up these delightful Strawberry Margaritas, because who doesn't love a good margarita? These Strawberry Margaritas are sweet, refreshing and taste like summer in a glass.


Fresh Strawberry Margaritas - lacocinadeleslie.com

Fresh Strawberry Margarita {She Made/Ella Hace}

Squeee!!! I can't contain my excitment about today's post. After what seems like forever, I am back in the cocina with my foodie BFF girlichef for another installment of She Made/Ella Hace. Woo-hoo! Our theme this month is "green" in honor of St. Patrick's Day. Heather (aka girlichef) is sharing some festive Matcha Shamrock Shortbread Cookies, while I'm serving up a pitcher of Cucumber Lime Margaritas.

On St. Patrick's Day everybody (in the US) is a little bit Irish. Now I know margaritas and tequila aren't your typical Irish fare, but with it's vibrant green hue these refreshing Cucumber Lime Margaritas with a hint of spice will have everyone wanting to be Mexican Irish.



Cucumber Lime Margaritas {She Made/Ella Hace}

If you like bacon, then you are going to LOVE what girlichef (my foodie BFF) and I have cooked up for you in this month's installment of She Made/Ella Hace. Because everybody knows that bacon makes everything better!

The hardest part for me this month was deciding on what to make. I mean, really, the possibilities are endless. Did I want to make something sweet, try something new, or make one of the mouthwatering bacon recipes Heather (girlichef) has been sharing this month for #BaconMonth (hosted by Julie from White Lights on Wednesday)? (Hello, Flourless Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies!)

Then I got to thinking about what my grandparents used to make that had bacon in it, and I remembered this Bacon Fried Rice that Gramm only made on those rare occasions when she'd prepare a can of Chun King chicken chow mein for dinner. (Does anyone remember Chun King? Or am I just that old?!) Unlike traditional fried rice, Gramm didn't use cooked white rice. She'd actually make her Sopa de Arroz (Mexican Rice) and just add veggies, some scrambled eggs, and lots and lots of crisp, crumbly bacon. I made a few changes to Gramm's recipe, like omitting the chopped tomatoes and tomato sauce, but the flavor was just as I remembered it. And I'm pretty sure Hubby, the kiddies, and even my suegro (father-in-law) liked it, because they all asked for seconds.

Thank you, Heather, for suggesting bacon as our theme this month because it reminded me of this childhood favorite. I can't wait to see your Black Bean and Bacon Flautas

Arroz Frito/Bacon Fried Rice - lacocinadeleslie.com

Bacon Fried Rice {She Made/Ella Hace}

With summer just around the corner, my foodie BFF girlichef and I thought it only fitting that we make paletas for this month's She Made/Ella Hace. Both Heather (girlichef) and I both have a fondness for paletas. I think they are the perfect summer dessert, so cool, sweet, and refreshing. And they look so cute on those little wooden sticks. I don't know about you, but I've always thought foods on a stick just taste better than foods not on a stick.

Again, girlichef and I were on the same wavelength with this month's theme. She made Dulce de Leche Paletas and I made Caramel Pecan Paletas with cajeta (a Mexican caramel sauce). These paletas were inspired by one of my favorite snacks: plain yogurt with a sprinkling of chopped pecans and cajeta drizzled on top. As much as I enjoy my mid-morning snack, I love these Caramel Pecan Paletas even more! The tartness of the yogurt, the sweet creaminess of the cajeta, and the crunchy nutty flavor of the pecans combine together to make the perfect summer dessert.

Caramel Pecan Paletas - lacocinadeleslie.com

Paletas de Cajeta y Nuez (Caramel-Pecan Paletas) {She Made/Ella Hace}

This month for She Made/Ella Hace, my foodie BFF girlichef and I are whipping up cocktails with limón. Oddly enough, we both chose to make margaritas. That just goes to show that it's true what they say about great minds thinking alike. Girlichef used lemons to make her Raspberry Lemonade Margaritas, and I used limes to make my Margaritas de Cerveza.

