Cinco de Derby?

Well, May is almost here and that means two things. The running of the Kentucky Derby and celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Well, I decided to post some recipes in honor of both events.

Let's start with the Cinco de Mayo recipes and what could be a better appetizer than these delicious Southwestern Egg Rolls.

Southwestern Egg Rolls

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 skinless, boneless chicken breast half
2 tablespoons minced green onion
2 tablespoons minced red bell pepper
1/3 cup frozen corn kernels
1/4 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons diced jalapeno peppers
1/2 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/3 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground cayenne pepper
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
5 (6 inch) flour tortillas
1 quart oil for deep frying

Directions

1. Rub 1 tablespoon vegetable oil over chicken breast. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook chicken approximately 5 minutes per side, until meat is no longer pink and juices run clear. Remove from heat and set aside.
2. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in green onion and red pepper. Cook and stir 5 minutes, until tender.
3. Dice chicken and mix into the pan with onion and red pepper. Mix in corn, black beans, jalapeno peppers, parsley, cumin, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir 5 minutes, until well blended and tender. Remove from heat and stir in Monterrey Jack cheese so that it melts.
4. Wrap tortillas with a clean, lightly moist cloth. Microwave on high approximately 1 minute, or until hot and pliable.
5. Spoon even amounts of the mixture into each tortilla. Fold ends of tortillas, then roll tightly around mixture. Secure with toothpicks. Arrange in a medium dish, cover with plastic, and place in the freezer. Freeze at least 4 hours.
6. In a large, deep skillet, heat oil for deep frying to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Deep fry frozen, stuffed tortillas 10 minutes each, or until dark golden brown. Drain on paper towels before serving.

Now, what do we eat these egg rolls with? How about some fresh, homemade salsa? You got it. Here are a couple of salsa recipes.

Basic Salsa

Ingredients

4 ripe tomatoes or 4 plum tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3 tablespoons)
1 jalapeno (or to taste), minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

In a small bowl, mix together the tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, coriander. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips.

Mango Salsa

Ingredients

1 mango, peeled and diced
1/2 cup peeled, diced cucumber
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno
1/3 cup diced red onion
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/3 cup roughly chopped cilantro leaves
Salt and pepper

Directions

Combine the mango, cucumber, jalapeno, red onion, lime juice and cilantro leaves and mix well. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Salsa Verde Pueblera

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds tomatillos, husks removed
1 serrano chile, more or less, optional
1 garlic clove
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves
1 cup chopped white onion
Grated queso fresco, or Cotija cheese, optional

Directions

Rinse the tomatillos under cold water. Put them in a pot and cover them with water. Bring to a boil, over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered, until their color has changed and they are cooked and soft but not falling apart, about 10 minutes.

Add the tomatillos to a blender along with the chile, the garlic clove and a teaspoon of salt. Puree until smooth. Stir in the chopped cilantro and onion. Taste for salt and add more, if necessary. Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with cheese, if desired.

Now we move on to the main course. Here are two dishes that I absolutely love.

Fried Cheese Empanadas with Chili Con Queso

Ingredients

3 cups chopped, cooked chicken, about 4 to 5 chicken breasts
1 (8-ounce) package shredded colby and Monterey Jack cheese blend
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 chopped red bell pepper
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (15-ounce) package refrigerated pie crusts
Water

Directions

Preheat vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl using a rubber spatula, combine the chicken, colby and Monterey cheese, cream cheese, red pepper, jalapeno, cumin, salt, and pepper. Remove 1 pie crust from pie tin onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 15-inch circle. Cut out rounds, using a 3-inch cookie cutter. Re-roll dough as needed. Repeat procedure with remaining pie crusts, making 12 to 15 circles total. Arrange 1 round on a clean, flat surface. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of crust with water. Place 1 heaping teaspoon of chicken mixture in the center of the round. Fold the dough over the filling, pressing the edges with a fork to seal. Repeat with the remaining rounds and chicken mixture. Place empanadas in deep-fryer for 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown. Top with con queso dip.

