Mexican

#BundtBakers: Untraditional Bundts

~ lk529 ~ 12 Comments

4ae7b-bundtbakerspost#BundtBakers is a group of bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bundt cakes with a common ingredient or theme.

Except that this month, Colleen of Faith, Hope, Love & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice is breaking that mold and challenging us to think outside of the bundt pan. To bake something in our favorite cake pan that isn’t cake!

I didn’t know if I was going to sign up for this one given my summer blogging break but one of my best friends from college shared a Facebook video with me. Her timing couldn’t have been more perfect! The video was for a fajita bundt cake. Yes. Fajitas. In a bundt. It looked so fun, we just had to try it!

Picture your bundt cake. But instead of a rich cake center, imagine fajita seasoned chicken and veggies. Instead of a cake crust to cut through, imagine tortillas. And instead of frosting and sprinkles, imagine sour cream and cilantro.

The dinner was so fun and would definitely be a show stopper for company.

Chicken Fajita Bundt Cake (cut) for #BundtBakers from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Chicken Fajita Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

  • 3 chicken breasts, sliced
  • 2 bell peppers, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 tbsp fajita seasoning
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for greasing the pan
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 9 flour tortillas
  • 1 1/2 C shredded Mexican blend cheese
  • 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 1 C sour cream
  • 1 lime

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss together the chicken, bell peppers, onion, fajita seasoning, olive oil, and salt. Bake 30 minutes.
  3. Reduce oven temperature to 360 degrees F.
  4. Brush a bundt pan with olive oil. Tuck 5 tortillas into the pan, add the remaining 4 tortillas behind the first layer. Put half of the cheese into the tortilla-lined bundt pan. Top with the cooked chicken mixture, tomato, cilantro, and remaining cheese.
  5. Press tortillas over the cheese. Bake 25 minutes.
  6. Flip out the fajita cake.
  7. Mix sour cream with a little lime juice, to taste. “Frost” the “cake.” Garnish with chopped cilantro and lime zest.

*This recipe is adapted from Tom at http://twistedfood.co.uk/giant-chicken-fajita-donut/*

Chicken Fajita Bundt Cake for #BundtBakers from Sew You Think You Can Cook

You can see all our of lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about #BundtBakers, can be found on our home page.

And don’t forget to take a peek at what other talented bakers have created this month:

Bacon, Zucchini, Raisins and Cheddar Bundt Cake from I Love Bundt Cakes

Cheesesteak Bundt from Cookaholic Wife

Cherry Bundt Breakfast Danish from Faith, Hope, Love & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice

Chive Potato Filled Cheeseburger Meatloaf Bundt from Food Lust People Love

Classic Vanilla Flan Bundt from All That’s Left Are The Crumbs

Pasta Chicken Bundt from Sneha’s Recipe

Soap Bundt Cake from La Mejor Manera

Spinach Pasta Surprise from A Day in the Life on the Farm

#SundaySupper: Easy Cinco de Mayo Recipes

~ lk529 ~ 23 Comments

Mexican food used to be the most frequently made (and blogged about) cuisine in my house. And, while it still is, I haven’t been very creative with it as of late and our “Mexican Mondays” have definitely become a thing of the past. Now we just have Mexican food whenever the refrigerator ingredients dictate it and it’s usually a method for using up leftovers.

That being said, Mexican is usually a safe bet for our kids, too. They {usually} like beans of any kind, are more likely to eat ground meat instead of sliced or shredded, and of course, cheese.

I don’t often think of side dishes when it comes to preparing Mexican food, but today I have for you a very simple Black Bean Cilantro Rice that is prepared in one pot!

Making this dish was the first time I successfully made rice without a rice cooker. I’m tempted to even call it fool-proof!

I served this rice on a Friday during Lent alongside some quick pan fried fish. It would compliment pork quite nicely, too.

IMG_2833After declaring he didn’t like it, Firecracker finally tried some of the rice, and ended up asking for seconds! I was surprised Treat wouldn’t eat it, though he did help me with some food styling.

