Homemade Guacamole

I have an affinity for anything avocado, so naturally I am a huge Guacamole fan.  With that being said, I am not a big fan of onions, and I'm always striving to come up with the best onion free guacamole recipe.  Last night I concocted something amazing.  So amazing in fact, that it just had to be shared.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:
3 Avocados (seeded and peeled)
Juice of 2 Limes (only use 1 if you don't love the hint of lime taste)
1/2 Red Bell Pepper (seeded and chopped)
8 Champagne Tomatoes (chopped, can substitute grape tomatoes)
1/2 Jalapeno (Seeded and Minced)
1 Clove Garlic (Minced)
1 tsp Himalayan Sea Salt
1-2 tsp Cumin Powder


Directions:
Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix thoroughly.  Enjoy! 

Cinco de Mayo Recipes

Now that Easter is over it's time to look for the next great themed holiday to cook for....  At least that's how the thinking goes in my world.  So I have come across 4 recipes for things that I would like to make but never have in the past.  If you were looking for a more substantial meal you can check out my previous recipes.  I like Mexican food and cook a lot of the simpler recipes on an almost monthly basis so I wanted to branch out to drinks and desserts and a new dip for my chips :)  Enjoy!  And please add on any of your own!

Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca

I just love how fresh and weird and fun this sounds!


Check out the recipe here:
Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca





Tres Leche Cake

It's cake  and it has a glaze AND frosting...  How can you go wrong?

Check out the recipe here:
 Tres Leche Cake







 Horchata

This has to be one of my all-time favorite Mexican yummies!  I can't believe that I have never made it (must be because I don't have cheese cloth laying around haha)

Click here for the recipe:
Horchata






Chunky Mango Guacamole

I love guacamole and I love mangoes...  why not combine them?  Why have I never thought of this before?

Check out the recipe here:
Chunky Mango Guacamole

Steak Nachos

Steak nachos are easy to make, they are delicious, and they are always a favorite of mine.  I don't make them nearly enough!  I definitely recommend them to anyone who like nachos or steak, or cheese, or totrtilla chips.....  If you are of the vegetarian persuasion, you can enjoy some delicious steak nachos without the steak for an almost as enjoyable experience. 

Ingredients:
 1-2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 package stew meat (pre cut steak)

Seasoning (Alpine Touch, Cumin, Garlic Powder, Crushed Red Pepper)
Tortilla Chips
Shredded Cheese
Salsa
Sour Cream
Green Onions (chopped)
Avocado (Peeled & chopped)
Tomatoes (Diced)
Cilantro (Diced)

Directions:
Pour the oil into a skillet and add in the steak and seasonings.  Cook until desired done-ness I like medium for my nachos, as medium rare can tend to make the chips a little soggy.  Arrange some tortilla chips on a plate, add the shredded cheese and then steak and more cheese and green onions.  Microwave until cheese is melted (I usually start with 35 seconds and go up from there).   Add the remaining ingredients.  Feel free to add or subtract any of your own toppings.  Serve & Enjoy!

Add the oil, steak and seasoning tot he skillet

Cook according to desired rate

Prepare your toppings

Add your ingredients best served warm

Microwave until cheese is melted

Add remaining toppings and enjoy

Carne Asada: The Winning Dish!

I have to admit that this must be one of the easiest dishes that I made based on your votes.   Not to say that it takes away from being tasty in any way.  Having never made Carne Asada before, I never realized just how quick and easy it was.  The longest time is spent in marinating the dish, and the rest goes by very quickly!  Thank you so very much for your participation and your votes in deciding what I would cook for this month!  As my readers, you are my motivation for keeping this up every single day!   If you have any recipe suggestions, please feel free to share them with me and I can add them in to my monthly vote! 

Ingredients:
1.5 lbs flank or round steak
Marinade:
2 Garlic Cloves (Minced)
1 tsp Cumin
1 Tbsp Alpine Touch (Salt & Pepper)
1 Large handful of cilantro (cut thinly, stems included)
2 Limes worth of Juice
2 Tbsp White Vinegar
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
1 small Yellow Bell Pepper (Seeded & Chopped)

Corn or Flour Tortillas
1 Avocado (Peeled, cored & chopped)
Tomatoes
Salsa
Green Onions



Directions:
Combine all of above marinade ingredients and the steak in a large bowl and soak in the fridge for 1-4 hours. 
Preheat your grill (I just use my George Foreman Grill).  Remove the steak from the marinade. If you are cooking on a pan indoors, you may want to brush off excess marinade as the bits may burn and smoke on the hot pan.   Grill the pieces for a few minutes only, on each side, depending on how thin they are, until medium rare to well done, to your preference. You may need to work in batches. Remove the steak pieces to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Thinly slice the steak across the grain on a diagonal.

(Optional) Serve with warm tortillas (flour or corn). Warm the tortillas for 30 seconds on each side in a dry skillet or on the grill, until toasty and pliable. Alternatively, you can warm tortillas in a microwave: heating just one or two at a time, place tortillas on a paper towel and microwave them for 15 to 20 seconds each on high.
Feel free to add whatever toppings you would like.  I listed which ingredients I added into it, but cook according to preference.  Serve & Enjoy!

Marinate the steak

Grill it to juicy perfection

Warm up your tortillas

Serve with toppings and enjoy!

 Here are the precious winners if you are interested in checking them out! 

February's Winner: Chicken Cordon Bleu

January's Winner: Sauteed Scallops

December's Winner: Pizza Pot Pies

November's Winner: Lasagna Stuffed Manicotti

October's Winner: Pumpkin Risotto

September's Winner: Burgundy Pork