Treinta Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

 

Cinco de Mayo. It's a Mexican holiday celebrated on the 5th of May (duh) commemorating Mexico's defeat of the Second French Empire back in the 1860s in a battle over debt.

You'd think, by the big deal we here in America make over Cinco de Mayo, that it's a major Mexican holiday, even their Independence Day, but in fact, it's not, it's not even an official federal holiday. Mexico's call for Independence was on September 16th, back in 1810, starting an 11 year battle culminating in their formal independence on August 24, 1821. Their federal independence holiday is celebrated on September 16th.

But we Americans? Who can blame us for grabbing any excuse to celebrate any Mexican holiday. Because we all know that any celebration includes food, and Mexican cuisine is a favorite. In fact, I think we should celebrate Cinco de Mayo, August 24th, September 16th, and Taco Tuesday.

For any and all of those dates you choose to observe, I've put together a collection of 30 (plus a couple of bonuses) of my family's favorite foods. From breakfast to lunch, cocktails and appetizers, dinners, side dishes, and all the way through dessert.

I've broken down the recipes into bite sized pieces, so to speak (sorry). Below you'll find 3 graphics, underneath you'll see the name of each recipe (starting at the top left and ending at the bottom right), a short description, and a link for you to click on that will take you to post where, at the end, I share that recipe.

I'll start the recipes where we all start the day, with breakfasts and breads (first row), then soup, salad and sandwiches (second row), and a cocktail and appetizers (bottom row):

 

Breakfasts and Breads

1) Breakfast Nachos with Buttery Tortillas

Homemade buttery tortilla chips are the base to this fun bacon and eggs breakfast dish, perfect for sharing.

2) Fiesta Quick Bread

A little smoky, a little spicy, this bread is packed with flavor. Delicious as is, or toasted. And pair it wih my Green Chili Chicken Soup with Taco Rice for lunch.

3) Tex-Mex Breakfast Casserole

This casserole is a one pan breakfast dish with a little bit of a kick.

4) Cinnamon Hojaldras Crisps

My interpretation of the light and crispy traditional Hojaldras Fry Bread.

Soup, Salad and Sandwiches

5) Steak Fajita Quesadillas

Thin sliced steak, vegetables, and cheese are sandwihed between crispy pan fried tortillas. They work as well as an appetizer as they do as a meal.

6) Green Chili Chicken Soup with Taco Rice

A hearty soup with a little kick (or a big kick, you decide how hot). Pair it with my Fiesta Quick Bread and you've got lunch.

7) Summer Salad Tostada

Fresh crisp vegetables and a flavorful con and black bean salsa in a homemade tortilla shell. Muy bueno!

8) Taco Chicken Quesadillas

Taco flavored chicken, vegetables, and cheese are pan grilled between flour tortillas for a flavorful lunch, dinner, or snack.

Cocktails and Appetizers

9) Raspberry Orange Margaritas

You can make them individually. we make them by the pitcher. The fruity flavors of raspberry, orange, and lime hit the spot on a warm day.

10) BBQ Pork Corn Chip Nachos

Great as an appetizer, but also for a snack, lunch, or dinner. The barbecue flavor goes so well with the melted cheese and a little bit of heat. And the warm corn chips are perfect for dipping.

11) Taco Roll Casserole

A shared savory appetizer inspired by Monkey Bread. Fill thes little rolls, allow to rise, bake, and wait till you see what you get!

12) Jalapeno Popper Rollups

Don't have a lot of time but want a delicious, quck, and easy appetizer (side dish or snack)? Try this option to slicing and filling whole jalapenos.

Main Dishes

13) Stuffed Taco Pork Tenderloin

Stuffed with salsa rice, rubbed with taco seasoning, this dinner isn't difficult to make, but it sure looks (and tastes) impressive. Taco night isn't just about tacos any more.

14) Shrimp Enchiladas

Large and small shrimp, spicy cheese, and rice rolled into a soft tortilla and baked. A delicious dinner ready in under an hour.

serve with:

Pineapple and Corn Salsa Fresco

A refreshing versatile accompaniment that comes together in minutes. Serve as an appetizer with tortilla chips, or as a complement to grilled firsh, chicken, or over enchiladas.