I made these Beer Margaritas during our recent camping trip. We had limes, we had beer, and we had lots of tequila. So a margarita de cerveza seemed like the obvious cocktail to make. While I was mixing up this margarita, everyone was looking at me like I was out of my mind, because most of the time we either drink tequila or we drink beer, but they'd never mixed the two together. But they quickly learned what they had been missing out on. Tequila and beer pair together nicely, but it's the lime juice that really makes this margarita spectacular.

Margaritas de Cerveza sound pretty fancy, but you wouldn't believe how incredibly easy they are to make. A little tequila, some fresh lime juice, and an icy cold Mexican beer. That's it. If you like your margaritas on the sweet side, you can always add a splash of simple syrup, but I actually preferred these unsweetened. The choice is up to you. Just be prepared, because as delicious as these Beer Margaritas are, they pack quite a punch.


She Made/Ella Hace: Margaritas de Cerveza (Beer Margarita)

This month for She Made/Ella Hace my partner-in-crime girlichef and I chose Pipian as our theme, which couldn't be more perfect for me as I've had a bit of an obsession with pepitas (hulled pumpkin seeds) the last couple of weeks. I can't seem to resist stirring them into everything and anything like salads, yogurt, cookies, homemade granola... The list goes on and on. But one of my favorite ways to enjoy pepitas is in Pipián.

Pipián is a traditional Mexican sauce that gets its distinct grainy texture from the pepitas. Pipián can be made in one of two ways: Pipián Verde made with tomatillos and roasted poblano peppers and Pipián Rojo made with tomatoes and dried ancho chiles. Pipián can be served over fish (girlichef made Salmon in Pipián Verde), shrimp, roasted pork, or chicken. Whether you choose to make Pipián Verde or Rojo, you'll love the nutty flavor the pepitas adds to this exquisite sauce.

Pipian Rojo Sauce made w/ Pepitas - lacocinadeleslie.com

She Made/Ella Hace: Chicken Pipián Rojo

This month for She Made/Ella Hace, girlichef & I decided to feature a special ingredient that is synonymous with Valentine's Day...Chocolate! We didn't specify any particular kind of chocolate, so we could've used dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate. The possibilities were endless. But we both ended up using the same kind of chocolate, one that we both hold near and dear to our hearts...Mexican Chocolate! (Proving once again that great minds think alike.) 

The first chocolate dessert that came to mind when thinking of what to make was Mexican Chocolate Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding), because it's one of those simple desserts I that my Hubby and kiddies LOVE. I make classic Arroz con Leche 3 or 4 times a month, and the kiddies all insist that I make this yummy chocolatey version at least one of those times.

There are so many things I love about this Mexican Chocolate Arroz con Leche. It's super easy to make and it doesn't require a lot of ingredients. I LOVE the flavor combination of chocolate and cinnamon! But what I love most about this chocolate rice pudding is that it reminds me of my abuelito (grandpa), who used to make for me when I was a kid. And now that I'm all grown-up I get to share it with my kiddies and share stories with them about their bisabuelo (great-grandfather).

Mexican Chocolate Arroz con Leche - lacocinadeleslie.com

Mexican Chocolate Arroz con Leche (Rice Pudding) {She Made/Ella Hace}

We're baaaack! After a short 2 month hiatus, girlichef & I are back to bring you more She Made/Ella Hace. Our theme this month: Football Eats! Today's recipe combines two of my favorite foods to eat when watching The Big Game (or any other major sporting event)...cheeseburgers and pizza.

My son Nick is the one who actually came up with the idea for this recipe about 8 or 9 years ago when he couldn't decide which of his two favorite foods in the whole wide world he wanted to eat at his birthday party. One day he'd choose pizza, then minutes later he'd change his mind and say he wanted cheeseburgers, only to change his mind again minutes after that. I suggested we serve both, but then he came up with the genius idea of combining to the two into a Cheeseburger Pizza, that way he'd get the best of both worlds. And the rest as they say is history.  Now Cheeseburger Pizza is a beloved family favorite.

Cheeseburger Pizza {She Made/Ella Hace}

For the past couple of months I have been obsessed with sweet potatoes. Like crazy obsessed.  Normally around this time of year, I find myself cooking with apples and pumpkins...and sweet potatoes.  But so far this season apples and pumpkins have not made one single appearance in my kitchen.  It's been all sweet potatoes, all the time, with lots of yummy sweet potato treats left and right.  (Spoiler alert: you'll be seeing some of those recipes here on the blog.)  So it was no surprise that I suggested to girlichef that we feature sweet potatoes as our star ingredient this month for She Made/Ella Hace. 

