Esquites (Mexican street corn salad)

Ingredients

• 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter (I used olive oil)
•  3-4 cups fresh corn (cut from cob) or frozen corn (about 4-5 fresh corn cobs) (I used frozen corn, because who has fresh corn??) 😅
•  2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons sour cream 
• 1 to 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup Cotija cheese or queso fresco, grated or crumbled
• 2 to 3 green onions, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon jalapeño, deseeded and finely chopped (I used jalapeños from a jar the 2nd time I made this)
• 1/4 C fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 lime, juiced or 1 to 2 T lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (or chili powder)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• Extra crumbled Cotija or queso, cilantro, paprika to sprinkle on top

I made this on July 29, 2023 (but didn't have jalapeños, fresh garlic or sour cream).  Would have been A LOT better if I added it).  What I made was tasty but needed to be creamier and have some zing!  This recipe is very forgiving.  Play around with the quantities if you want.

Directions:

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1.     Melt butter or olive oil in a heavy pan (cast iron is best). Spread corn kernels in a single layer in the pan. Roast for 10-15 minutes, stirring frequently, until the outsides of the kernels have browned. (Some will have a charred look, but don't let them burn!)

2.     Spoon corn into large bowl. Set aside.

3.     In a mixing bowl, mix all the remaining ingredients, add salt and pepper to taste.  Stir until combined.

4.     Pour mayo mixture over roasted corn. Stir to combine completely.

5.     Sprinkle with extra crumbled cheese, paprika (or chili powder), and cilantro. Serve warm immediately.  Refrigerate leftovers.  PS Can also serve lukewarm or slightly chilled?

 

Salmon Bites

The trick is to use a cast iron skillet!!

I made this on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2022.  It was AWESOME!

 Ingredients

• ⅓ cup honey

• 2 tablespoons water

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 3 to 4 salmon filets, cut into cubes (about 1 to 2 inch cubes)

• kosher salt and pepper

Instructions

• Stir together the honey, water and garlic. Set it aside. We really love this sticky sauce and sometimes I double it. If you want extra sauce, I suggest doubling it too! ⅔ cup honey + ¼ cup water + 3 or 4 garlic cloves.
• Pat the salmon completely dry with paper towels. Cut the salmon into cubes, making sure the pieces are uniform in size. It doesn’t matter if they are big or small - but make sure they are all roughly the same size so they cook in the same amount of time.
• Season the salmon all over with salt and pepper.
• Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Let it heat for a good 5 to 6 minutes so it’s hot. Add the butter and let it melt and sizzle - it will almost instantly brown. This is good!
• Add the salmon in a single layer. Cook on one side until very deep golden brown and seared. Flip each salmon piece. Cook for 1 minute so the salmon gets brown on the other side.
• Pour the honey mixture into the skillet. It should bubble and sizzle all around the salmon. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, letting it bubble and thicken and get sticky.

No Bake Apple Dessert

Ingredients (with baking powder)

• 2 apples
• 1 egg
• 3 T sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• pinch of salt
• 2 T oil
• 100 ml of milk
• 1 1/4 C flour
• 1 T baking powder
• Sprinkle of cinnamon in batter (optional)

Directions

1. Cut one apple into small chunks
2. Cut the other apple into slices
3. Mix the egg, sugar and vanilla together
4. Add a pinch of salt, then beat milk
5. Beat in flour and 1 T baking powder
6. Add the chunks of apples
7. Heat 1 T oil in frying pan
8. Spoon dollop of dough in frying pan, like pancakes
9. Put several slices of apples on each dollop
10. Cook for 5 minutes on low heat
11. Flip patties and cook for another 5 minutes
12. Serve with apple slices side up
13. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve   

I made the baking powder one on July 26, 2022.  It was ok.

Suggestions for next time:  flatten the pancakes after I put them in the pan, or use less batter.

Use less sugar.  I only used 2 T but it was still too sweet for me.

I used my cast iron frying pan, make sure it's heated up before putting the pancakes in (just like when making regular pancakes).  

