Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Sunday Lunch February 21st

Baja Chipotle Fish Tacos, Spicy Pineapple, Apricot & Jicama Salsa & Cornmeal Guava Thumbprint Cookies.

This week was full of beautiful things....trips home (twice) home to the NW and then back home to Houston! Then, the day I returned to Texas, Karen and Beck came to visit!! Wow. I am so blessed. When thinking about Sunday lunch, I knew I needed something simple. These fish Tacos are just that. So easy, because you use a store bought (inexpensive) marinade...which you also use to make the sauce! Here is the recipe....


Baja Chipotle Fish Tacos

1 1/4 cups Lawry's® Baja Chipotle Marinade With Lime Juice
1 1/2 pounds cod or other firm white fish fillets
1/2 cup sour cream (plus some milk to make it a little less thick...you want it to be a slightly saucier texture. The recipe originally calls for mayo, but I don't like using it unless I really have to.....I think thinning with milk is a better tasting option.)
12 soft taco size corn tortillas, warmed
2 cups shredded green cabbage
1/2 cup fresh cilantro
2 limes

In large baking dish or resealable plastic bag, pour 3/4 cup marinade over fish; turn to coat. Cover, or close bag, and marinate in refrigerator about 30 minutes. Remove fish from Marinade; discarding Marinade. Grill or broil fish, turning once and brushing with 1/4 cup Marinade, until fish flakes with a fork. Meanwhile, in small bowl, combine sour cream and remaining 2 to 4 tablespoons Marinade. To serve, arrange fish in tortillas, using two tortillas for each taco, top with shredded cabbage and cilantro. Drizzle with sauce and lime!


Spicy Pineapple, Apricot & Jicama Salsa




I am sorry to say that I haven't perfected this recipe....therefor I am only going to show you a photo. I got lovely reviews, but I know there is something missing. I will let you know as soon as I figure it out!!

Cornmeal Guava (or any type of jam you would like) Thumbprint Cookies

I LOVED THESE!! One of my new favorite cookies.

1 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg yolk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
Guava jelly or apricot-pineapple preserves OR any type of jelly you would like!

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all purpose flour, cornmeal, ground cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat unsalted butter and brown sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Mix in egg yolk and vanilla extract. Mix in dry ingredients.
Form dough into 1-inch balls. Arrange on ungreased baking sheet, spacing 1 1/2 inches apart. Make depression in center of each using thumb or handle of wooden spoon. Fill depressions with jelly. Continue baking until bottoms of cookies are brown, about 10 minutes. Cool on rack. (Can be prepared 1 week ahead. Refrigerate in airtight container.)

Lovely!

Scott's LOST art opening



I was reminded this week that I have been slacking....Scott's art show was a month ago and I never added those recipes to the site!! Since everyone always needs a good app recipe I am going to post them now..you never know when you will be asked to show up with a little bite to eat at a party!!

Brown Sugar Baked Brie

1 package frozen puff pastry
scoop (or 2 or 3) of brown sugar
wedge or round of Brie Cheese

This is probably my favorite appetizer in the whole world...to eat at, serve at or bring to a party! All you do is take one sheet of puff pastry, let it thaw. Cut it in to strips and weave it into a square. I like to skim the crust off the top (only) of the brie....the only reason why is because I think the brown sugar melts better. This is the next step, coat the top of the brie in brown sugar. Flip it onto the woven pastry and tuck the edges tightly. Flip once again and bake at 400 until the pastry is nice and brown! Yum!



Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts (that sign should also say WATER chestnuts)



As gross as these sound, I can never keep them on the plate long enough to even snap a good photo of them. They are so good. The thing you have to keep in mind is that you DO NOT taste any mayo.....it is just there as an oil/egg-white base to hold the chili sauce and brown sugar on the bacon!! Delish!

BACON WRAPPED WATER CHESTNUTS

4 cans water chestnuts
1 lb. bacon cut into 3rds
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup tomato-based chili sauce

oven 350* soak toothpicks in water. Bake rolls for 30 minutes. Take them out, dip, bake 30 more minutes