Ashley from the Local Haven blog is based in Portland, Oregon and has a unique way of making you incredibly hungry and inspiring you to head straight to the kitchen. Check out this incredibly authentic lineup for preparing a Mexican feast, don't forget your Falcon prep set and 24cm plate set for preparing and serving up too...
simple avocado mash
makes 1 cup
INGREDIENTS
1 large ripe avocado
1 lime, juiced
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup cilantro leaves, roughly chopped
1/4 cup red onion, diced
kosher salt to taste
PROCESS
begin mashing avocado with lime juice, until the avocado is broken down. stir in garlic, cilantro and red onion, and salt to taste.
the best chile con queso
serves 8
Picadillo
INGREDIENTS
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef
1/2 white onion, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt + pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup chicken stock
Queso
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 white onion, diced
1 large pobleno chile, diced
2 jalapenos, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 pound Monterey Jack cheese, grated
1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Topping options:
Garden Gourmet Restaurant Style Salsa
avocado mash
sour cream
pickled jalapeños
cilantro
chives
PROCESS Picadillo
Add oil to large skillet and heat over high. Stir in ground beef and cook until completed browned. With a slotted spoon remove cooked beef and set aside. Using the fat in the pan, turn the heat down to medium and add the garlic, onion and bell pepper. Cook for about six minutes, until tender. Season with salt and pepper. Add the cumin and chili powder and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the chicken stock and add the beef back into the pan. Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Taste and season. Remove from the heat, transfer the piccalillo to a bowl and cover.
PROCESS Queso
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion, chile, jalapeños, and garlic. Occasionally stir for 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and season with salt, cook for another 6 minutes. Add the flour and stir for 1 minute, then add the milk and continue to stir for 4 minutes, until the mixtures comes to a boil and thickens. Turn the heat down to low, and begin adding handfuls of cheeses stirring as you go until all of the cheese has been added and is melted.
In a deep baking dish or shallow bowl, add the picadillo. Pour the hot queso over the meat and add 1/4 cup salsa and any additional garnishes. Serve with chips and or warm tortillas.
Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa
serves 4
Fish
INGREDIENTS
1 pound of halibut (or another preferred white fish)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lemon thinly sliced
kosher salt + pepper
1 cup shredded purple cabbage
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/4 cup green onions, sliced
1 jalapeno, thinly sliced
1/4 cup sour cream
Garden Gourmet Mango Salsa
chopped cilantro leaves
lime wedges
8 corn tortillas, warm
PROCESS
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Lay out a large piece of parchment paper, place the fish towards the left side, leaving 2 inches to the left. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and spread lemon slices over top. Fold the parchment over, and begin crimping and pressing the edges tightly. Place the parchment packet onto a baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes, until the fish is cooked through and flaky.
To serve:
Open parchment paper with cooked fish and take 2 forks to flake apart. Place in the middle of the table with a stack of warmed tortillas, along with taco topping options (especially the mango salsa which is my favorite for fish tacos!) and let your guest build their own. Just make sure to fill the table with plenty of chips, salsas, avocado mash, chille con queso and all the margaritas and agua frescas!