Thank you to Shelby of Grumpy’s Honeybunch for hosting today’s event. Be sure to scroll past my recipe for more great, easy idea for you Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

Black Bean Cilantro Rice

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 C minced red onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 C Jasmine rice
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 C vegetable stock
  • 1 can (14 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 C fresh cilantro, chopped
  • juice 1-2 limes

Steps:

  1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Saute onions until translucent, add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds. Add the rice, onion  powder, cumin, and salt. Stir 30 seconds to evenly coat the rice. Add the stock and beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat for 10 minutes before stirring in the cilantro and lime juice.

*This recipe is adapted from Kelly at http://www.mountainmamacooks.com/2017/03/one-pot-black-beans-cilantro-lime-rice/*

Black Bean Cilantro Rice for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Appetizers

Drinks

Entrees

Tacos

Sides and Sauces

Sweets

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement

#SundaySupper: Easy Taco Recipes for Taco Tuesday

~ lk529 ~ 23 Comments

 

Warning! This recipe is insanely addicting. It will make you want to go out and buy all of the chorizo you can find. In fact, I did just that. However, at the time of purchase there were only two packages of chorizo left on the shelf. But still! I don’t think I can go to the store without getting a package. All because of these tacos. Truth be told, we made these twice in one week! They’re that good. We’ve told friends about them and have promised to make them next time they come over. I need to double the amount of chorizo from now on so that we’ll actually have leftovers!

The first time I made these tacos I did everything ahead of time. I made the salsa and crema around 4pm. Because Treat took a nap I jumped at the opportunity and cooked the chorizo, too. Not one to squander my slightly less hectic house, I decided to assemble a couple of tacos and have a photo shoot while the light was still good.

It’s hard not to yell at your toddler for standing on his chair while you’re standing on yours to get that aerial shot. You’ll see he has some of that salsa on his beloved Thomas plate. He was mostly interested in picking out all of the black beans, one of his favorite foods.

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We had to take a break from the photo shoot to bring Treat up from his nap. Both boys ended up eating their dinner before Daddy got home from work! At least they both adored the dish enough to still sit with us at the table nibbling while we scarfed down some tacos.

Firecracker also decided to help me with some food styling by dumping a heaping spoonful of salsa onto one of the tacos. (Good thing I was already done!)

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That helpful toddler ensured that his little brother had enough salsa to eat, too. It’s moments like these that melt my heart. They’re such good brothers to each other. The love that Treat has had for his older brother has been obviously visible in his adoring looks since month 1. Firecracker also took to our family’s new addition within a couple of weeks, trying to say his name long before the rest of his vocabulary emerged. I just hope this brotherly love lasts them a lifetime.

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Can you believe that until these tacos I’d actually never had queso fresco!? Even with my series of Mexican Monday, which has been severely lacking lately. I’ve typically been “too cheap” or simply unable to find it. Now, living in Southern California, I had no trouble finding a large variety of Mexican cheeses at the store. The queso fresco reminded me of a saltier version of string cheese, so if you can’t find it, I’d suggest shredded mozzarella.

I had bought some typical taco toppings, lettuce and tomato, and then completely forgot about them! Honestly, these tacos shine without them and the lime and cilantro crema keeps them feeling light and fresh.

Chorizo Tacos with Black Bean & Corn Salsa

Ingredients for tacos:

  • 1-2 lb ground chorizo, casings removed if using links
  • soft shell taco tortillas, we prefer flour but corn would work well, too
  • queso fresco

Ingredients for salsa:

  • 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 can (15 oz) fire roasted corn, drained
  • 1/4 C diced red onion
  • zest 1 lime
  • juice 1 lime
  • 1-2 tbsp agave, to taste
  • fresh cilantro, torn, to taste

Ingredients for crema:

  • 1/4 C sour cream
  • 1/4 C fresh cilantro, chopped
  • zest 1 lime
  • juice 1 lime

Steps:

  1. Cook ground chorizo in a skillet over medium high heat. Drain and set aside.
  2. Make salsa: Combine all salsa ingredients in a large bowl. Season to taste with S+P. Keep in fridge until ready to serve.
  3. Make crema: Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl. Season to taste with salt. Add water if needed to thin it out.
  4. Assemble tacos with chorizo, salsa, crema, and queso fresco. Option to add other favorite taco toppings: avocado, lettuce, tomato.

