Gordita Salad with Baja Sauce

It's time for a confession.

My husband and I love Taco Bell.  There, I said it.  I'm not proud.
Once every few weeks the husband will come home and we'll look at each other, silently speaking with questioning eyes.
Next thing we know, we're in the car and on our way to copious amounts of fried food and squeezable nacho cheese.
Words are not necessary.

My absolute favorite food from Taco Bell is the beef gordita.  I was heartbroken when they took the baja sauce from the menu, but they still have it if you ask and throw in a wink.  Our Taco Bell is very accommodating.

Anyway, I recently figured out a way to make gorditas at home.  If you break it down, it's fried bread, ground beef, and taco toppings.  The base of my recipe comes from an Indian Taco recipe I found on Savory Traditions.  I found that the fried bread was a little difficult to fold, so we ate them with a fork and knife.  The Baja Sauce recipe that follows is truly amazing in how fresh it tastes.  I ate the left-overs with tortilla chips.

Please be careful when frying the bread.

Gordita Salad with Baja Sauce

Adapted from Savory Traditions Indian Tacos

Ingredients:

1 lbs. ground beef

15 oz. can of pinto beans, drained

1 yellow onion, diced

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. ground coriander

1 tsp. garlic powder

Tapatío or Tabasco to taste (whichever you prefer)

2 eggs
1 cup milk
4 cups all-purpose four
2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
Canola oil for frying

"Baja Sauce" (recipe below)

Grated cheddar cheese

Shredded lettuce

Chopped tomatoes or fresh salsa

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef, onion, cumin, coriander and garlic powder
2. Brown the meat, and then turn the heat to low and add a few shakes of the hot sauce and pinto beans
3. Allow to simmer while you make the bread
4. Add the flour, baking powder and salt to a large bowl and whisk to aerate
5. Whisk the eggs and milk together in a separate bowl
6. Create a well in the center of your dry ingredients and pour in the liquid; mix until you end up with a dough, adding a little bit of water if the dough is too dry
7. On a floured surface, roll the dough to approximately 1/8" thick
8. Cut the dough into 6" circles (I used a small plate)
9. Use a fork to poke holes through the rounds of dough to allow the oil to come through and help reduce bubbles
10. Using a cast iron Dutch oven, add enough frying oil to be 1/2" deep and add a frying thermometer
11. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches a temperature of around 350°F, making sure it doesn't go above 400°F
12. Carefully fry the circles of dough in the hot oil for 2-3 minutes until golden brown, turning once halfway through cooking, and draining on paper towels
13. Top the fried bread with the meat and bean mixture, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, and "Baja Sauce"

Baja Sauce

Ingredients:

Half a red bell pepper, minced

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

2 Tbs. onion, minced

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup sour cream

1 Tbs. white vinegar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

Chopped cilantro

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl
2. Cover and chill until ready to serve

Poison Apple Pie

At one point in my past, I was a pirate.  No, really.  I worked as a pirate at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire in a big, red ship selling swords and merchandise.

Now if there is one thing about the PA faire, it's stinking hot in August when it opens, and freezing cold by the time it closes in late October.  My first year working there, I made a Snow White costume, and for Halloween I was Snow White and the Seven Pirates.  It was a blast!  Of course, I drank so much apple cider and ate so many apples that I think apple juice was probably coming out of my pores.  I didn't get sick that fall, so there's that!  I believe that the captain had also rigged up a beating heart for me to carry around as well...  Pirates really do know how to have fun.

Since pirates drink a ton of rum throughout the day, I created a spiked apple cider to enjoy in my off time called the Poison Apple.  Here is the drink recipe:

The Poison Apple

1/2 gallon apple cider

3 whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

1 star anise

1 shot of black rum for each mug!

1.  Mull the cider with the cloves, cinnamon, and anise, in a saucepan over medium heat until it's almost boiling  

2.  Reduce the heat to low and allow to simmer for 20 minutes

3.  Strain the apple cider and serve in mugs with a shot of rum to warm the bones, adding a cinnamon stick to stir

On Halloween, I decided that this drink could make for a very delicious apple pie.  I used the medieval pie dough from the Beef and Bacon Pie recipe, but you could use whatever pie dough you would prefer.  I found that using a spring-form pan was perfect for baking this pie, since I could easily take the pie out and display it on the table.  I also used an apple cookie cutter to make apple shaped dough for the top of the pie. So without further ado, I give you the Poison Apple Pie, with Rum Caramel Sauce!