Since most of the time we eat sweet potatoes it's in something sweet, I knew I wanted to create something savory, because there's just something so incredibly awesome about sweet potatoes in savory dishes.  They add a heartiness and sweetness that just takes your dish to a whole new level.

I had some homemade longaniza that we bought in Zacatecas last week just waiting to be used up.  For those of you unfamiliar with longaniza it's very similar to chorizo in flavor, but unlike chorizo that is made with ground meat, longaniza is made with finely chopped meat.

Hubby and the kiddies were a little skeptical when I told them I was making savory Sweet Potato Tacos, but I knew that once they tasted them they'd love them.  And well, these tacos helped prove that I'm rarely ever wrong.  To quote my husband, "These tacos were AWESOME!"  They're like a cross between Papas con Chorizo (potatoes w/ chorizo) and Tacos al Pastor.  In fact, I think I'm going to start calling these my Fall Tacos al Pastor, or something along those lines.  All I know is that these are quickly on their way to becoming a fall favorite.

lacocinadeleslie.com


Sweet Potato Tacos w/ Longaniza 

Ingredients: 

  • 1/2 medium onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 lb. longaniza or chorizo
  • 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 orange
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/8 teaspoon paprika
  • Red onion, finely chopped
  • Fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • Corn tortillas

Directions: 
Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and saute 1 minute.  Add the longaniza and saute until almost fully cooked, about 10 minutes.  Add the sweet potatoes, cumin, and paprika and cook for 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper.  Squeeze the juice of one orange over the sweet potato and longaniza filling.  Cover skillet and reduce heat to low.  Let simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are tender and the orange juice has evaporated.

Spoon filling onto warm corn tortillas.  Garnish with chopped red onion and cilantro.  Top with your favorite salsa.  Enjoy!!! 








lacocinadeleslie.com


Now be sure to visit girlichef's blog to check out her Coconut Sweet Potato Pie w/ Spiced Graham Cracker Crust.

lacocinadeleslie.com


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Sweet Potato & Longaniza Tacos {She Made/Ella Hace}

National Taco Day (October 4th) is just around the corner, so this month for She Made/Ella Hace girlichef and I decided to give you something to taco 'bout.

Over the years I've shared many a taco recipe here in my Cocina, including my favorite tacos ever - Tacos de Chorizo.  But for some reason I've never blogged about the taco we eat most in our house...Tacos de Frijoles.  My kiddies love them for breakfast before they leave for school.  Hubby loves to eat them any time of day.  And I love them because they remind me of my childhood.  Gramm always packed a couple Tacos de Frijoles in my lunchbox when I was a kid, so I'd grow healthy and strong.  My friends loved to trade me their bologna sandwiches for my Mexican lunch.

There's really not much to making Tacos de Frijoles.  All you need is some tortillas and refried beans.  If you want to get really fancy, you can add some queso fresco and your favorite salsa.

lacocinadeleslie.com

Tacos de Frijoles con Queso

lacocinadeleslie.com


Ingredients:

  • Refried Beans
  • Flour or corn tortillas
  • Queso fresco
  • Chile de Molcajete (roasted tomatillo & chile de arbol salsa) or your favorite salsa


Directions:
Heat tortillas on a comal or griddle over low heat until soft and pliable.  Spoon 3 to 4 tablespoons of refried beans onto each tortilla.  Fold tortillas in half over the refried beans.  Heat the bean tacos on the comal, flipping over occasionally, until heated through.  To serve, top with crumbled queso fresco and Chile de Molcajete.  Enjoy!

lacocinadeleslie.com

Now be sure to head on over to girlichef's blog to check out her Spicy Mushroom-Pasilla Tacos



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Comfort Food Classics: Tacos de Frijoles con Queso {She Made/Ella Hace}

Somebody please cue the Kool & the Gang music because there is a party going on right here. Today the awesome & incredible girlichef and I are celebrating the 2nd anniversary of our She Made/Ella Hace series.  Ya-hoo!  It's a celebration...

