Monday, June 27, 2011

Sopa de Fideo (Pronouced: so-pa de fi-de-o)

This ones a classic, I remember coming home from school and grabbing a bowl of warm goodness. Can't go wrong with Fideo, that's fo'sho!

Ingredientes:
6 tomatoes (diced)
1/2 onion (diced)
1 large clove of garlic
4 cups of water
2 cube of Knorr chicken
7 oz sopa de Fideo
tblsp of Cooking oil
garish with cilantro
sour cream or crema Mexicana (optional)
lemon juice (optional)

Instructiones:
You'll be using a blender for this one.
To your blender add, 3 cups of water, 6 tomatoes, 1/2 onion,
1 large clove of garlic, 1 cube of Knorr chicken

Blend well. Then use a colander to get rid of any puree. Set aside.

In a pot, add your oil, cook on medium heat, when the oil is hot add your Fideo. You'll want to stir till it turns golden brown. You'll want to keep an eye on it otherwise it can burn.

Once it's golden, carefully add your mixture. (Watch out because it like to jump out the pot!)

Toss in some cilantro if you wish. Put the lid and let it cook.

Bring to a boil then reduce to medium (gentle boil) until noodles are almost tender. You'll want to give it time to cook without losing your caldo (broth). If the fideo is still uncooked, you can always add a little more water.

Once it's done, serve.

I suggest you add some sour cream or Mexican crema or squeeze some lemon juice.

Es delicioso!

Sopa de Lentejas (Lentil Soup)














Vegan amigos here is one for you, it’s super easy and very tasty!

8 - 10 cups of water
1 bag of Lentil beans
1 onion chopped
1 1/2 cups of chopped carrots
1 cup of chopped celery
1 can of cooked Italian tomatoes/
   or you could use fresh tomatoes (sliced or diced)
1 cup of chopped cilantro
1 bay leaf
1 tsp of salt
crumble some Mexican (Queso) fresco or
sprinkle some parmigiano - reggiano (both optional)

Instructiones:
Now for the hard part (joking), in a colander rinse the lentils.

Add all the ingredents including the lentils; minus the salt into the Crock pot. Let them cook and in a few hours soup is ready.

Add salt to taste. (Vegetarians) crumble some Mexican (Queso) fresco or sprinkle some parmigiano - reggiano. This is optional but adds texture and more sabor!

This is also a great overnight recipe; throw it all in the pot and forget about it. That way you wake up a delicious meal, you can take to work! Just remember to add enough water so it doesn't dry up.

Hope you enjoy!

Friday, June 24, 2011

It's Horchata time!

Horchata “Agua de arroz” (pronounced Or-cha-ta)

This is pretty much the drink of Mexico; well if you don’t include vino y cerveza. Anyways, it’s pretty freakin’ good; I swear, try it! Saying Horchata can be fun too. Like when my brother says, “Horchata hell up”. Yeah, I really don’t get it either. OK enough about that, let’s go amigos!

Ingredientes:
water 6 - 8 cups (depends on your blender)
1 cup uncooked white long-grain rice

1 cinnamon stick
1 tsp of Vanilla
1 12 oz can of evaporated milk
1 tsp of almond extract (optional)
1/2 - 1 cup of white sugar or Splenda (mas o menos)

Instructiones:
First you’ll want to soak about 1 cup of rice for at least an hour. I usually place the rice in a bowl with enough water to cover it and let it soak overnight. But who has time for that?!

Strain the rice and discard the water.

After that you're minute’s way from Horchata heaven.

Bust out the blender, the fun begins, now!

Add the rice, cinnamon stick, evporated milk, vanilla and almond extract (Blend well)

Whip out a small colander and a pitcher, make sure no large cinnamon pieces go into your drink. (Blend well)

Add sugar to taste.

Grab a glass, add ice and pour.

OMGoodness, es muy bueno!

Enjoy.


Thursday, June 23, 2011

Muy easy Gelatina de squares!

It's Summer time and it's caliente! What better way to cool off then with some refreshing "Gelatina"! What is Gelatina (pronounced hella-tina); it's what Mexican's call Jell-O, sounds exotic, eh?! 

Ingredientes:
(I used Mango and Strawberry but you can use whatever your little corazón desires)

7 oz package D' Gari Mexican Mango Gelatina (add water kind)
7 oz package D' Gari Mexican Strawberry Gelatina (add water kind)

7 oz package D' Gari Mexican Rompope Gelatina (add milk kind)

Pam cooking spray (or any other brand of cooking spray)

*Please note, Jell-O brand might look the same but doesn't react the same.
I will save this chat for a later time. For now, please find D' Gari brand at your local Supermarket. I found it at the Superior.

D' Gari looks like this...


Instructiones:
OK, here we go!

I used a Pyrex measuring glass cup; add 2 cups of water and pop-it in the Micro
for about 4-5 minutes. *You could boil the water on the stove if you want to be diferente*

Next step, grab your package of Mango Gelatina and mix them together in the glass cup. Once mixed, pour the liquid into a glass baking dish or whatever you have. Add two cups of cold water (Mix). Then let is sit until its room temperature. Once it's cool you will put it in the refrigerator.

You will repeat the progress with the Strawberry Gelatina. (See above)

After that is complete, you are free to do as you wish for a few hours, or until the Gelatina sets. You could also make these two at night and complete the progress in the morning. Sweet!

~~~~~

So, you're done watching your Netflix movie, checked out some YouTube videos now back to the Gelatina.

At about this time, you will follow a similar progress with the Rompope Gelatina but boil 4 cups of milk all at once.

Mix the Rompope Gelatina and boiling milk together, set aside until it's room temperature.

By this time the Mango & Strawberry Gelatina should be firm to the touch. Make rows, vertical and horizontal creating squares. Pretty nifty, eh?!

Then grab your Gelatina mold or baking dish, anything that will fit all your Gelatina squares. Lightly spray the dish with Pam; this will make the Gelatina pop right out when it's done.

Grab your cubed Gelatina and scoop it into the greased mold/ baking dish. Repeat the process spread them around. Now grab your room temperature Rompope mixture and pour it over all the colors. *Make sure your Rompope mixture is room temperature, otherwise the squares will melt (es no bueno)*

Carefully walk this over to the refrigerator; and go do what you like and come back in a few hours. Maybe catch up on some novellas or whatever.

A few hours have passed, the Gelatina is firm, and it’s time to come out! If you used a Jell-O mold, grab a plate and place on top of the Gelatina and flip. Taa-daaa, your creation should slip right out.

Cut and serve or dish out. Whatevas.

Hasta next time amigos, keep chido!