*This recipe is modified from Keri at http://fashionablefoods.com/2016/04/25/chorizo-tacos/

Chorizo Tacos with Corn & Black Bean Salsa Sew You Think You Can Cook (1)

Update October 1, 2017: October 4th is National Taco Day and to celebrate the Sunday Supper Movement has collected about two dozen fun and simple taco recipes to celebrate! Be sure to scroll past my recipe to see the mouth watering collection for yourself!

The taco recipe I’m sharing with you today is in fact an oldie but goodie. These Chorizo Tacos with Black Bean & Corn Salsa were first enjoyed about a year ago (8/21/16 to be exact) and shared here on Sew You Think You Can Cook. I kid you not when I say these have made a very regular appearance on our dinner table since then!

Because chorizo is already seasoned with incredible Mexican flavors, all you need to do is cook it up and drain the fat! The salsa is simply mixing a few ingredients and is a favorite of my kids. The crema is another 3 ingredients. Done!

Breakfast, Dessert, and Alternative Tacos

Lunch and Dinner Tacos

 

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

Did you know that it is incredibly easy to make your own enchilada sauce? The process is quite simple and will be completed in under 15 minutes.

It’s actually cheaper, too! A 19 oz can of enchilada sauce will cost you around $2.50. A 15 oz can of tomato sauce will cost you between $1 and $2 depending on your brand preference. If you have a well stocked spice cabinet, you’re looking at less than $2 for approximately 2 C of enchilada sauce.

Another big benefit? No ingredients you can’t pronounce and you can adjust the spiciness to your perfect palate!

I haven’t purchased a single can of enchilada sauce since discovering this recipe! If I’m making enchiladas I can make the sauce quickly during the day and have it ready to go when it’s time to assemble the enchiladas. It can even be made a few days in advance, too. Or, if you’re proficient at canning, go ahead and make a big batch! Bonus points if you grow your own tomatoes to make your own tomato sauce. (You won’t find my black thumb winning those bonus points any time soon.)

Homemade Enchilada Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1/2 minced onion (any variety will do)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp chili powder, or to taste
  • 1/2 tbsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
  • 1/2 C water

Steps:

  1. Heat olive oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Saute the onions until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the spices and stir to coat. Add in the tomato sauce and water. Bring to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer 5 minutes, or until desired consistency is reached.

*This recipe is adapted from Kristine at http://kristineskitchenblog.com/homemade-enchilada-sauce/*

Homemade Enchilada Sauce Sew You Think You Can Cook

The enchiladas pictured above include mashed sweet potato, pulled pork, and shredded cheese.

Chicken Chorizo Meatballs

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

It’s Mexican Monday everybody! I’m too afraid to go back through and find out when my last Mexican Monday post was, I’m sure it’s so far back it’d be embarrassing. And a little sad. Our Mexican Monday endeavor has finally kicked the bucket. Not intentionally, mind you, and I can come up with all sorts of scheduling related excuses. And there’s always that feeling of getting caught in a rut.

But not today! (Or well, the day we made and ate these.) Today there’s a brand new Mexicany (it’s a word, don’t worry about it) recipe to share. Meatballs with chorizo! Aka meatballs with flavor! I used ground chicken instead of ground beef because that’s what I had, but I definitely want to try these with ground beef, too, I imagine they’d be even better!

I’m not quite sure what pasta/sauce pairing would work with these so I would suggest using these for some game day grub or party appetizer. Queso makes a great dipper, or salsa, sour cream, even guacamole. They’d probably even work over top a taco salad, too.

Chicken Chorizo Meatballs

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/4 onion, minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 3/4 C panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 C grated cheese (I used a combo of Monterrey and Colby Jack)
  • 1 tbsp dried cilantro
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 2 links Mexican chorizo, skins removed

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet.
  2. In a small skillet over medium-high heat saute onion in olive oil until tender. Add the garlic and cook another minute, set aside.
  3. In a large bowl whisk together egg and milk. Add the panko, cooked onion and garlic, cheese, and spices. Mix in the meat; I found a fork worked well to incorporate the chorizo into the chicken. Season with S+P.
  4. Form into golf ball sized meatballs; I found wetting my hands helpful in preventing the mixture from sticking to me. Place on prepared baking sheet.
  5. Bake 12-15 minutes, until an internal temperature of 165 degrees F is reached.