For those of you that might be new to my Cocina and/or the She Made/Ella Hace series, Heather (girlichef) came up with the idea for SM/EH because we are both fabulous American women married to hunky Mexican men.  We both love to cook, and we actually cook a lot of the same dishes.  The only difference is that Heather lives in the US, and I live in Mexico.  Every month we get "together" to cook our version of the same dish or we choose to cook with a certain ingredient.  The real fun is seeing what we come up with and seeing how different, or similar, our dishes/recipes are.



This month we decided to do things a little differently.  Instead of choosing a dish, theme, or ingredient to cook with, we decided to make something from each other's blogs.  I cooked up something from Heather's blog, and she cooked something from mine (Ejotes con Huevo).

Heather has a ton of delicious recipes on her blog to choose from.  I have a list that is a couple of pages long with just recipes from her blog that I want to try.  Everything from Soft Pretzels w/ Spicy Beer Cheese Sauce to Golden Garlic Soup w/ Fideo to White Hot Chocolate w/ Orange to Sangrita Paletas (with tequila) to Shrunken Heads in Spiced Cider (which is already on my Halloween menu for this year).  Like I said, she has a ton of fabulous recipes to choose from.

One of Heather's recipes that has been at the top of my list is her Mandarin Orange Jam.  I dream of one day spreading some of that jam on a buttery slice of toast while I enjoy my morning cup of coffee.  And since I'm not as nervous about canning anymore I am definitely going to cook up a batch just as soon as mandarin season rolls around.  Also at the top of my list is her Coconut Tres Leches Cake, but I'm saving that for my birthday next month.  I ended up making her Tortas con Chile Colorado, because I love sandwiches, I love Chile Colorado, and because Hubby started drooling over my shoulder while I tried to decide which of Heather's recipes to make.

These Tortas de Chile Colorado were so easy to make, and my family absolutely loved them!  These sandwiches will be regular guests at our table from now on.

To Heather, I just want to say thank you for letting me cook alongside you every month.  It is always a joy and a pleasure to cook with you.  Happy Anniversary, amiga!  (((Hugs!)))

http://www.lacocinadeleslie.com

Tortas de Chile Colorado de Res (Chile Colorado Beef Sandwiches)
(Recipe adapted from girlichef and Rick Bayless)

For the chile colorado filling:
  • 3 dried ancho chilies
  • 2 dried guajillo chilies
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 lbs. steak, thinly sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 pinch dried oregano

For the sandwiches:
  • Bolillo rolls
  • Mexican crema
  • Shredded lettuce
  • Avocado, thinly sliced
  • Red onion, thinly sliced
  • Fresh cilantro 

Directions:
Bring the dried ancho and guajillo chilies to a boil over medium-high heat in the 2 cups of water, reduce heat and let simmer until the chilies have softened.  Let cool slightly.  Remove stems and seeds from the chilies.  In a blender puree the chilies and the water they were cooked in until smooth; set aside.

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and saute for 1 minute.  Add the sliced steak and minced garlic; season with salt and black pepper.  Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat is no longer pink.  Pour the chile puree over the meat.  Season with the ground cumin and dried oregano, adding more salt, if necessary.  Once the chile colorado starts to boil reduce heat to low.  Cover and simmer over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes or until most of the liquid has disappeared.

To serve the sandwiches, split open the bolillo rolls in half lengthwise.  Toast lightly on a comal or griddle.  Spread the cut sides of the boillo rolls with Mexican crema.  Serve desired amount of the beef chile colorado inside each bolillo roll.  Top with shredded lettuce, sliced avocado and onion, and fresh cilantro leaves.  Enjoy!!!


Now click on over to girlichef's blog to wish her a Happy 2nd Anniversary and to see her recipe for Ejotes con Huevo (Green Bean Scramble).


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Chile Colorado Beef Sandwiches for She Made/Ella Hace 2nd Anniversary


For me, nothing says summer like throwing a few burgers on the grill in the backyard.  Or the back patio as is the case with me.  That's why for this month's edition for She Made/Ella Hace, with my good friend girlichef, I chose hamburgers.

