February 25, 2008 by Nathalie Herling.

This clay Pig Pot from Chilebecame this party dish inspiration. You can bake and go straight to the table. People will love the Pigging out theme and great flavor. Taco Dip-Based on the classic Layered Taco Dip Casserole.

Bean Layer:

One can of Black and one can of pinto beans

1 onion chopped and sauteed

1 teaspoon of cumin

1 teaspoon of Mexican Oregano

 and 1 teaspoon of dried epazote

1/2 teaspoon of salt and a few shakes of ground pepper

1/4 C of fresh cilantro

1 plum tomato chopped

Rinse and drain the beans. Place them in a bowl, add half of the sauteed onions and tomato to the beans and spices. Mash the beans a little. Kind of half mash. And make this the first layer of your casserole.

Salsa Layer

1/2 a Cup of Salsa of your choice (you could use a bottled or make up a fresh Salsa). I recommend a mild one so you don’t burn people from enjoying this dip.

Tortilla chip layer

3 handfuls of tortilla chips.

about two to three big handfuls of crushed up tortilla chips. I didn’t pulverize mine but made them into pieces about the size of a nickel. I use blue corn tortilla chips.

Cheese and Jalapeno Layer

1 C of grated Cheddar Cheese

Half a chopped Jalapeno

Sprinkle the Cheddar Cheese on top of the chips add a few chopped Jalapenos.

Pepper layer

Roast 3 cloves of chopped garlic in olive oil. Or if you have some roasted Garlic around.

1 Green pepper chopped

Add 1 chopped green pepper or the equivalent of a yellow, red and green pepper mixed. My grocery store slices them and offers a medley for around 99 cents that is great for this.  Mix in the same pan you roasted the garlic and remaining sauteed onions. Cook a few minutes to get the peppers to wilt a little and flavors blend.

Olive Layer

1/2 a Can of Pitted Black Olives

Take a half a can of pitted black olives or a small can of sliced black olives and put this over the pepper layer. If the olives are pitted whole cut into slices.

Second Cheese Layer

1/2 a Cup of Grated Cheddar

1/2 a Cup of Monterrey Jack

Sprinkle on top 

Put the cassarole in the over at 350 degrees for 35 min.

Remove from oven and coat with:

Sour Cream Layer

1 cup to 1.5 cups of sour cream

2 t cumin

1 t Mexican Oregano crushed

2 t chili powder

salt and pepper

Take a half a large container of Sour Cream and and add 2 t of cumin, 1 t of Mexican Oregano, 2 t of chili powder, some salt and pepper and mix.

Cover the top of the hot Taco Layers with this seasoned sour cream.

Guacamole Layer

See other recipe, mid way down page.

In the mean time make a Guacamole with at least 2 Avocados. Blending in a food processor is a good way to get a nice silky consistency for this recipe.

Take the Guacamole and carefully put in the middle of the sour-cream and spread around trying not to disturb the Sour Cream too much. I like to leave a rim of sour cream around the guacamole layer.

Fresh Garnish Layer

1/4 a Cup of Chopped Cilantro leaves

1/2 a green pepper chopped or a mix of red, green and yellow peppers if available.

2 green onions with the white parts chopped

1/4 Cup of sliced black olives

Mix all these 4 ingredients and sprinkle over the top.

Serve with a spoon and a big bowl of Tortilla Chips for dipping or just adding to the yummy mixture.

You can also make this with meat by cooking up some ground beef, add traditional taco seasonings and half an onion. Chipotle seasoned pieces of chicken can also make this more of meat eaters meal.

Time for everyone to Pig Out and they will!!

Posted in appetizers, Pomaireware, latin, recipes | 2 Comments »

February 24, 2008 by Nathalie Herling.

Really easy to make and great with cocktails, particularly your favorite Margarita or serve as an appetizer to a tropical dinner. Fried Green Bananas, topped with Guacamole and dusted with Mexican Cheese.

For your Banana Boat bottom

2 Large Green Bananas

2 cloves of minced Garlic

Oil for Frying

Cut the ends of the Green bananas off. Then run a knife slice through on side of the banana peal. Just the peal. Green bananas can be a little hard to peal but try to keep the peal from getting into too small of pieces when you take it off the banana, we will use the peal later.

Slice the banana into one inch slices. Fry both sides of the banana slices in a light coating of oil for about 1 to 2 min to make them more tender. I used a La Chamba lipped plate or a baking pan would work. 

Once the banana started to soften, remove it from the pan and put it between 2 pieces of the on the inside of the banana peel and with the palm of your hand press down gently to flatten the banana slice to about 1/4 of an inch. You could use a wooden banana press for this too but I like using the peel the most. 

Add the garlic to your oil and You should be able to gently remove the little flattened banana “pancake” back to the oil for crisping. Make about 16 or 20 from your two bananas.

You now have a little banana chip as a base for your guacamole.

If you have the time and want to be a little fancy, take the banana chips right when they come out of the oil from crisping and with small muffin cups, gentle push on the banana chips to mold to the shape of the muffin cups to make little banana cups… or boats.

Make your favorite Guacamole blend or here is mine

1 large or 2 small avocados

A plum tomato chopped

half a jalapeno minced

1/4 of an onion minced

half to all of a lime juice

1/8 of a cup of minced cilantro

dash of cumin

2 teaspoons of my favorite hot sauce (not that much a fan of Tabasco but could work).

Salt and pepper to taste

Mash the avocado up and add all the rest mix.

Put a dollop of the Guacamole on the top of each Banana Chip and dust with Queso Cotijo Anejo. I find this cheese to taste the best and be an important topping to this appetizer with its salty almost parmesan like quality. Seems to bring all the topping and bottom together really well.

Serve immediately. Particularly if you have the Margaritas ready. Check out these Cranberry Margaritas.  Salud!

Posted in appetizers, vegetarian recipes, latin, recipes, la chamba cookware | 1 Comment »