Category Archives: Ethnic – Regional

Barbacoa Burritos

Barbacoa:
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons lime juice
3 to 4 canned chipotle peppers (no sauce)
4 garlic cloves
4 teaspoons cumin (toast and grind whole seeds)
2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon clove (toast and grind whole cloves)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 pound chuck roast
3/4 cup chicken broth
3 bay leaves

Pico de Gallo:
4 medium tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/4 cup minced cilantro
2 tablespoons minced jalapeno
2 tablespoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt

Pinto Beans:
3 15-ounce can pinto beans (with liquid)
3 tablespoons bacon fat (from cooking 3 to 4 pieces of bacon)
1/2 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano

Cilantro-Lime Rice:
3 cups water
2 cups converted rice
3 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup minced cilantro
2 tablespoons lime juice

For Burrito:
8 12-inch flour tortillas
shredded cheddar cheese or Monterey Jack cheese
guacamole (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Make adobo sauce by combining vinegar, lime juice, peppers, garlic, cumin, oregano, black pepper, salt and clove in a blender or food processor and puree on high speed until smooth.

Trim the fat from the meat, and then slice the roast into 6smaller pieces. Sear all sides of the chunks of meat in 2 tablespoons of oil in a large stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat until browned. Add the adobo sauce to the meat, pour in the chicken broth, and add the bay leaves. Cover the pot, turn yourstove to med/low heat and let the meat simmer (braise) for 5 to 6 hours or until meat easily flakes apart. Turn meat every 30 minutes as it cooks. After 4 hours, keep the lid off the pot. At the 5-hour mark, you should be able to tear meat apart into bite-size chunks with tongs.

As soon as your meat is in the pot, make pico de gallo by combining all ingredients in a bowl. Cover and chill for several hours while the barbacoa is cooking.

Just before meat is done, prepare the pinto beans by combining beans with bacon fat and oregano in a medium saucepan. Simmer 30 to40 minutes or until most of the liquid is gone and beans are soft.  Keep beans covered until the meat is ready.

Make the cilantro-lime rice by combining water, rice, and butter, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce heat to low, cover saucepan, and simmer for 20 minutes. When the rice is done stir in the cilantro and lime juice.  Keep rice covered until you’re ready to assemble the burritos.

Make each burrito by first heating a flour tortilla on a large skillet over medium heat, or wrapped in moist paper towels in the microwave. When the tortilla is warm, spoon a healthy portion of barbacoa meat into the tortilla, followed by the cilantro-lime rice, beans, pico de gallo, and your choice of cheese. You can also add sour cream and/or guacamole, if you like. Fold in the sides,tightly roll the tortilla, and dig in.

Makes 8 large burritos.

Nacho Turkey Casserole

1 10-ounce package frozen whole kernel corn
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups cubed cooked turkey or chicken
1/2 cup dairy sour cream
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeqo peppers or mozzarella cheese
2 16-ounce jars salsa
5 cups slightly crushed tortilla chips

Lightly grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Place 3 cups of the tortilla chips in bottom of dish. In a large bowl combine turkey, salsa, corn, sour cream, and flour; spoon over tortilla chips.

Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups tortilla chips and the cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 5 to 10 minutes more or until heated through. Makes 8 servings.

To Tote: Cover tightly. Transport in an insulated carrier.

For 4 Servings: Prepare using method above, except assemble in a 2-quart square baking dish.

Inside Out Ravioli

1 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1 (16 ounce) package pasta, of your choice cooked and drained
2 beaten eggs
1/2 cup soft breadcrumbs
2 cups shredded ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups shreeded mozzarella cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced

Cook beef, onion, salt, pepper, and garlic cloves until onion is tender, drain.

Stir in spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce, tomato paste  Simmer 10 minutes.
Combine spinach, noodles, eggs, bread crumbs, ricotta cheese.  Place 1/2 in a greased 13X9 baking dish.
Top with 1/2 of the meat sauce.   Repeat layers.
Cover and bake@ 350 degrees 40-45 minutes.  Sprinkle with mozzarella.  Let stand 10 minutes.

 8  Servings

Marinara & Meatballs with Spaghetti

1     cup carrots, shredded
1     celery, rib cut in chunks
3/4   cup onions, diced
1/2   cup red wine
4     cloves garlic
40    meatballs, frozen
1     28 oz. can tomatoes, diced, drained
1     28 oz. can tomato sauce
1     6 1/2 oz. can tomato paste
1     tablespoon Italian seasoning
1     teaspoon pepper
1     16 oz. package spaghetti
Preheat slow cooker on high.
Process carrots, celery (cut into short pieces), onions, wine and garlic 10-15 seconds in food processor until coarsely chopped.  Transfer to slow cooker.  Stir in remaining ingredients except spaghetti.  Reduce heat to low; cover and dook 8-10 hrs.
Prepare spaghetti, 20 minutes before serving, according to package directions.  Serve marinara and meatballs over spaghetti.
 8  Servings

Chicken Minestrone with Pesto

1     28 oz. can tomatoes in puree, undrained
4     cups chicken broth
1     pound chicken thighs, skinless, boneless, cut in 1 inch cubes
1     baking potato, peeled and diced
1/2   cup onions, chopped
1/2   cup carrots, chopped
1/2   cup celery, chopped
1/4   teaspoon pepper
1     16 oz. can white beans, (cannellini) rinsed
1     zucchini, diced ( about 6 ounces)
1     cup frozen green beans, thawed
1/3   cup pesto, refrigerated, prepared, basil
Mix all ingredients except the cannellini beans, zucchini, green beans, and pesto in a 4 qt or larger slow cooker.  Cover and cook on low 7 to 9 hours until chicken is cooked through and vegetables are tender.
Stir in cannellini beans, zucchini and green beans.  Cover and cook on high for 15 minutes, or until zucchini is tender.  Spoon into bowls; top with pesto.
8  Servings