*This recipe is adapted from Renee at http://leitesculinaria.com/101202/recipes-chorizo-meatballs.html*

Chicken Chorizo Meatballs | Sew You Think You Can Cook

#handcraftededibles: Spice Blends

~ lk529 ~ 6 Comments

#handcraftedediblesIn an effort to make all of her holiday gifts this year, Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla invited some of her favorite foodie bloggers to share recipes for hand-crated edibles. Over the course of the next twelve weeks, we’ll be sharing recipes from libations (last week’s theme) to cookie platters. Hope you’ll follow along for inspiration.

I’m bummed I completely lost track of dates because I could’ve shared my Homemade Baileys for last week’s Libations theme. But looks like Rebekah of Making Miracles had that covered for me!

Today I am re-sharing my Homemade Taco Seasoning for the spice blends theme. I thought about my Gingerbread Spice Mix, but I saw someone else was already bringing that to the gift basket.

The following recipe makes approximately 1/2 C of seasoning.

Taco Seasoning

Ingredients:

  • 4 tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tbsp cumin
  • 4 tsp kosher salt
  • 4 tsp black pepper
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Steps:

  1. Combine all ingredients. Store in an air tight container. Use in your favorite recipes.

*This recipe is adapted from Bill at http://allrecipes.com/recipe/taco-seasoning-i/detail.aspx *

Taco Seasoning

To give homemade taco seasoning as a gift, place taco seasoning in a nice canister or mason jar and include a couple recipe cards of your favorite Mexican recipes.

Here are some other sensational spice blends perfect for giving:

Next week check back for our recipes for special diets; dishes that may be gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free, soy-free, or nut-free. Or check out our #handcraftededibles pinterest board.

Chipotle Lime Shrimp with Strawberry Salsa

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

They say you eat with your eyes first.

That must be true because viewing the stunning food photography by Jessica of How Sweet it is caused me to try this intriguing flavor combination: chipotle, strawberry, and black beans.

I admit, I added the black beans – the addition that really had my husband scratching his head. Instead of eating this Mexican Monday meal as tacos, we had tostadas. And tostadas call for refried beans to act as the “glue” that holds the meat and toppings in place. I didn’t think traditional refried beans would really be the way to go with shrimp so I opted for refried black beans. I’m very relieved to inform you that it worked!

I cut some serious heat from the original recipe and I still found it to pack on the spice. Because I freeze my chipotle in adobo in ice cube trays I never know until the cube thaws if I have just sauce, just pepper, or a combination of both. Jessica’s recipe calls for the sauce to be in the marinade – instead I had a pepper which I cut in half and tossed in the bag. This method is a great alternative if you don’t want too much heat but still want that smokey spice from the chipotle peppers. Additionally, I only used half of one (large) jalapeno instead of two whole jalapenos in the strawberry salsa – by all means, if you like it spicy add as much jalapeno as you like!

Chipotle Lime Shrimp

Ingredients:

  • 1 chipotle pepper in adobo, halved
  • 2 limes (zest and juice)
  • 1 tsp minced garlic
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 lb peeled and deveined shrimp

Steps:

  1. Place all ingredients in a bowl, cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  2. Cook shrimp 2 minutes on each side. I did this on a lightly greased grill pan. If you cook the shrimp in a skillet, add 1 tbsp of olive oil.
  3. Serve shrimp with strawberry salsa (recipe below) in a taco with lettuce and cheese or as a tostada with refried black beans and cheese.

Strawberry Salsa

Ingredients:

  • 8 oz fresh strawberries, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and diced
  • 1/4 C fresh cilantro (I used Gourmet Garden lightly dried cilantro)
  • juice of 1 lime

Steps:

  1. Combine all ingredients and season to taste with salt. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

*These recipes are adapted from Jessica at http://www.howsweeteats.com/2014/04/chipotle-lime-shrimp-tacos-with-strawberry-salsa-you-can-totally-preorder-my-book/*

Chipotle Lime Shrimp with Strawberry Salsa | Sew You Think You Can Cook

#FoodieExtravaganza: Potatoes

~ lk529 ~ 29 Comments

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Hello, August, it’s so nice to see you! Did you know that August is the only month without a holiday? (Unless you count my birthday!) Good thing there are plenty of food holidays to get us through the last full month of summer. There’s National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (that was yesterday, folks), National Root Beer Float Day (tomorrow), National S’mores Day (10th), National Rum Day (16th), and National ‘Bacon Lovers’ Day (20th) to name a few.. okay a lot.

