Mexican - Spanish Rice

NO can tomatoes. I hate rice with canned tomatoes. So if you understand what I'm saying, this is for you!

Ingredients:

2 cups Jasmine rice
2 Roma Tomatoes
1\2 a packet of Sazon cilantro & tomato (comes in a small box of 10 i believe, in the international section)
4 cups of Homemade chicken broth OR a box of organic low sodium chicken broth. The canned stuff isnt good for you and also in my opinion tastes different then buying it in a box.
Cumin seeds
2 clove garlic
1/2 a large white onion
Olive oil

LETS DO IT!!

Step 1: heat your medium sized pan thats deep enough for the rice an liquid on a medium heat. Coat the pan in oil. Add a few thin slices of that half an onion in the oil and the 2 cups of rice and then coat all the rice with the oil make sure that all is covered with oil if not add more. fry the rice until its a slight tan color or opaque. then meanwhile blend half a teaspoon of the cumin seeds with the two tomatoes and only put 2 cups of the chicken broth for now then add a teaspoon of salt an the 2 cloves small garlic pr 1 large garlic, add the seasoning packet of sazon add the other onion as welland blend well. Look at the measurement of the blended liquid if its at 4 cups then you can add it to the rice if not add more broth until it is. Make sure to strain the liquid an Stir and reduce heat between low heat cover and do not stir or let the steam outs. Some stove tops heat different for me i want to say 15 mins. Then let it sit with the heat off for 8-10mins. Fluff then tadaaaa!! The salt part might not be for you some love salt some like a milder salt taste to each its own. Enjoy!!!!

Seafood soup

Tonight's dinner is a family favorite pretty simple to make only thing is making the Spanish rice. So I'm going to get straight to the recipe I am awful at measuring my ingredients but while making this I tried to do actual measurements for you guys out there. 

What you will need is: 

1 1/2 Sazon seasoning pckts the one with the fish on it

1 can Coconut cream, I usually go to Krogers or Heb never found it at Walmart!

Salt/pepper

2 Jalapeños 

2 celery stalks

2 carrots 

Half an onion

Cilantro

Water 

Chicken bouillon cube 

Cayenne pepper or ground red pepper to desired spice level

Tsp Garlic powder

5 Tilapia fillets

Half lb of large shrimp shell off is usually better

Tostadas 

And lime of course(;

Now for the spainsh rice here is a link

(http://pinterest.com/pin/104990235035140121/) to a recipe that is about the same as I prepare mine except I put corn in mine.

First thing I do is fill half my good sized pot with water and add the bouillon cube and let it get to a boil mean while I chop my veggies up besides the cilantro. 

I add the Sazon pckts in with my veggies and let boil for about 5-7 minutes. Meanwhile I go ahead and slice my tilapia and get my shrimp out, I accidentally got the ones with the shells on oops. 

 

Then I add the cilantro as much as you wantt! and seasonings salt and pepper to taste 

I ahead open the can of coconut cream an throw tha in there stir until you don't see clumps of white

Finally add the tilapia and shrimp last it literally only takes a minute and they are cooked! 

 

I put a scoop of rice in a bowl add my soup and lime and eat with a spoof for the juice and toastada for everything else! 

Charro Beans

 

So everyone today I decided to make my favorite beans. Now, I use to HATE charro beans when I ordered it from restraunts and one day I decided to make my own and I did not regret it! Let me say, once you have had REAL Mexican food Tex Mex just makes you want to gag. I'm glad I have my mother in law to learn from or I would still walk into Tex Mex joints eating their gross food. My Hispanic side of the family doesn't cook unfortunately so I don't have them to look up to (sigh)... Anyways so here is MY Version of charro beans I hope others can enjoy it as much as my family an I do. 

Charro beans 

 

What you need:

1/2 a pound of one of dry pinto beans (I get Kroger brand) 

Crockpot

Canned pickled jalapeños w/juice

2 jalapeños fresh (I love spicy)

1 whole tomato 

1/4 of a large white onion

A bunch of cilantro (put as much as you prefer)

1/2 a cube of Chicken bouillon/tomato bouillon -which ever you have on hand

5 slices of turkey bacon (or regular) chopped

Water - fill crockpot half way at least or a little more if you want more broth

Small tsp of:

Garlic powder

Onion powder

Ground cumin 

Salt&pepper to taste I'm generous with mine. 

Splash of canola oil or any oil you have on hand.

Okayyyyyyy so now were ready to throw everything in the pot!

*It takes a good 5 hours on high for my crockpot but not everyone has the same one so you will just have to check and stir every hour or if your know your crockpot then you don't but mine is older and was a hand me down from my mom. 

Chop up all your veggies

I don't chop the cilantro I usually just pick off the leaves I find when you chop it you loose flavor to the chopping board! 

I spread the dry beans on the counter and make sure there's no "ugly" ones lol. Next I rinse them off then put them in the crockpot. 

I add in all the seasonings and veggies plus the bacon and splash of oil.

Now open that can of pickled jalapeños! I love the juice and I personally add a half cup BUT I would start off with 1/4 of a cup or less and you can always add more at the end as well as cilantro which I usually do and shoot sometimes if I feel cheesy I grate some Monterey Jack in it. 

Like I said this is my version I know a lot of people do canned tomatoes and that's their preference but it just tastes so much better with fresh tomato!! Oh and beer is a no i do not like the flavor in my beans!