When the warm season graces Los Angeles, watermelon becomes our household obsession.  I make quite a variety of things with watermelon, everything from paletas, agua fresca, margaritas, salad, salsa, and many other lovely dishes. Last (more…)

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Society Culinaria on behalf of The Idaho Potato Commission. The recipe and opinions are 100% my own.

Even though we are experiencing June gloom here in California… the truth is 4th of July is creeping up on us. Which in my world means lots of parties and family gatherings sprinkled with friends and food. But we couldn’t have a gathering without POTATO SALAD, now could we? I decided to get a jump start on my (more…)

Oh boy, Memorial Day is fast approaching, and you know what that means. Lots of gatherings will take place over the long weekend and people will be migrate to one location where food is plentiful. I am no stranger to these communal potlucks or food huddles and am always trying to decide what will hold up through out the day. (more…)

I look through cookbooks, cooking magazines, and old recipes all the time in search of something delicious to eat. Sometimes I strike gold and other times not so much. Interesting enough I came across a “baked potato soup” recipe the other day and (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 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…)