But we’re not celebrating any of those, today.

The Foodie Extravaganza is a monthly party hosted by bloggers who love food! Each month we incorporate one main ingredient or theme into recipes to share with you, and today we’re celebrating potatoes! (National Potato Day is August 19th.)

Potatoes are probably the most versatile item in the produce department. Not only are there a wide variety of flavors, textures, and colors to choose from, there are countless of ways to prepare them! An excellent choice from our host Kathleen of Fearlessly Creative Mammas. Be sure to scroll past my recipe for a great selection of new and fun ways to prepare your next spud.

Chipotle Lime Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 lb fingerling potato medley, halved
  • 4 tsp extra virgin olive oil, divided use
  • 1-2 tbsp diced chipotle in adobo with sauce
  • 1 tsp minced garlic (I used Gourmet Garden stir-in garlic paste)
  • zest 1-2 limes
  • juice 1-2 limes
  • fresh cilantro (I used Gourmet Garden lightly dried cilantro)

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Toss the potatoes in 2 tsp olive oil and season with salt. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and roast 30-35 minutes, or until fork tender.
  3. In a small bowl whisk together chipotle in adobo, 2 tsp olive oil, garlic, and the zest and juice of limes. Season to taste with salt.
  4. Toss roasted potatoes in as much dressing and fresh cilantro as desired. Serve warm.

*This recipe is adapted from Meredith at http://www.insockmonkeyslippers.com/summer-braise-chipolte-and-lime-roasted-potatoes-giveaway*

Chipotle Lime Roasted Potaotes for #FoodieExtravaganza from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Be sure to check out the rest of these potato recipes:

Latvian Spiced Dill French Fries from Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Chicken and Mashed Potato Waffles from Culinary Adventures with Camilla

 Horseradish Potato Au Gratin from From Gate to Plate

Roasted Purple Potatoes with Rosemary and Thyme from Our Good Life

Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup from Making Miracles

Llapingachos (Ecuadorian Stuffed Potato Patties) from Tara’s Multicultural Table

Tortilla Espanola (Spanish Omelet) from Cali’s Cuisine

Japanese Moon Gazing Potatoes from Ninja Baker

Potato Gnocchi with Wild Mushrooms from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Sweet Potato Spiced Swirl Bread from Baking in Pyjamas

Loaded Pierogi from Cooking With Carlee

Bloody Mary Potato Salad from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Colcannon with Kale from Cherishing a Sweet Life

Jersey Royals with Mint from Food Lust People Love

Naked Ladies with their Legs Crossed from Passion Kneaded

Shredded Potato Crusted Chicken from The Freshman Cook

Copycat Chicken & Gnocchi Soup from Pantry Friendly Cooking

#HotSummerEats: Mexican Corn Salad

~ lk529 ~ 22 Comments

HotSummerEatsToday is the first day of #HotSummerEats, a blogging event headed up by Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla. To kick off the week I went in a Mexican direction – it is Mexican Monday after all!

My favorite thing about summer produce is the fresh corn on the cob. I pretty much only make it one way but have always been intrigued by the Mexican Corn on the Cob you see from street vendors. But I imagine it to be super messy. Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of plays on this favorite snack by taking the corn off the cob and turning it into a side dish. I jumped on the bandwagon and I’m so glad I did! We loved this corn salad and used in on tostadas and in tacos.

caribeque logoTo add a little punch of flavor to the salad I used the spice blend Island Thyme from Caribeque. To say we like this blend would be a big understatement. Twice now I have sprinkled it on pork chops for a quick weeknight dinner, even serving it to guests who enjoyed it as much as we did. I’ve even used it compensate for taco seasoning when I’d used up the last of my supply and needed a couple tablespoons more. My little man liked the corn salad (he picked out the corn and wouldn’t touch the Feta) and he’s gobbled up the pork seasoned with Island Thyme, too!