I don't like to brag, but burgers are kind of my specialty.  My signature burger is my Mexi-Burger w/ Grilled Pineapple, which I love, but it's not my favorite.  My favorite burger is actually this Roasted Poblano Burger w/ Chile de Arbol Guacamole that combines three of my favorite things: poblano peppers, pickled red onion, and guacamole.

The guacamole is one of my favorites and it's so easy to make.  All you need is a couple of avocados and the Homemade Red Pepper Flakes I shared with you not too long ago.  But if chile de arbol isn't your thing, or you can't find them at your local grocery store, another tasty guacamole you can use is this smoky Chipotle Guacamole.

After you're done reading this recipe, don't forget to visit girlichef's blog to check out her Piggy Burgers w/ Sundried Tomato Ketchup.


Roasted Poblano Burger w/ Chile de Arbol Guacamole 

Ingredients:
  • 1 large red onion
  • 3 limes
  • 6 poblano peppers
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 lb. ground pork 
  • 1/3 cup dry bread crumbs 
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 clove garlic, finely minced
  • 4 avocados 
  • Dried arbol chilies 
  • Mexican crema
  • Hamburger buns

Directions:
Thinly slice 3/4 of the red onion into rings. (Reserve the remaining quarter of onion for the hamburger meat mixture.) In a medium bowl, toss together the red onion rings and the juice from 3 limes.  Season lightly with salt; cover and refrigerate until ready to use.  

Roast the 6 poblano peppers on a griddle or comal over high heat, turning occasionally, until the flesh is completely charred.  Transfer roasted poblano peppers to a plastic or paper bag and let sit for 15 minutes.  (Remember this allows the peppers to sweat, making it much easier to peel.)  Remove the charred skin, stems, and seeds from the peppers.  Slice the poblano peppers into thin strips.  Heat one tablespoon of oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the poblano pepper strips and saute for about 5 minutes; season lightly with salt.  

Combine the ground pork and ground beef in a large mixing bowl.  Grate the remaining 1/4 red onion directly over the meat.  Stir in the bread crumbs, large egg, minced garlic, seasoning salt, and ground black pepper.  Mix until well combined. Divide the meat mixture into 8 to 12 equal parts and shape into balls; refrigerate until ready to use.  (I like to do this step while the poblano peppers are sweating.)  

In a small skillet, toast a handful of arbol chilies for about 30 seconds to 60 seconds just until the chilies begin to darken in color; remove from heat and discard stems.  In a blender grind the chiles de arbol until very fine.  Mash the avocados in a bowl and season with salt.  Stir in 1 teaspoon of the ground arbol chile flakes, adding more until the guacamole has reached the right amount of heat. (I like my guacamole spicy, so I start by adding a whole tablespoon of ground chile de arbol.)  Cover guacamole with plastic wrap (to prevent browning) and refrigerate until ready to use. 

Shape each ball of meat into a patty.  Grill or fry until desired doneness.   Top with slices of asadero cheese or queso fresco.  

To serve the hamburgers, spread Mexican crema on toasted hamburger buns.  Place a cooked hamburger patty on the bottom bun and top with roasted poblano strips, pickled red onion, and guacamole.  Top with remaining bun.  Enjoy!!! 



Now click on over to girlichef's blog to check out her delicious Piggy Burgers with Sundried Tomato Ketchup.



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Roasted Poblano Burger w/ Chile de Arbol Guacamole {She Made/Ella Hace}


This particular blog post has me envisioning a 1990's Calvin Klein-esque commercial shot entirely in black & white, with shots of scantily clad celebrity chefs (Hello, Tyler Florence!) swimming in a pool of milk, whispering the word "Obsession."  Because that's exactly what today's recipe is, my latest obsession...Fruity Oat Smoothies.  I drink one every. single. day.  Sometimes two.  And that's why girlichef and I agreed to make smoothies the subject of our latest installment of She Made/Ella Hace.

I've added a handful of oats to my smoothies before and loved them, but I was never obsessed with them like I am now.

This obsession of mine started a couple of months ago when my suegro's (father-in-law) doctor "suggested" that I make him an Oat Smoothie once a day.  I started out making a smoothie just for Don Chuy.  Then Hubby wanted one.  As did Hope (my 15 year old), who some days gets home from school before noon.  And well, seeing everyone else drinking a smoothie, I wanted one too.  

