I was challenged to use  Wonder bread and Kraft singles for a new fun grilled cheese solutions program…. (so Americana). They asked me to add my own spin to the already loved grilled cheese sandwich using the products mentioned above… I decided to make a chile relleno grilled cheese sandwich. I thought it would be the (more…)

Amongst my friends…. I’m the nacho girl. I love EVERYTHING about nachos, especially the melted cheese and crema. Well, for the big game this Saturday I will be serving Nacho Fries for all to dig into. I may have to hog them all for myself, but I guess I wouldn’t be much of a hostess if I did that.  I could pretend I made them for another occasion and eat them secretly. I’ll be a sport (get it sport?) and make a big enough batch for everyone to RA-RA-RA over the game with.

Football is at an all time frenzy as we approach the big game.  In addition to which team will take the trophy, and who will perform, there is the glorious house parties that happen all across America. People gathering in their homes, hosting private parties to watch the game. I know the drill of getting everything in order from the decorations and banners to the most important part of the party….. the food. For the men it might be all about the game but for me, and most of my female friends, it’s all about the eats.  I will be hosting a private gathering in my home this year, and have already started to test some of the recipes out on my football frenzied family. I asked my man what he would like served. These were his prerequisites:

1. It has to be delicious.
2. It has to have melted cheese on top.
3. Something people could eat with their hands. Think finger food.
4. Vegetarian…. Because we are vegetarians.
5. Oh, and it has to be delicious.

I looked over his list and knew exactly what to make. I settled on making French Fry Nachos and used Soy Chorizo to give it an extra punch of flavor.  I gave my idea a test run this past weekend, that way the day of the big game…. I know what I’m doing and there would be no touchdown missed.  I made a big batch of homemade French fries, then sprinkled them with soy chorizo clumps, and generously covered the top in Queso Quesadilla. Then I placed the fries in the oven and let the cheese melt over the soy chorizo and fries. When it came out of the oven…. I sprinkled some cotija cheese, fresh diced tomatoes over the top, added some guacamole, and for the finale doused it in Crema…. Oh it was delicious. My family devoured it with their hands until there was none left.  We got a winner.

Ingredients:

• 6 to 7 large potatoes (cut into ½ inch wedges)
• 1 – cup vegetable oil
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 – Soy Chorizo
• 1 ½ – cups Quesadilla Jalapeno (grated)
• Pickled jalapenos
• 1 – tomato (diced)
• 1/2 – cup Cotija (crumbled)
• 1 – cup guacamole
• 1/8 – cup Crema Mexicana Agria

Directions:

1. In a large pot filled with water over a medium flame, bring to boil.
2. Boil wedged potatoes for 12 minutes.
3. Drain potatoes from water. Season with salt and pepper.
4. In a large frying pan over a medium high flame add in vegetable oil and allow it to get hot. Once the oil is hot add in the boiled potatoes.
5. Fry on each side until golden crisp, about 10 minutes on each side.
6. Remove fries from oil and drain on a paper towel lined plate.
7. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. In a medium frying pan over a medium flame remove soy chorizo from casing and cook until completely heated through, about 5 minutes. 
9. Place French fries in a ceramic baking dish, one big enough to fit all of the fries. Then scoop tablespoons of soy chorizo on top of fries.
10. Sprinkle the top of the fries and soy chorizo with quesadilla jalapeno grated cheese.  
11. Place dish in the oven for 10 minutes or until cheese melts.
12. Remove from oven and sprinkle the top with diced tomatoes, and cotija crumbles.
13. Then add a scoop of guacamole, and crema Mexicana to the top.
14. Dig in and enjoy!

I’m really looking for a reason to have Pretzel S’mores. So let me act like I’m into this game stuff. The countdown is on! Only a handful of days until the big game is upon us. Yes, I’m hosting my very own party this year. I know most of the ruckus should be about the game, but here in my house and with my friends …. It’s all about the food. I guess I’m gonna be BUSY clanking pots and pans in the kitchen for the (more…)

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. Disneyland Resorts gave me a park hopper for the day to aid this post. All opinions and thoughts are 100% my own!

The final days of Christmas are almost here. Jan. 6th marks Three Kings Day, and it wouldn’t be complete without a Disney celebration. From Jan. 2nd to Jan. 6th Disney’s California Adventure is celebrating Dia De Los Reyes in a whole new way. DCA is providing guests with a culturally rich experience through Viva Navidad! Now is your last chance to experience the magic of Three Kings Day ala (more…)

Growing up we were never allowed to take down any of the Christmas decorations until Three Kings Day/Dia De Los Reyes (January 6th)… the tail end of the 12 days of Christmas. My grandfather would tell us we had to wait for the Three Kings to arrive bearing gifts. I would look forward to the day by placing my shoes outside my front door to be filled with a gift, and in the evening we would cut into the rosca.  This year will be no different in the fact that the decorations will stay up till Jan.6th, I will make a rosca de reyes with a few toy babies in the middle, and call a few friends over to celebrate Dia de Los Reyes with me and my family. Usually the highlight of the evening is cutting the rosca to see who gets the baby (who ever gets a baby in their slice of rosca has to make a tamale dinner on Feb. 2nd for the group), but it can’t fully be enjoyed without a cup of hot chocolate. Chocolate caliente hecho con agua is my ideal type of hot chocolate. It is made with a water base that really allows you to fully taste the divine Mexican chocolate, and at the very end milk is added, but not a lot in comparison to the water. It’s really special and should be made anytime a cold day drops it’s temperatures down and you want warm comfort in a cup.

I decided this Three Kings Day I am going to go simple and make it easy on myself by just serving this chocolate and rosca.  I made this recipe really easy for you too….. watch the video below to see exactly how to make it.

Ingredients for chocolate caliente hecho con agua:

• 7 – cups water
• 2 – cinnamon sticks
• 1 – teaspoon vanilla
• 3 – Mexican chocolate tablets (I used Abuelita)
• 2 – cans evaporated milk

I just looked at the weather and the next couple of days are about to be “Brrrrrrrrrr” status COLD! The lows are scheduled to be 36 degrees Wednesday night. That’s super cold for us folks here in Los Angeles. Thank the stars I’m staying in New Years Eve, because this California girl likes to stay warm and toasty. There are a couple of things I’ve been doing to make sure I’m consistent with keeping heated during these frosty times. I got the pilot on my heater turned on, invested in a cute beanie, been rocking some thick wool socks, and constantly have a batch of Raisin Pear Ponche on the stove top. (more…)

I wasn’t always a sugar freak. In fact as a young girl I would lean toward the savory side always buying chips and pickles instead of candy. When I did want sugar I grabbed for a piece of fruit, and it was always special if I could get some raisins. My Mom use to buy me little boxes of raisins, brown or golden, I just adored eating them. (more…)