15) Taco Shrimp

Full of Tex-Mex flavors, shrimp is rubbed, pan sauteed, and served with Pico de Gallo and avocado slices.

serve with:

Pico de Gallo

This salsa is not cooked, it's served fresh. Great with chips as an appetizer, or as an accompniment to a meal. My boys love it on burgers too.

16) Sriracha Chipotle Ranch Chicken Nachos

These nachos are not an appetizer, they're a flavorful and hearty meal. Easy to make, fun to eat.

17) Taco Stuffed Potato Skins

A meal version of the classic potato skins appetizer. These meal worthy skins are stuffed with taco beef and vegetables, then topped with melted cheese.

18) Shrimp Alfredo Enchiladas

Spicy, creamy, these enchiladas are filled with taco shrimp, beans, and a whole lot more.

19) Taco Mac and Joe Casserole

Is this recipe Sloppy Joes? Tacos? Mac and cheese? Yes to all of them, a marriage made in the kitchen.

20) Chicken Enchilada Pot Pie

A family favorite, all the flavors of chicken enchiladas in a tortilla crusted pot pie.

21) Spicy Pulled Pork Pot Pie

Spicy pulled pork, cheese, and vegetables are topped with mashed potatoes for the ultimate pot pie comfort food.

22) Pepper Jelly Glazed Taco Meatloaf

Coomfort food at its best, baked with taco flavors and topped with a pepper jelly glaze.

Side Dishes

23) Street Corn Rice 

A side dish using a favorite summer treat as inspiration. Grilled corn, lime, cilantro, all the flavors are there. Goes really well with tacos or quesadillas.

24) Pina Colada Bread

This quick bread could be anything, breakfast, snack, served with lunch or brunch, even dessert. The flavors of a favorite cocktail baked into a bread.

25) Smoky Cornbread

This version of cornbread is infused with a little smoky flavor and a little heat.

26) Taco Rice

An easy, one pot side dish. This pairs well with Tex-Mex dishes.

Desserts

27) Strawberry Margarita Cake

Have your drink and eat it too

28) Frozen Strawberry Margarita Pie (no bake)
A fun summer cocktail in pie form. This refreshing dessert is no bake, so just assemble, freeze, and serve.

29) Strawberry Pina Colada Galette

A rustic tart inspired by the cocktail, made with strawberries, pineapple, an more.

30) Dessert Strata

Crisp homemade cinnamon sugar tortillas layered with chocolate vanilla, and strawberry shipped cream.

So let's get cooking (baking, drinking, and eating)!

And, as always, if you try any of my recipes, be sure to leave a comment here on my blog and/or stop by the Baking In A Tornado facebook page and let me know what you think.

Wishing you a delicious Cinco de Mayo.

Grilling and Chilling, 35 Recipes

 

We're well into optimal grilling season. I say optimal because I tend to grill year round. I've been known to have Hubs shovel a path of snow off the deck from the slider to the grill. But in this part of the country, there truly is a grilling season. There's nothing I love more at the end of a hot day than for us to grab a cold cocktail, throw dinner on the grill, and wind down. Grilling and Chilling.

For the most part, dinner prep is pretty easy, often just a matter of marinading the main course in the morning and sticking it in the fridge. Added bonuses are not heating the house by turning the oven on, and easy clean up, since Hubs cleans the grill.

Oh, and to make things even easier, I'll often prepare cold sides ahead of time and have them in the fridge. Check out my Apple Cider Chive Potato Salad, my Blueberry Bagel Salad, my Greek Pasta Salad, my Pasta Salad Bites, my Summer Orzo Salad, my SW Ranch Picnic Salad, my Vegetable Ranch Tortellini Salad, and/or my Smoky Slaw, for some make ahead chilled side dishes.

Because there are plenty of hot days still ahead, I thought I'd put together some of the grilling recipes I've developed over the years. 35 of them. They're pictured below in groupings, with the recipe links for you to click on just below the pictures:

 

Chicken, Chicken, Chicken

Caprese Chicken Kabobs

Marinted, grilled chicken meets caprese salad in this easy, flavorful dinner.