Poison Apple Pie with Rum Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

1 batch pie dough, chilled (I used the medieval pie dough, but you can use your favorite)

1/2 cup of rum caramel sauce (recipe below), plus extra for serving

2 teaspoons lemon zest

Juice of two lemons

6 large granny smith apples, cored, peeled and thinly sliced

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

Turbinado sugar for topping

1. Put the lemon juice, lemon zest, and apples in a large bowl and toss gently so that the apples are covered with lemon juice
2. In a small bowl, whisk the flour, cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and sugar together
3. Pour the dry mixture over the apples and toss gently to combine
4. Roll out the chilled pie dough on a lightly floured surface until you have two 12" circles
5. Carefully lay one of the circles of dough in a greased spring-form pan, making sure that it's flat on the bottom and sides, with extra to hang over the edges of the pan; trim excess edges off, leaving a bit to tuck over the top of the pie
6. Fill the pie crust with the apples, tightly packing them in
7. Drizzle the caramel sauce over the apples
8. Preheat the oven to 400°F
9. With the second circle of dough, take your cookie cutter and start cutting apple shaped pieces for the top; lay them on top of the pie, working your way in from the outside
10. Roll the excess overhang over the top of the pie, securing the edges
11. Brush the top of the pie with the beaten egg, with a very thin coating
12. Sprinkle the top of the pie with the turbinado sugar
13. Bake the pie for 20 minutes
14. Turn the temperature down to 375°F and bake for an additional 40-50 minutes
15. Allow the pie to cool before releasing the spring-form and cutting to serve

Rum Caramel Sauce

Adapted from Emeril Lagasse's recipe

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup hot water

1 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons of black rum

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons cold unsalted butter

1. Combine the sugar and hot water in a heavy saucepan 
2. Cook over high heat until the sugar dissolves, about 1 minute
3. Continue to cook until the mixture thickens and turns a deep amber color, about 5-8 minutes, carefully swirling the pan occasionally but NEVER STIRRING
4. Remove the pan from the heat and carefully add the heavy cream, it will definitely start to bubble up
5. Return to the heat and reduce the heat to medium
6. Cook until the sauce is thick and creamy, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to mix in the cream
7. Remove from the heat and stir in the rum, vanilla, and butter
8. Allow to cool

Bruschetta

Lancaster County, PA, has the best produce.  You can disagree with me (and honestly, that is TOTALLY fine), but where I grew up, you can't beat the locally grown fruit and veggies.  There is just something about that soil and the green thumbs in the area that make magic in the marketplace.  Seriously, go visit it in the summer.  Watch out for the Amish buggies.

I love bruschetta because it is the perfect dish to showcase beautiful, ripe tomatoes.  I'm not sure when I was first exposed to it, but just looking at the picture below is making my mouth water, and I just had this dish. For as long as I can remember, my grandparents grew tomatoes in the backyard, and come summertime we had tomatoes with everything that my grandmother put on the plate.  I realize that we are well into fall, and tomatoes may not be as beautiful as they were, but we are still able to get decent ones out here in California.

Of course, I realize that there are about a million recipes out here on the interwebs for how to make a bomb bruschetta, but give mine a shot.  It stays nice and crunchy on the edges of the bread, and supple on the inside.  Try to use the best ingredients that you can for this dish, because it's all about bringing out the natural flavors of each of the elements.  Buon appetito!

Bruschetta

Ingredients:

1 baguette, cut on the diagonal 1/2" thick

1 cup balsamic vinegar

3/4 cup mayonnaise (I use the kind that has an olive oil base, but use whatever kind you want.)