For this recipe I used strawberries, because that's what's in bloom right now and they're just too pretty to resist.  But I switch things up during the week and also make it with papaya, mango, and/or banana.  I really can't pick a favorite, because they're all absolutely delicious!    

What about you...What's your latest food obsession???


Licuado de Fresa y Avena
(Strawberry Oat Smoothie)

Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup cold milk
  • 6 large strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons dried oats
  • 2 tablespoons sugar or honey
  • Ground cinnamon 

Directions: 
Puree the milk, strawberries, oats, sugar, and a dash of ground cinnamon in a blender cup until smooth and creamy.  (About 1 minute.)  Pour into glass; sprinkle top with more ground cinnamon.  Enjoy!!!


Don't forget to visit girlichef's blog to check out her Fruit & Oat Power Smoothie.



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Strawberry Oat Smoothie {She Made/Ella Hace}


Today is one of those food holidays that I just couldn't let slip by unnoticed.  That's why I suggested to Girlichef that we celebrate this special holiday for She Made/Ella Hace this month.  In case you didn't know, today is Empanada Day!  Now, isn't that the kind of holiday that you could really get behind. Since Girlichef and I already shared a sweet empanada recipe with all of you a couple of months ago, I also suggested that we make savory empanadas.  

And since this month in my cocina is going to be dedicated to Kids' Favorite Recipes (because April is Children's Month in Mexico), I thought I'd start the celebration by sharing my 15 year old daughter's favorite savory empanadas, which also happen to be made with what I believe to be one of the best flavor combinations ever...chicken, corn & roasted poblano peppers.  (Swoon!)

The empanada crust is buttery, crisp and flaky.  And the filling is creamy and cheesy, with just a hint of spice from the roasted poblano peppers.  I like these Poblano Chicken Empanadas as is, but Hope (my daughter) thinks they're best when dipped in Mexican crema!



Poblano Chicken Empanadas
lacocinadeleslie.com

Ingredients:
  • 2 c. flour 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup cold butter
  • 4 tablespoons ice water
  • 2 poblano peppers
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 small can golden corn kernels, drained
  • 1/2 cup Mexican crema or sour cream
  • 6 oz. asadero or Oaxaca cheese, cut in 1-inch cubes
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten

Directions:
For the empanada dough: In a large bowl combine the flour and salt.  Using a potato masher, cut in the butter until the flour turns a golden yellow color and the butter pieces are no larger than a pea.  Stir in enough cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together and forms a ball.  Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.  

For the filling: 
Roast the poblano peppers on a comal or over an open flame, until the skin has charred evenly all over.  Place in a plastic bag and let set for about 10 minutes.  (This allows the chilies to sweat, making them easier to peel.)  Peel off the charred skin from the roasted peppers and remove the seeds.  Chop the poblano peppers into bite-size pieces.   

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over high heat.  Add the onion and saute until transluscent, about 1 to 2 minutes.  Add the chicken and saute until the chicken is no longer pink.  Stir in the poblano peppers, corn kernels, and Mexican crema.  Cover skillet and reduce heat to low.  Let simmer for about 15 minutes until the chicken pieces are tender.   Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.  Stir in cheese cubes. 

Preheat oven to 350F.  Roll out the empanada dough on a lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch thickness.  Using a large square cookie cutter or sharp paring knife, cut the dough into 4 to 6-inch squares.  (The bigger the squares, the bigger the empanada.)  Spoon desired amount of filling into the center of each square of dough.  Lightly moisten the edges of the dough with water.  Fold the empanada dough diagonally over the filling to form triangles.  Press edges to seal.  Transfer the empanadas to a generously greased baking sheet.  Brush the tops of the empanadas with the beaten egg.  Pierce the center of each empanada once with a fork.  (This allows the steam to escape and prevents dough from puffing.)   

Bake the empanadas at 350F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.  Serve with Mexican crema.  Enjoy!!!


Now head on over to Girlichef's blog to wish her a Happy Empanada Day and to check out her Empanadas de Picadillo.



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Poblano Chicken Empanadas {She Made/Ella Hace}