Note: Up to this point, the recipe can be made ahead and frozen for up to 1 month

Chili Con Queso Dip
1 pound package Cheddar (recommended: Velveeta)
1 (16-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
2 teaspoons hot sauce

In a medium sauce pot, slowly melt Cheddar over medium/low heat. When cheese is fully melted add tomatoes, chiles, and hot sauce, stirring with spoon until combined well.

Pour cheese dip into a small casserole dish and serve as a dip for the empanadas or pour on top for a real cheesy effect.

Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast
Salt and pepper
2 teaspoons cumin powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon Mexican Spice Blend
1 red onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
5 canned whole green chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
4 canned chipotle chiles, seeded and minced
1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour
16 corn tortillas
1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce, canned
1 cup shredded Cheddar and Jack cheeses
Garnish: chopped cilantro leaves, chopped scallions, sour cream, chopped tomatoes

Directions

Coat large saute pan with oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken over medium heat, allow 7 minutes each side or until no longer pink. Sprinkle chicken with cumin, garlic powder and Mexican spices before turning. Remove chicken to a platter, allow to cool.

Saute onion and garlic in chicken drippings until tender. Add corn and chiles. Stir well to combine. Add canned tomatoes, saute 1 minute.

Pull chicken breasts apart by hand into shredded strips. Add shredded chicken to saute pan, combine with vegetables. Dust the mixture with flour to help set.

Microwave tortillas on high for 30 seconds. This softens them and makes them more pliable. Coat the bottom of 2 (13 by 9-inch) pans with a ladle of enchilada sauce. Using a large shallow bowl, dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce to lightly coat. Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each tortilla. Fold over filling, place 8 enchiladas in each pan with seam side down. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree F oven until cheese melts. Garnish with cilantro, scallion, sour cream and chopped tomatoes before serving. Serve with Spanish rice and beans.

Now, what's for dessert? Flan or churros? Hmmmmm...I'll let you decide.

Kahlua Flan

Ingredients

3/4 cup sugar
4 large eggs
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
2 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur (recommended: Kahlua)
Mexican chocolate shavings and cocoa powder, garnish

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a small saucepan, cook the sugar over medium heat until it starts to melt. Lower the heat and cook until caramelized to a golden brown. (Do not stir or touch the sugar, but swirl the pan to melt evenly.)

Pour into a metal flan mold or 9-inch cake pan. Turn the dish and swirl to evenly coat the bottom. Let caramel cool and harden.

Place the dish in a larger roasting pan and add hot water to come halfway up the sides of the baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the condensed and evaporated milks and Kahlua and whisk well to blend. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake until set and just firm in the center but still jiggles slightly, 50 minutes to 1 hour. Let cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.

To serve, run a thin sharp knife around the rim of the flan. Place a platter or large plate on top of the flan and gently flip over so the plate is on the bottom. Lift away the mold. Garnish with powdered cocoa and top with Mexican chocolate shavings.

Cut into wedges and serve immediately.

Churros

Ingredients

Vegetable oil, for deep frying
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 stick butter
1 cup water
2 teaspoons sugar*
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 orange, zested
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg*
4 eggs

Directions

Fill a deep-fryer or large Dutch oven halfway with vegetable oil and heat to 350 degrees F.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon together in a large shallow bowl, set aside.

Combine the butter, water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Once it has come to a boil, lower to a medium heat and add the flour, orange zest and nutmeg, stirring constantly until it comes away from the pan and it forms a ball. Transfer dough to a bowl and use an electric mixer to help cool it off. At this point you can whisk in the eggs, 1 at a time, until it becomes a smooth batter. Transfer the mixture into a large piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Working in batches, carefully pipe 4-inch long ribbons directly into the hot oil to fry. Fry until golden, turning if necessary, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove with tongs and drain on paper towels. Transfer the churros into the sugar/cinnamon mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately while still warm.