POLISH APPLE PANCAKES (with yeast)

Ingredients

• 1 packet yeast
• 1 C milk
• 2 C flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 C sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 5 medium apples, cut into small chunks
• powdered sugar for dusting

Directions

1. Heat milk until pleasantly warm.  Add yeast.  May add 1 tsp sugar to activate yeast.
2. Add yeast with milk and all other ingredients to a large bowl and mix for about 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Cover and set aside to rise until doubled.
4. In the meantime, peel and core the apples into small chunks.
5. Add to the risen dough.  Stir til distributed.  Let sit for about 5 to 10 minutes
6. Heat oil in frying pan, cast iron might make better pancakes.  Oil should be hot so the pancakes don't soak up oil.
7. Spoon about 1/4 C batter for each pancake.  Cook on both sides until golden brown.  
8. Transfer to cooling rack with paper towels.  
9. Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Mango and Avocado Salad

 

Ingredients

• 1 T balsamic vinegar
• 1 T lime juice
• 2 T olive oil
• 2 mangoes cubed
• 2 avocados, cubed
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a large serving bowl, whisk together vinegar, lime juice, salt and pepper to taste. Slowly whisk in oil. Toss in mangoes, avocado and red onion to coat. Serve immediately.

  

Mango Cucumber Rice Salad

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 C rice blend
• 1/4 C quinoa
• finely grated zest and juice of one lime
• 2 T oil
• 1 tsp sugar
• pepper
• 1 C chopped mango
• 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
• 1 red jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 C chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 C chopped salted roasted peanuts

Directions

1. Cook the rice and quinoa.
2. Drain the grains and rinse under cold water until cool; shake off the excess water.
3. Whisk the lime juice and zest, oil, sugar, 1 tsp salt, and pepper to taste.
4. Add the rice, mango, cucumber, jalapeño, scallions, cilantro, and peanuts and stir to combine.  Season with salt.

Mango Habanero Salsa

 Ingredients

• 1 garlic clove
• salt
• 1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 T olive oil
• 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and diced
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 habanero Chile, stemmed, seeded, and finely chopped
• juice of 2 limes
• tortilla chips, for serving

Directions

Finely chop the garlic, sprinkle with 1 1/4 t salt, and mash into a coarse paste.  Mix the garlic paste with cilantro, oil, mango, scallions, habanero and lime juice.

Set aside for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.  Season with additional salt and serve with tortilla chips for scooping.

Crispy Tofu

 

Ingredients. I made this on June 9, 2022.  Excellent!  I'll make it again!

• One block firm tofu, drained
• 2 T shoyu
• Juice of one lime
• 2 tsps honey
• 2 scallions (green onions)
• 1/2 tsp sriracha

• 1/2 C panko
• 2 T sesame seeds
• 1 T cornstarch
• 1 tsp garlic salt
• 1 tsp onion powder
• Salt and pepper
• 3 T olive oil

Directions

1. Wrap tofu in a clean dish towel and place on top of a wire rack set inside a rimmed backing sheet.  Place a heavy pan on top of the tofu and let it sit for 5 minutes to release as much moisture as possible.  Unwrap and slice lengthwise into 1/2" thick by 1 1/2" wide planks.
2. Whisk the shoyu, lime juice, honey, green onions and sriracha together in a small bowl and set aside.  Mix the panko, sesame seeds, cornstarch, garlic salt, onion powder, 1/2 tsp salt and a few grinds of pepper in a pie dish or shallow bowl.  Press the tofu planks into the panko mixture to coat on all sides.
3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the tofu and cook, undisturbed, until deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
4. Flip the tofu with a spatula and continue cooking undisturbed until a deep golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes more.  Transfer to a platter.
5. Reduce heat to low and add the shoyu mixture to the pan.  Cook until bubbling and slightly thicker, 1 to 2 minutes.  Pour the sauce over the tofu and sprinkle with the green onions.  

My husband, Gerald, is a gardener!  I used his first onion (and stalks) to make this crispy tofu!