Mexi-Cali Salad Bowls

easy peasy, lime squeezy

This quick Mexico-California fusion salad continues my spring salad rainbow series. I make this salad all the time. It's a great week night meal, if I'm cooking just for me, or have next to nothing in my refrigerator. We spent the weekend out of town with friends (and their new little girl Marilyn). So, I needed an easy dinner for tonight. This was just perfect.

This salad requires only 6 main ingredients: crushed blue corn chips, lettuce, onion, bell pepper, black beans, and cheese. But, it's so much better with spices and an array of toppings. I suggest chili powder, paprika, cumin, and garlic powder to spice things up. And, topping everything off with salsa, sour cream, sliced avocado, cilantro, hot sauce, and a lime. But, you can do whatever you want with this salad. That's one of the best things about it...the other is that it's delicious! Make this quick, easy, customizable, and tasty salad, here's how...

Ingredients - Serves 4
~ 2 C Blue Corn Chips, crushed
1-2 Heads Romain Lettuce, roughly chopped
1 T Canola Oil
1 Yellow Onion, thinly sliced
1 Red Bell Pepper, thinly sliced
1/2 T Chili Powder
1 tsp. Paprika
1 tsp. Ground Cumin
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 Can Low-Sodium Black Beans, rinsed & drained
1 C Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese
Toppings: Salsa, Sour Cream, Avocado, Cilantro, Hot Sauce, and/or Lime Slices

Directions
Make the salad bowls: In 4 large bowls, divide the crushed blue corn chips and chopped Romain lettuce evenly. Set aside.

Cook the veggies: In a medium skillet add 1 T oil. Heat over med-high until very hot. Carefully add the onions and pepper. Sauté until soft and the onion begins to brown, 6-8 minutes. Add in the spices and cook another minute. Add the black beans, reduce the heat to low, and warm through.

Top the bowls: Once the veggies are ready, top the prepared bowls evenly with the mixture. Add the cheese and any (or all) toppings desired. Enjoy!

Grilled Fish Tacos w/ Fresh Peach Salsa

this recipe is just peachy-keen...

I visited my family in Huntington, WV this past weekend. I planned the trip in so that I could swim in my Papaul's pool one more time - he says this is the last time he'll be opening it but, we will see. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate (it was cloudy and a little cold) but, that didn't stop me. I still got in. It was fun to reminisce about the things we did (as kids) in that pool. So, many memories! One thing we always did on those summer days was cookout. So, in keeping with tradition, my husband and I made a big meal with the help of our family.

The star of the meal was my fresh peach salsa. Peaches, tomatoes, peppers, onion, and more are chopped up, mixed together, and served. I served this salsa with both grilled fish and pork and some other taco fixings. While I don't eat pork, I was told the rub I made (same as the fish with the addition of onion powder) was delicious. So, try this with what you like, even a chip will do. Here's how to make it...

Ingredients - Serves 8-10
Peach Salsa
4 Peaches, peeled, pitted, & diced
4 Roma Tomatoes, diced
1 Red Bell Pepper, diced
1/2 Red Onion, fine diced
1 Jalapeno, seeded & fine diced
1 Chipotle in Adobo, chopped + 1 T sauce
1 Lime, juiced
1-2 tsp. Granulated Sugar

Grilled Fish & Fixings

1 T Smoked Paprika
1 T Chile Powder
1/2 T Ground Cumin
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
1 tsp. Kosher Salt
1/2 tsp. Black Pepper
6 Tilapia Fillets
Olive Oil
Corn/Flour Tortillas
Optional Fixings: Lime Wedges, Sour Cream, & Cilantro

Directions
Begin by making the salsa: Combine the peaches, tomatoes, red pepper, onion, jalapeno, chipotle, adobo sauce, lime juice, and sugar in a large bowl. Toss everything together and taste. As needed, adjust the sugar. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.

Prepare the fish: In a small bowl combine the spices, salt, and pepper. Place the fish on a tray and drizzle with a little olive oil. Sprinkle the spice rub on both sides and rub to coat the fish well. Set aside for 10 minutes.