Jamaican Ranch Chicken

Mix up this simple 3 ingredient marinade in the morning, grill for about 20 minutes at night. Doesn't get much easier than that.

White Wine Mustard Chicken

Whisk together this 5 ingredient marinade, refrigerate with the chicken, then just grill when you're ready. Couldn't be easier.

Monte Cristo Skewers

Inspired by the Monte Cristo sandwich, marinated chicken and ham are threaded onto skewers and grilled.

Orange Teriyaki Chicken

This teriyaki marinade with the added hint of orange is a crowd pleaser

Onion Poppy Grilled Chicken

Just 3 marinade ingredients add so much flavor to a grilled chicken meal.

Seafood

Thai Shrimp Skewers

A warm weather lunch or dinner, Thai Shrimp Skewers is a marinated and skewered shrimp dish with red pepper and pineapple. A flavorful meal that grills up in minutes.

Grilled Scallops in Garlic Wine Sauce

Grilled sea scallops are served over rotini, tossed in a light sauce of wine and broth with garlic and green onions.

Glazed Salmon

A simple, light, flavorful dish. This glaze is everything!

Easy Grilled Halibut

A flavorful marinade and under 15 minutes on the grill is all you need for a quick healthy dinner.

Grilled Maple Balsamic Shrimp

Quick and simple, just marinate, skewer, and grill.

Orange Balsamic Salmon over Broccoli Slaw

Salmon is marinated, grilled and served over broccoli slaw dressed with the same marinade.

Pork: chops, tenderloin, medallions, and riblets

Creamy Horseradish Pork Medallions

Sliced pork tenderloin, marinated in a creamy sauce with a little bit of a kick, and grilled. Leftovers make great sandwiches, too!

Grilled Apricot Mustard Pork

Bold flavors are the key to these marinated, grilled pork tenderloin medallions. Slice and marinate in the morning, grill for about 15 minutes at dinner time.

Honey Peanut Pork Medallions

Pork tenderloin is sliced, refrigerated in a flavorful marinade, and grilled.

Beer BBQ Pork Chops

This sauce is so simple, and the grilled pineapple and red pepper are the perfect addition.

Tomato Crusted Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin, marinated in a tomato and wine sauce, then grilled.

Grilled Blackberry Pork Medallions

Marinated in and basted with a blackberry barbecue sauce, these pork medallions grill up in minutes for a delicious summer meal.

Whiskey Grilled Riblets

These riblets take some time but they are SO worth it. They start with a dry rub, are baked in the sauce, then grilled when ready. 

Grilled Dry-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin

Wrapping the tenderloin tightly with the dry rub imparts so much flavor. Refrigerate, then grill.

Here's the Beef

Grilled Skirt Steak

Packed with flavor, but another easy recipe. Marinate for up to 36 hours in the fridge, then grll in under 20 minutes, rest adn slice. Great for cookouts and parties too!

Grilled Steak and Pepper Pizza

Grilling adds so much flavor to your pizza. And they're fun to make!

Grilled Steak Roll-Ups

Thin slices of beef are stuffed with vetetables, rolled and grilled. Easy enough for everyday, fancy enough for company.

Grilled Asian Flank Steak

This flank steak is bursting with flavor. Marinate up to 48 hours, grill, and slice. A cookout favorite.

Sandwiches

Sweet Chili Turkey Burgers

Lower in fat, bursting with fresh flavors. A great addition to any cookout.

Grilled Eggplant Sandwiches

Grilled eggplant is topped with cheese and vegetables, and served on a toasted Ciabatta roll.

Grilled Marinated Portobello Sandwiches

You won't miss the meat in this hearty vegetable version of a burger.

Pepperoni Pizza Burgers

Burgers and pizza, a perfect match.

Glazed Kielbasa Sandwich

Glazed kielbasa and vegetables are skewered and grilled. Tastes just as good over rice or mashed potatoes as it does in a sandwich.

Sides, Sauce and Seasoning

Italian Style Grilled Zucchini

Zucchini proves that grilling isn't just for the main dish. And this side dish comes together in minutes.