Corn Muffin Churros

Ingredients

Vegetable oil, for frying (about 6 cups)
1 8.5-ounce box corn muffin mix
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
2/3 cup buttermilk
Chocolate sauce or dulce de leche, warmed, for dipping

Directions

Heat 3 inches of oil in a large, deep skillet until a deep-fry thermometer registers 340 degrees. Combine the muffin mix, flour, sugar, baking powder and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a bowl. Stir in the eggs, orange zest and buttermilk and whisk until combined.

Transfer half the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip (No. 844) and pipe 4-inch-long churros into the oil, about 4 at a time. (If you don't have a pastry bag, you can spoon the batter into the oil in lines.) Fry until golden, about 15 seconds per side, turning once. Remove with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining batter.

Combine the remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon with sugar to taste and sprinkle over the churros. Serve warm with the chocolate sauce.

Well, there you have a Cinco de Mayo meal all ready for you to cook. I hope you enjoy it and I will be back tomorrow with those Derby recipes.

Food Network Contest

Well, I was looking through the latest issue of The Food Network Magazine and I saw a recipe contest. It seems every issue has a "secret ingredient recipe contest" and this month the secret ingredient is bananas. Well, I have absolutely no delusions of winning the contest but I went ahead and entered it anyway. Here is my contest entry:

Bananas Foster Ravioli with Chocolate Banana Cream Sauce

Ravioli Dough:
4 eggs
3 teaspoons cold water
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pinch salt
1 pound high-gluten flour
2 ounces sugar
2 ounces cocoa

Banana Filling:
1 stick butter
½ cup brown sugar
4 bananas, peeled and sliced in ¼ inch slices
¼ cup dark rum

Banana cream sauce:
3 cups milk
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
4 oz milk chocolate, finely chopped
1 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

¼ cup cinnamon
¼ cup confectioners’ sugar
Vanilla ice cream

For the Ravioli Dough: Beat the eggs with the water, oil and salt. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Knead the dough for 10 minutes or on a machine for 5 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 balls, lightly oil them, cover with plastic and leave to rest.

For the Ravioli Filling: In a large skillet, melt butter. Using a wooden spoon, add brown sugar and stir together. Add the bananas and cook until caramelized on both sides, over medium-high heat. Move pan off heat, add the rum and return to the stove to catch a flame from the gas stove or a long lighter. Stand back when ignited and flambe the bananas. CAUTION: Flame will rise up above the pan. Let flame die down and the alcohol cook out. Remove from the heat and allow filling to cool slightly.

In a shallow bowl or pie plate, combine cinnamon and confectioners’ sugar and mix well. Set aside.

For the Banana Cream Sauce: Combine milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and chopped banana in a medium sauce pot. While stirring, gradually bring to a boil. Add both chocolates and then remove from heat. Allow to sit for one minute to cool slightly. Place sauce mixture into a blender and puree until smooth. Remember to use caution when blending hot mixtures. Return mixture to sauce pan to keep warm.

For the Ravioli: Use a large cloth or well-floured cutting board (or pastry stone) to roll out 1 piece of the dough as thin as possible. Place a heaping teaspoon of filling about 2 inches apart over the dough. Brush the dough between the filling with water. Roll out a second piece of dough the same thickness and cover the first layer. Press in between the filling so that the dough sticks together. Cut the ravioli between the filling. Dip the tines of a fork in water and press around the edges of the individual ravioli to seal and give a fluted appearance.

In a heavy pot or skillet, heat oil to 350 degrees F and gently place the ravioli (in small batches) into it. Cook on both sides for about 2 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels. While still the ravioli is still hot, roll them in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Presentation: Place 4 ravioli on a plate with a scoop of ice cream in the center. Drizzle with the banana cream sauce and then lightly dust with the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Anyway, that's my entry. Wish me luck.