Grill the fish: Meanwhile, heat the grill to med-high. Then add the fish and cook until opaque all the way through, 4-5 minutes per side. Remove to a plate, cool a bit, then cut into pieces. Grill the tortillas, if desired.

Assemble the tacos: On a tortilla place a few pieces of fish, 2-3 T peach salsa, sour cream, and cilantro, if desired. Serve with a lime wedge and your favorite Mexican sides. Enjoy!

Mexican Style Cornbread

what vegetable can you throw away the outside, cook the inside, eat the outside, and then throw away the inside?

CORN! Fresh on the cob corn bursts with natural sweetness this time of year. It is the perfect accompaniment for so many meals. I will never forget the summer of my 7th birthday when my mama had to cut my corn off the cob. I had lost both of my front baby teeth and it was impossible for me to eat. I was so disappointed!

This cornbread recipe calls for cutting corn off the cob too, but I promise you won't be disappointed. My family has been making this for many years. I'm not sure where the recipe came from, but it is easy and delicious. It also makes a ton. Serve this at your next cookout - here's how to make it...

Ingredients - Serves 8-10
1 Box Miracle Maize Cornbread Mix (plus ingredients on back to make cornbread)
1 Can Cream Style Corn
2/3C Salsa Con Queso (suggest Tostitos)
1 Ear Corn, kernels cut off
1 Jalapeno, sliced
Butter, for greasing

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a large caste iron pan or 13x9 baking dish. In a large bowl prepare the cornbread mix according to package directions (omit the oil). Stir in the cream corn and salsa con queso. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and top with the fresh corn kernels and jalapenos. Bake for 28-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Allow the cornbread to cool for 2-3 minutes and then slice and serve. Perhaps you could tell my corn-y joke too??

Deliciously Easy Cheesy Enchiladas

ooey, gooey, goodness over tortillas stuffed with veggies


Spring might have come by calendar on March 20th, but here in Cincinnati we have seen nothing but grey skies, cold temperatures, and yes, more snow. Sadly we have not sprung from our hibernation or shed our winter wear. So, to keep us warm, but inspire our household with festive colors, I made my Deliciously Easy Cheesy Enchiladas on Sunday.

Steven's parents were in town to visit and we spent the day huddled at home as a mix of rain and snow poured down outside. Here's how...

Recipe - Serves 4-6
Enchilada Sauce
4T Butter
3T Flour
2C Stock (veggie or chicken)
8oz. Block Sharp Cheddar Cheese, cubed
2T Chili Powder
1T Paprika
1T Cumin
1/2T Garlic Powder
1+ tsp Hot Sauce

Stuffed Tortillas
8 Tortilla Shells (burrito style)
3C Cooked Meat (optional) - shredded chicken, browned ground beef, etc.
15oz. Can Black Beans, rinsed & drained
3C Veggies - bell pepper, green onion, corn, salsa, etc.
Cooking Spray
Toppings - Cilantro, Sour Cream, Guacamole, Limes, etc.

Directions

Begin by making a roux: melt the butter in a large, high-sided, skillet over med-high heat; start adding the flour, a tablespoon at a time, and whisking until it is incorporated and begins to bubble.

Turn the heat to medium and allow the roux to cook as you add your spices - chili powder, paprika, cumin, and garlic powder - whisk the spices with the roux until combined. It will be very dark.

Slowly add the stock, whisking constantly to ensure no lumps form. Add the hot sauce and allow the sauce to cook until thick, about 3 minutes. Turn the heat off and add the cubed cheese. Whisk the cheese until completely incorporated into the sauce. It will be a golden color.


Preheat the oven to 350. Prepare your baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Build the stuffed tortillas by adding your meat (optional), beans, and veggies to each, rolling the tortilla like a burrito, and placing it seam-side down into your baking dish. If the tortillas don't want to roll, heat them in the microwave for 15 seconds to soften them up. After all of the stuffed tortillas are in the baking dish, pour the cheesy enchilada sauce over them. Be sure the tortillas are completely coated.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, uncovered, until dark orange and bubbling. Allow to cool for a few minutes and then top as you like. Enjoy with Mexican style rice!