Simple Grilled Squash Packets

Only 4 ingredients go into this side dish. Chop, mix, and grill for a delicious main dish accompaniment.

Grilled Spiced Cabbage

Cabbage is drizzled with a marinade and grilled. Cabbage never tasted so good!

Grilled Mini Naan Poppers

A fun interpretation of Jalapeno Poppers that only takes a few minutes to cook on the grill. Perfect for an appetizer or side dish.

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning Blend

This blend can be used as a dry rub on pork or fish, Mix it with vegetable oil to marinate chicken, or add to soups and stews.

Tangy Horseradish Steak Sauce

A bit of tang, a bit of a bite, a delicious enhancement to your grilled steak

Happy grilling. And chilling.

Pizza Party, 14 Unique Recipes

 

Labor Day is right around the corner. If you're not sure how that happened so quickly, join the party.

Actually, it's a party I wanted to talk about. Specifically, a pizza party.

Pizza is versatile in so many ways. It's a party food, yet an everyday food as well. Lunch, dinner, even cold leftovers for breakfast (yes, I went to college too). In fact, one brilliant pizza shop hired students to drag a huge box full of pizzas through the dorms at about 11:00 at night, when everyone would be hungry from a night of studying {{wink, wink}}. As the pizza shop employee dragged his box through the halls yelling "hot pizza, 2 dollars," students would pick a friend, count their pennies (sometimes literally) and split a pizza.

These days you'd be lucky to get a slice of pizza for $2. Yeah, we still buy them now and then, but making them at home is a great option. And you can really get creative.

So, for any occasion: first day of school, last day of school, sports parties, family get-togethers, a lazy weekend watching sports, if you want to start a party, pizza's a great way to go.

It doesn't have to be complicated, that's the thing about pizza, anything goes. Use a frozen bread dough, a premade crust, a homemade no yeast crust (like my rosemary infused crust), or a completely unique crust (you have to try my spaghetti crust). Use my homemade marinara, or your favorite store bought. And the toppings? There's where you can really have fun, the options are endless.

And don't just think of pizza in its traditional configuration. There's pizza inspired casseroles, and even soup.

Today I want to share with you, 14 of my most fun, interesting, and unique pizza recipe creations. Check them out, click on the name of the recipe below and you will magically jump to the post featuring the recipe at the end.

Classic pizza reinterpreted, dessert pizza, pizza imposters, and pizza inspired, something for everyone:

Top row, left to right:

~ Rosemary Infused Shrimp Scampi Pizza

The rosemary infused crust adds even more flavor to this classic dinner inspired pizza. 

~ Spaghetti Crusted Pizza

Can't decide between spaghetti and pizza? Have them both. This is one of my most popular pizza recipes.

~ Pizza Party Boat

Take a large Italian loaf, season the "crust," and fill it with pizza favorites.

~ Skillet Buffalo Chicken Naan Pizza

This Buffalo Chicken inspired pizza is made in a skillet with a naan crust.

Middle row, left to right:

~ Peanut Butter and Jelly Dessert Pizza

Pizza as a dessert, as a snack? Yes, please.

~ Crockpot Pepperoni Pizza Soup

We just love this pepperoni pizza inspired soup on a cold fall day.

Bottom row, left to right:

~ Grilled Steak and Pepper Pizza

Grill your pizza. It adds so much flavor. This one is pepper steak inspired.

~ Pepperoni Pizza Casserole

Have your pizza in casserole form, a comfort food family favorite dinner.

~ Italian Sub Pizza

I used a purchased prepared pizza crust for this one, and added all of our Italian sub favorite ingredients on the top.

~ Garlic Bread Pizza Casserole

Garlic bread gives so much flavor to this pizza casserole.

And just for fun:

~ Celebration Dessert Pizza

Serving as a treat, an educational tool, and a project, I made this one for Earth day with my son. But it can easily be decorated for any occasion.

~ Chocolate Pizza with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

I guess I don't have to tell you that this recipe was created for the boys and their friends for a Halloween party.

