Fancy Gourmet Dessert Cakes

An amazing ripple effect occurs with the passage of time and historical events. It always provides a perfect opportunity to sample the food.. Mexican cuisine happens to be beautifully fused with original recipes from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California. So many tasty dishes have come from this fusion, that it is sometimes hard to make the distinction of just what resulted from where.

Here are a few examples of each mix, to help you identify the origin.

MexiCali (Mexico and California) often includes Avocado and Rice, TexMex (Texas and Mexico) includes barbecue and dipping sauces, AzMex (Arizona and Mexico) often includes corn and salsa.

Here’s a fun recipe for Chili Con Carne
1 package prepared Chico’s Chili (mild or hot)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1-1/2 lbs sirloin, ground or chunks
1 cup water
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce
Follow directions for Chico’s Chili Beans. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy saucepan (dutch oven is perfect). Brown ground sirloin well, or if using chunks, trim fat from 1-1/2 lbs. sirloin. Cut into 1-inch cubes and brown well on all sides. Add 1 cup water and 1-8 oz. can tomato sauce to browned beef. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover saucepan and simmer approximately 2 hours or until meat is tender. Add prepared Chico’s Chili Beans. Again bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Serves 4-6. Check our gourmet foods section for Chili and Salsa Mixes.

I have created my own salsa with salsa mixes in the past and I must say, that they are party pleasers and have never failed me yet. It is fun and simple enough to sample the different tastes throughout the States and experience the evolving palate firsthand. I wonder what recipes they will come up with a hundred years from now?

Written by Delightful Biteful

I remember when finger foods came out. What a great thought, simple and fun right? Well, not quite. There I was, at a swanky bash, picking up that sticky chicken wing, when suddenly I received disapproving looks, polite glances that said “please don’t be a slob”.

Yes, they mean finger foods; foods that you can eat with your fingers if you are alone late at night, or food that is about the size of your fingers, or food that you wish you could eat with your fingers but never actually will in public. I was so disappointed, but alas I had to make arrangements for the chic new appetizer snacks. So I decided to use cocktail napkins and salad plates to serve these polite little snacks. I also provided cocktail forks along with party picks. I put all of the different dipping sauces and dressings into ramekins for each guest; it was effective for neatness and exclusivity. Everyone enjoyed the new, fun foods. Some of my guests made the same mistake I did and I teased them a little about it, saving them the potential embarrassment of being seen by some VIP.

The top snacks are: Buffalo Chicken Strips, Chicken Wings, Onion Rings, Tempura (batter fried vegetables with a Japanese dipping sauce), Shrimp Cocktail, Mini Spinach and Mushroom Wraps and Fried Mozzarella Sticks. There are lots to choose from, so go to it and have some to eat when you are alone. They really do taste best when eaten with plain old fingers..

Written by Delightful Biteful

And when in a situation with new people; the same rules apply. New job, new house, new family members, demand a quick party menu plan. I have some simple questions that may help solve the food problem. Do they live in the city? If so, quick more exotic foods are appropriate. If they live in the suburbs, a more home cooked taste would likely do. Here are some ideas that might help on short notice.

City Slickers – Consider Sushi *but without the raw fish. Example: California Rolls, Cucumber Rolls, Smoked Salmon Rolls, and you cannot go wrong with Linguine Marinara as a main course. Wonton bacon wraps are a perfect appetizer *The Tyler Family Cookbook has some great recipes for this sort of thing. A spicy Salsa with Tortilla Chips is also a popular treat among the fast paced crowd.

Suburbanites – May like a nice roast, Prime Rib or Pork with Roasted Potatoes. Stuffed Mushrooms are a popular appetizer and soups are a safe bet also. Try a cream soup or chowder, it should work perfectly. It has for me anyway.

As for Dessert - Believe it or not Chocolate Desserts, mainly cakes are very popular in the City. However, Pastries are very popular in the Suburbs. Decaf is almost definitely a safe bet in any location if entertaining on a week night.

 If you have a week or two, you may want to set up your own little buffet and ask your guests in advance about the kind of foods they enjoy. However you work it out, I wish you the same fun I have had during these last minute get-togethers! Written by Delightful Biteful