Mexican Corn Salad

Ingredients:

Steps:

  1. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the thawed corn and allow corn to char about 5 minutes – don’t stir too often but don’t let the corn burn.
  2. In a bowl whisk together the mayo, cilantro paste, garlic paste, lime juice, and Island Thyme seasoning.
  3. Add the corn, onion, and jalapeno. Mix until combined. Gently fold in the Feta.

*This recipe is modified from Danielle at http://www.mostlyfoodandcrafts.com/2015/05/mexican-street-corn-salad.html* (Wow, I just realized Danielle is one of the #HotSummerEats bloggers! Too funny.)

Mexican Corn Salad for #HotSummerEats from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Don’t forget to enter our giveaway and be sure to check out the other bloggers who posted more summertime recipes today:

Thank you to #HotSummerEats sponsors BenBella Vegan, Caribeque, Casabella, Gourmet Garden, Intensity Academy, Not Ketchup, Out of the Weeds, Pirate Jonny’s, Quirk Books, Spicely Organics, T.Lish , and Voodoo Chef for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for#HotSummerEats without additional compensation. All opinions are my own.

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SRC: Black Bean and Beer Queso

~ lk529 ~ 38 Comments

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Today is another Secret Recipe Club Reveal Day! In the secret recipe club, each participating blogger is assigned a blog from another participating blogger and secretly searches their site for something to recreate. The accompanying blog post then goes live on reveal day! So while I was immersed in my assigned blog, someone else was picking through mine! I’m so excited to be part of this group, to see what on my blog peaks other’s interests and to stumble upon new blogs and new recipes.

This month I was assigned A Calculated Whisk written by Becky. Becky cooks and bakes gluten-free and mostly paleo foods. Those dietary restrictions don’t have any impact on her recipe index and I found myself pinning 7 dessert or breakfast recipes! (Maple Apple Spice Cake, Srawberry Creamsicle Sherbet, and Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Cupcakes to name a few)After #BrunchWeek I really couldn’t justify making another sweet in my kitchen – I’ll be on a sugar time-out for a while. I turned instead to Sweet Potato and Roasted Garlic Hummus (Actually, if my husband knew that was an option I’d probably be in trouble right now for not picking it. Don’t worry, it’ll happen!) or Creamy Beer and Black Bean Queso.

I decided on the queso along with the idea of turning it from an appetizer into a meal. I had two chorizo links in the freezer and thought of using the queso for tostadas. Instead I decided on nachos. Tortilla chips, chorizo, black beans, and mushrooms were covered with creamy beer and black bean queso and baked for about 5 minutes then topped with fresh lettuce, tomato, and scallions.

I actually found the texture of the queso to be more of a fondue. I don’t know if that’s because I let too much of the beer evaporate or if it’s supposed to be that way. Either way it was delicious and I would happily serve it with bread, veggies, and apples in a fondue pot! (It could be the use of alcohol that made me think fondue.) I had halved the recipe as it was just the two of us, but honestly – we could have easily eaten another tray of nachos – not because we needed to but because it was that good! I will be making this queso again!

Black Bean and Beer Queso

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 shallot, finely diced
  • 1 jalapeno, diced (I removed half of the seeds)
  • 1/2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 3/4 C Mexican beer
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 6 oz white cheddar cheese, shredded

Steps:

  1. In a high-sided skillet over medium-high heat saute shallot and jalapeno in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for about 1 minute. Add the black beans, beer, and cumin. Cook 5 minutes until slightly reduced.
  2. Stir in the cream cheese until melted, I find it’s best to do this a couple spoonfuls at a time. When cream cheese is fully incorporated melt in the shredded cheddar, again in batches. Stir until melted and creamy.
  3. Serve as a dip or as nachos (pictured).

*This recipe is adapted from Becky at http://www.acalculatedwhisk.com/2013/05/creamy-beer-black-bean-queso.html*

Black Bean and Beer Queso | Sew You Think You Can Cook

To see the other bloggers who participated in the Secret Recipe Club this month click here: