More Mexican Recipes!

In response to an article called "Mexican Recipe!":
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/48688/mexican_recipe.html

My personal favorites are Empanadas. Empanadas are like turnovers. You can fill them with fruits, meats, or vegetables. Whatever you like, you can stuff into the bread shell. Another great idea is to use leftovers.

This particular food is not only popular in Mexico, but it's a favorite in many Central and South American countries. Empanadas are easy and quick to make, making them excellent entrees to prepare in a small amount of time.

This recipe is for a beef center, but remember, you can use ANYTHING.

Beef Empanadas:
1lb hamburger meat
2/3 cup water
Sliced potatoes
Sliced carrots
¼ cup onion slices

For the pastry shell:
4 ½ cups Bisquik mix
1 cup boiling water

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees. While that's getting warm, go ahead and brown the hamburger meat. Meanwhile, as you keep an eye on your hamburger, you can begin preparing the empanada shells. In a medium to large bowl, mix the Bisquik and hot water together. Stir until the dough forms. Next, knead the dough about 10 times, until it is soft and well formed. Tear away 6 balls from the dough and flatten each one out to make a 7 to 10" circle.

Once your beef is browned, add the onion, carrots, and potatoes, along with the 2/3 cup water. Now, spoon some of the beef onto one side of each circle of dough. Then, fold the dough over to make turnovers. Seal the edges of each with a fork or your finger so the beef doesn't spill out.

Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes (or until the dough is done). There will typically be 6 servings with this recipe.

Another food that is appealing to me is Spanish Rice. It is typically served with most Mexican restaurant dishes and in homes during Spanish or Mexican food night. Spanish rice is usually associated with Mexico, however, it really originated in Spain. In the Southwestern United States, Spanish rice is prepared with meats like chicken and beef tips mixed in.

Spanish Rice:
6 slices of bacon
2 medium onions, diced
4 cups cooked Rice
¼ teaspoon ground Allspice
1 jar (2 oz.) diced Pimentos, drained
½ cup Bell Pepper, diced
1 can (15 oz.) Tomatoes, drained
1 cup Longhorn or Medium Cheddar Cheese, grated
Flavored Pepper, to taste
Butter to grease medium casserole dish

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium skillet, you are going to cook the bacon until it is crisp. Then, drain it on paper towels and sit them aside. Next, add the onions to the skillet and cook until they are lightly browned.

In a large bowl, combine rice and remaining ingredients. Add the bacon and onions and mix well. Place the rice mixture in lightly buttered, medium casserole dish and bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

This recipe will serve 6 people.

Pumpkin, a food usually popular during the Fall, is a good source of Vitamin A and is widely grown in Mexico. It is a favorite addition in all kinds of dishes. I particularly like Sonoran Pumpkin Cookies. Here's how you can make them.

You will need:
½ cup Vegetable Oil
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 cup Pumpkin, mashed
1 ¾ cup Flour
1 cup Bran Flakes
½ cup Walnuts, chopped
½ cup Salt
1 teaspoon ground Cinammon
½ teaspoon ground Nutmeg
½ teaspoon ground Cloves
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
½ cup Raisins

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix oil, sugar, egg, and pumpkin. Beat them well.

In a second large bowl, combine all the remaining ingredients.

Combine the two mixtures and stir until they are completely blended.

Drop teaspoon-fulls of the mixture onto a lightly greased baking sheet.

Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.

This recipe will make 4 dozen cookies. I can assure you though, these will disappear very quickly!

Now, to wash all those down, I like to sip on Tequila Slushes. They are very refreshing and a nice twist on the Tequila Sunrise. The only difference between the two is the absence of grenadine in the Slush.

To make Tequila Slush you need:
1 ½ cups of Tequila
1 can (6 oz.) frozen Limeade
1 cup Orange Juice
1 cup Crushed Ice

Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend on high until mixed and slushy.

This one recipe is enough for 4 servings.