~ April Fools Peanut Butter and Jelly Pizza Cookie

This peanut butter and jelly flavored giant cookie looks like a pizza, right? April Fools!

~ Down the Drain (April Fools) Pizza Cookie

OK, ewwww. But really, April Fools is a perfect day for ewww jokes, right?

Which ones will you try? And which one will you try first?

Eat Your Way Through St. Patrick's Day

 

I am not Irish. Well, except for one day a year, when the rest of me may be Russian peasant stock, but my stomach is decidedly Irish. Yes, one day each March I celebrate St. Patrick as if I know who his is (was). And how do I celebrate? My favorite way, with food and drink. 

It's all about the green. Not for those who actually know who St. Patrick was, and why he's celebrated I suppose, but for me, it's all about the green. And playing with your food.

Oh, I make a lot of the traditional foods, maybe not in the traditional way (I make my Corned Beef and Cabbage in the slow cooker), but once a year that's dinner. You can count on it like you can count on someone (usually Chicago but I heard not this year) is going to color a river green, and many someones will be eating green bagels and drinking green beer. 

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite St. Patrick's Day recipes. From breakfast, to lunch, dinner, side dishes and, of course, a green cocktail. 

But I say, let's sing a little Irish ditty ("seven old ladies locked in the lavatory . . ."), and start with dessert.

Below the picture montage, you'll find a link to each of the recipes. I hope you give a few a try. I hope you give them all a try, St. Patrick's Day, or any time.

Start with dessert:

 

 

1) Chocolate Mint Cupcakes

These chocolate cupcakes feature a mint cream cheese frosting, and a chocolate drizzle.

 

2) Key Lime Shortbread Cookies

These cookies are a little sweet with a burst of citrus.

 

3) Pistachio White Chocolate Cheesecake

This cheesecake is infused with white chocolate and a hint of pistachio flavor, and dusted with chopped pistachios.

 

4) Chocolate Creme de Menthe Bark

So easy to make: melt, assemble, cool, and crack.

 

5) Creme de Menthe Shamrock Cake

One bake, two cakes!

 

6) Chocolate Mint Cookie Pops

A no-bake treat. Mint cookie balls with a surprise inside.

 

7) Lucky Rainbow Cookies

Coloring the dough forms the rainbow in this fun, pistachio edges cookie.

 

8) Lemon Pistachio Cake with Pistachio Frosting

This recipe starts with an enhanced cake mix, is studded with pistachios, and topped with a pistachio whipped cream frosting.

 

9) Mint Lovers' Cookies

These cookies have a few favorite treats baked in them.

 

10) Lemon Lime Poke Cake

No mint in this refreshing poke cake, lime adds the green color.

 

Don't worry, I've got the rest of the day covered too:

1) Pistachio Crusted Cod

Pistachio crusted and pan sauteed, cod is such an easy, light dinner. The crunchy pistachio coating adds flavor and texture to this naturally mild fish.

2) Grilled Spiced Cabbage

Drizzled with a flavorful marinade and grilled. Cabbage never tasted so good!

3) Pistachio Soda Bread

A simple Irish quick bread, enhanced with the flavor and crunch of pistachios.

4) Spicy Sausage and Noodle Squares

Noodles are baked with hot sausage, vegetables, and cheese. I serve them with a salad, or as a side dish with dinner.

5) Crockpot Beer Infused New England Boiled Dinner

My take on a classic St. Patrick's Day dinner.

 

6) Crockpot Beef Shank Pea Soup

A beef option to a classic soup. Using the slow cooker makes this hearty soup simple to make.

7) Green, Egg, and Ham

Dr. Seuss inspired breakfast is a fun way to start off your celebration of green.

8) My Big Green Monster

What's St. Patrick's Day without a cocktail?

9) Pralined Snap Peas and Carrot

This flavorful side dish is made using just the microwave.

10) Pistachio Cream Cheese French Toast

Stuffed with a cream cheese filling and pan fried with a pistachio crust, this breakfast is a treat.

Hope you're not too full. Rumor has it there's a pot 'o gold out there somewhere with your name on it.

Happy hunting!