2 crushed garlic cloves

1 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil

8 roma tomatoes, sliced

Sea salt and freshly ground pepper

A handful of fresh basil, shredded

12 oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced

1. Add the balsamic vinegar to a small sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium-low heat; simmer until the vinegar has become syrupy, then remove from the heat to cool
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F
3. While the vinegar is reducing, whisk the mayonnaise, garlic, and olive oil together in a small bowl
4. Season the tomato slices with salt and pepper
5. Spread the garlic mayonnaise on the baguette slices and place the slices on a baking sheet
6. Layer the baguette slices with a slice of tomato, a few pieces of basil, and top with a slice of mozzarella
7. Generously brush the top of the mozzarella with the balsamic reduction
8. Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the mozzarella has melted

Colcannon

Sorry I haven't posted in a week, Halloween was my 2nd wedding anniversary!

Colcannon is one of my absolute favorites, and it's become a staple in our house.  You can easily adapt it to fit vegetarian needs, as we did when friends came to visit from up North (and now I hear that it's a staple in their house as well!).  

This is a traditional Irish dish that I first had on St. Pat's Day a few years ago when my roommate (and friend) Esme decided to make it.  I could not believe how flavorful and ridiculously good the potatoes were, and the mustard pork that went with the potatoes were just as delicious.  I was surprised to find out that colcannon is traditionally a fall dish associated with Halloween, and would have a ring hidden in it predicting a marriage in the coming year for the person who found it.  I've always felt that hiding small things in my food that could cause choking was a bad idea, but who am I to argue with tradition?  

At it's core, colcannon is basically mashed potatoes with additional items mixed in.  Some recipes add bacon, others Canadian bacon.  Sometimes it's green cabbage, some times it's curly kale.  Chives, green onions, or yellow onion.  Really, choose what you like and run with it.  I did!

"Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.

Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake

Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your mother used to make?"

Colcannon

Ingredients:

3 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cubed

Salt and pepper

2 Tbs. butter

1/4 cup milk

Dollop of sour cream

4 strips of bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces

Half of a small red onion, sliced

3 leaves of curly kale, chopped

Hand-full of parsley (flat or curly, whatever you prefer)

1. Place potatoes in cool, salted water over medium-high heat and boil until soft, about 15-20 minutes
2. Drain the cooked potatoes and place back into the pot
3. Add the butter, milk, and sour cream, and mash the potatoes
4. Meanwhile, place a skillet over medium-high heat and add the bacon; cook until crispy and then remove and drain on a paper towel
5. Add the onion to the skillet with the bacon grease and cook until soft
6. Add the kale to the skillet and cook until wilted
7. Add the bacon, onion, and kale to the mashed potatoes and mix until well combined
8. Top with the parsley and serve

Mustard Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:

1 lb. pork tenderloin, trimmed of fat and silver skin

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 tsp. dark mustard seeds

3 Tbs. brown mustard

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F
2. Place the tenderloin on a baking sheet and drizzle it with the olive oil; rub the olive oil to coat the meat
3. Rub the tenderloin with the salt and pepper, garlic, mustard seeds, and brown mustard, making sure to keep it an even coat
4. Transfer the pork to the oven and cook for 25-30 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the center of the tenderloin reaches 145°F
5. Remove the pork from the oven and let rest for about 5 minutes before slicing

Vanilla Bean "Avenger" Marshmallows

In the spirit of Halloween and the coming of cooler nights, I thought I would make something sweet that pairs perfectly with a nice, warm cup of hot chocolate.  I expected marshmallows to be far more difficult than they were.  The only real challenge is getting the cured marshmallows out of the mixing bowl!  I found that the trick is to keep your hands wet with cold water.  The treat... well, here's the recipe.

Vanilla Bean "Avenger" Marshmallows

(Because you don't 'make' marshmallows, you 'assemble' them... right Mikey?)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup cold water

3 packets of flavorless gelatin (1/4 oz packets)

2 cups granulated sugar

3/4 cup corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 vanilla bean, split (or 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract)

Cooking spray

Powdered sugar for dusting (or use cocoa powder, or any other tasty dusting mix you can think of!)

1. Bloom the gelatin by sprinkling the gelatin over 1/4 cup of the water in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer; let stand for 5 minutes
2. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, sea salt, and vanilla bean with the remaining water in a saucepan
3. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar
4. Insert a candy thermometer in the pan and cook without stirring until the temperature reaches about 235°F
5. With the whisk attachment, turn the mixer on to a low speed to break up the gelatin
6. With the mixer running, slowly pour the sugar mixture into the bowl, being careful not to hit the spinning whisk
7. Turn the mixer speed up to high for about 10 minutes, until the marshmallow mix is cool, opaque, and thick
8. Grease a baking sheet or pan with the cooking spray, and line it with well greased parchment paper
9. Turn the marshmallow mixture out onto the greased parchment paper
10. Wet your hands to prevent the marshmallow from sticking, and smooth out the mixture to even it out in the pan
11. Cover with greased plastic wrap, and let stand at least 6-12 hours
12. Cut the marshmallows into whatever size you want and dust with powdered sugar

Beef and Bacon Pie

A little over a year ago I found out that I am a huge George R.R. Martin fan.  I also realized that I binge read.  In one fell swoop I watched the first season of Game of Thrones on HBO, and read my way through the entire series of A Song of Ice and Fire.  Previously, I binged on The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion, and currently I am making my way through Marion Zimmer Bradley's Avalon series (One more to go!).  I can promise that there are a ton of fantastical, literature and game based recipes in this blog's future.

A friend of mine turned me onto a blog, Inn at the Crossroads, run by Chelsea and Sariann, two foodies that went about re-creating a number of dishes found throughout the world of A Song of Ice and Fire.  They also released a cookbook by the name of A Feast of Ice and Fire which I highly recommend.  If you are into medieval history and food, and also a fan of G.R.R.M.'s writing, go buy this book.  It's separated into the different regions, which actually correspond to the seasons, if you think about it.  The Wall and The North for winter, Dorne for summer, and so on.

You can find a medieval, slightly sweet version of beef and bacon pie on Inn at the Crossroads, but the version that I made is from their cookbook.  Try it!  You will not be disappointed.

Beef and Bacon Pie

Recipe adapted from A Feast of Ice and Fire, 

by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Sariann Lehrer

Ingredients:

12 strips of bacon (I only had 9, and it turned out to be the perfect amount!)

2 tablespoons butter

1 onion, diced

1 carrot, diced

1 celery rib, diced

1 russet potato, peeled and cubed

1 1/2 pounds stewing meat, cut small

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 cup beef broth

Salt and pepper

1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary

1/2 batch of Medieval Pastry Dough (recipe below), or enough pie dough for a 9" pie, unbaked

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F
2. Weave the bacon strips into a lattice, making it as wide as possible
3. Place the woven bacon on a rack placed on a high rimmed baking sheet, so that the oil can drain (I use a cooling rack that is oven safe).
4. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bacon is crispy
5. Set aside the bacon to cool, and leave the oven on
6. Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat
7. Add the onion, carrot, celery, and potato to the pan and cook until soft and golden 
8. Coat the beef in the flour, shaking off excess, and add to the pan with the vegetables
9. Cook the beef over low heat for approximately 5 minutes, or until browned
10. Stir in any extra flour and cook for a minute longer to thicken the juices and dissolve the flour
11. Add the broth, salt, pepper, and rosemary, scraping the browned bits off of the bottom of the pan
12. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until a gravy has formed
13. Take the meat mixture off of the heat and allow to cool
14. Place your empty pie pan face-down over your lattice of bacon, and cut around the pie pan with a very sharp knife until you have a circle of lattice, and crumble the left over bacon into your meat filling
15. Grease the inside of your pie pan
16. Roll out the pie dough to about 1/4" thickness and line your pan, allowing any extra dough to drape over the edge of the pan
17. Pour the cooled meat filling into the shell of the dough
18. Cover with the bacon lattice, pinching off any excess, and fold the extra dough over the sides of the lattice to secure it
19. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden

To make the Medieval Pastry Dough

Ingredients:

Pinch of saffron threads

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup butter, softened

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 egg yolks

1. Steep the saffron in the water and set aside
2. In a mixing bowl, rub the butter into the flour with your fingers until crumbly 
3. Add the egg yolks and the saffron water to the flour
4. Mix until incorporated, adding water if needed, until the dough sticks together

Migraine Tea

If you suffer from migraines, you know how debilitating they can be.  They can be triggered by anything, from hormones, to stress, to the seasonal changes, and so on.  

One of my former co-workers at my last job gave me an herbal tea that he claimed helped to relieve migraines.  My friend and I evaluated it, and we found that it contained a number of herbs that do in fact help relieve headaches and act as natural pain relievers.

Here is a breakdown of what goes into my own personal blend of migraine tea, and some information about each herb:

• Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) -  The species name for feverfew, parthenium, comes from its presence around the Parthenon, the temple of Athena.  Feverfew contains the chemicals parthenolide and tanetin, which help to prevent migraines from forming if taken at the first sign of one.  This herb is especially effective against vascular headaches (migraines) or pre-menstrual headaches.  Feverfew also helps with joint pain, inflammation, and psoriasis, and is commonly used to help reduce stress.  Avoid feverfew if you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chamomile, or chrysanthemums.

• Lavender -  Lavender is commonly used for depression, anxiety, and tension headaches.  It helps to reduce the stress than can sometimes lead to a migraine by relaxing the muscles and by having a calming effect.  Lavender contains Linalool, which is a chemical that may be effective in treating stress. In this particular tea blend, it adds a soothing scent and enhances the overall flavor.  Historically, Hildegard of Bingen used a decoction of alcohol infused with lavender to fight migraines.  

• Nettle Leaf (Urtica dioica) -  You may be used to the horrific stinging that the hairs, or trichomes, on this plant cause when brushed against in the wild.  The stinging is caused by histamines and other chemicals, but deteriorates quickly after the plant is harvested.  It can be steamed and eaten, and it is a great source of iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.  Nettle is a great herb for treating inflammation and joint pain, and is a natural diuretic.  It is also one of the herbs used in the Old English Nine Herbs Charm, recorded in the Lacnunga manuscript from the 10th century, intended to treat poison and infection.  

• Peppermint -  In ancient Greek mythology, Minthe was a nymph who was transformed into a mint plant by the goddess Persephone as punishment for attempting to seduce her husband, Hades.  I add peppermint to this blend to improve the overall flavor of the tea.  Peppermint is also used to increase alertness and improve memory.  For a more relaxing tea, simply leave peppermint out of the blend.  Peppermint is also possibly effective against tension headaches, and has personally always helped to relieve mine.  It also helps to prevent an upset stomach from the willow bark (see below).

• Rosemary -  In folklore, rosemary was planted outside of houses to help protect the home against witches.  Rosemary promotes healthy circulation, helps to relieve headaches, and reduces high blood pressure.  The leaves contain two potent anti-inflammatories, carnosic acid and carnosol.  

• Sage (Salvia officinalis) -  Sage is a common kitchen herb, used to flavor different meats and sauces.  Please exercise caution if your diet is high in sage for some reason.  Common sage can be used to improve memory, reduce headaches, ease hot flashes during menopause, and to relieve painful menstruation.  It can also aid an upset stomach from the white willow bark (see below). 

• White Willow Bark -  White Willow Bark is a great natural alternative for aspirin, as it contains salicin.  It has long been used as a pain reliever and fever reducer.  Hippocrates advised his patients to chew on willow bark, but you should be aware that it tastes terrible, not unlike leaving an aspirin tablet on your tongue to dissolve.  It can cause an upset stomach so be sure that you include the two herbs that counteract it (see above).      

I like to buy my dried herbs in bulk, because I find that I save money in the long run, plus you can find a number of different uses for them outside of this awesome tea.  Mountain Rose Herbs is my current favorite supplier. They send out a monthly newsletter and update their blog with recipes, tips and tricks, as well as monthly specials.  You can really get a great deal, and their quality is top notch.  I also like that on each of their herb pages you will find a breakdown of uses, as well as the scientific name and how the herb or oil was harvested. 

Migraine Tea

Brew and enjoy at the start of a migraine

Ingredients:

1 part dried feverfew

1 part dried nettle leaves

1 part dried rosemary 

1 part culinary sage

1 part white willow bark

1/2 part dried lavender flowers

1/2 part dried peppermint leaves

1. Mix ingredients together
2. Store in a dark and cool area, in a tin or jar
3. Steep a tablespoon of the tea blend in a cup of hot water, covered, for 10 minutes

Disclaimer: These statements and products have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. If you have a health concern or condition, consult a physician. Always consult a medical doctor before modifying your diet, using any new product, drug, herb, supplement, or doing any new exercises.