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Showing posts with label Mexican. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mexican. Show all posts

Caló Kitchen + Tequila Review

 


Caló Kitchen + Tequila Review

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.





A legacy of better cookery.  Happy Caló [kah-law] Kitchen + Tequila opened nearby at 28141 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, California.  The former space of a TGI Fridays and next to Snooze A.M Eatery.  The other location is in El Segundo at 2191B Rosecrans Avenue, El Segundo, CA 90245.  


Taquitos pictured above.


The Caló Kitchen + Tequila Story


Calo has it’s origins in Carmelita’s that was opened in 1962 by Alberto Heredia and his wife Carmen G. Heredia in Roseville, California.  A suburb of Sacramento, California.  Additional Carmelita’s locations were established in Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Beach, California.  


“My grandparents set a new standard for the family and I simply want to do the same.  Our only goal is to make this your favorite Mexican restaurant.  We promise to operate in the spirit of hospitality and to make you feel great about dining with us.  Serving you fantastic food and service in warm welcome environment at an affordable price.

Our menu is a selection of Mexican classics and favorites prepared with local, high-quality ingredients, choosing organic as much as possible.  Many of our recipes have been handed down from Clemente’s grandparents and have stayed original til this day.  Our long-standing favorites include: Shrimp and Crab Enchiladas, Halibut Tacos and our Famous Carnitas made with Grandmas original recipe.”— Clemente Heredia, owner


Some Standout Menu Items


Shrimp Fajitas


Pork and Pineapple Tacos


Chilli Relleno



Fresh Blackberry Margarita



Flan



Churros

*Cultural trivia: Caló [kah-law] is argot or a variety of Spanish originating from the Romani (gypsy) dialect.  

There are numerous dining options across the country.  From New York to ChelseaDallas to San FranciscoOrange County to Los AngelesBeverly Hills to Palm Springs.  Each community with a multitude of restaurants for good eats.  Here is where expert knowledge of cooking, restaurants, and trusted expertise comes in handy.  Many readers rely on Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven as a source for how-to and where-to regarding cookery, culture, and community. 





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Credits: https://www.calokitchen.com/, www.facebook.com/CaloKitchen, www.instagram.com/calokitchen/ 

Oven Roasted Vegetables with Garlic Dressing Recipe


Oven Roasted Vegetables with Garlic Dressing Recipe 

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven. All rights reserved.






Dear Food Lover,


When God hands you a generous basket of root vegetables, make this dish.  The following recipe for roasted vegetables and dressing is the how-to for intensifying flavor and is a crowd pleaser in the autumn and winter.  The composition of acorn squash, Mexican squash, baby purple potatoes, celery root, parsnips, red onion, Mexican green onions, curly kale, lemon, sage, and olive oil is a colorful side-dish or main meal if the ratios are increased.  Enjoy this warm and smokey salad at your next gathering of family and friends.  



Acorn squash flesh has a slightly buttery and sweet flavor.


Mexican squash is mild in flavor and tender.


Purple potatoes have pigment that shields them from high levels of ultraviolet light in the high altitudes of Peru and Bolivia, hence the color.




Serves: 8



Ingredients


1 acorn squash; approximately 1 ½ pounds


1 pound baby purple potatoes


1 medium celery root; approximately 12 ounces


3 peeled parsnips 


1 large red onion


3 medium Mexican onions


½ organic lemon


½ bunch curly kale


3 Tablespoons olive oil


Coarse salt 


Freshly ground pepper




1 garlic head (also called a bulb) (for dressing)


1 Tablespoon olive oil (for roasting garlic head/bulb)


⅓ cup white wine vinegar (not to be confused with white vinegar) (for dressing)




1 Tablespoon fresh sage (for dressing)




⅔ cup extra-virgin olive oil (for dressing)






Celery root is crisp and has a hint of a sweet-earthy flavor.



The peppery, grassy, and carrot like qualities of parsnips is intriguing.  



Red onions are spicy when raw, yet deliciously sweet when roasted.


Visit Amazon to get your ingredients for this recipe.


Directions


Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204.444 degrees Celsius). 


Place garlic head/bulb on enough aluminum foil to wrap around.


Drizzle 1 Tablespoon olive oil on head/bulb of garlic on aluminum foil.


Wrap the garlic head/bulb in the aluminum foil. 


Place foil wrapped head/bulb of garlic on a roasting pan.


Place the garlic head/bulb in the oven and roast until very tender, about 1 ½ hours.  *Leave the oven on to roast the vegetables. 


Let garlic head/bulb cool slightly before using in dressing or refrigerate in an airtight container overnight.


Cut the garlic head/bulb head in half crosswise (through the circumference). 


Finely chop the fresh sage.


Warm a saucepan to a medium-low heat. 


Squeeze the pulp of the roasted garlic into the saucepan.


Whisk in the white wine vinegar to the saucepan with roasted garlic.


Add the finely chopped sage into the saucepan with the roasted garlic and white wine vinegar. 


Gradually add in olive oil to sauce pan with the roasted garlic, white wine vinegar, and sage, whisking constantly for approximately 3 minutes until the dressing develops.   


Remove saucepan of dressing from the stove burner.


Fresh sage has a eucalyptus aroma with subtle lemon flavor.



Visit Amazon to get your ingredients for this recipe.


Rinse the acorn squash, Mexican squash, baby purple potatoes, celery root, parsnips, Mexican onions, lemon, and kale with water to clean, then pat dry with a clean dish towel. 



Carefully cut the acorn squash crosswise into ¼”-thick rings.

Seed the acorn squash rings.

Trim the acorn squash rings to clean up the curves.



Cut the Mexican squash crosswise into ¼” coins.



Halve the baby purple potatoes



Trim and peel the celery root.

Cut the celery root into ¼” slices.

Cut the celery root slices into wedges (triangular shaped pieces).



Remove any thin papery skin on the outer layer of the Mexican onions. 

Slice lengthwise (up and down) the white and pale-green parts (not the dark green parts) of the Mexican onions into ¼” pieces. 



Peel the parsnips.

Cut parsnips into 1” cubes.

Peel the red onion.

Carefully use a mandoline to julienne (cut into thin strips) the red onion.



Cut the lemon in half.

Juice half the lemon.

Coat the prepared vegetables above with the lemon juice.



Place the prepared acorn squash, Mexican squash, baby purple potatoes, celery root, and parsnips into a large bowl or pot.

Drizzle the prepared vegetables with 3 Tablespoons olive oil.

Add in 1 teaspoon salt to the bowl or pot of vegetables. 

Then, add in ¼ teaspoon pepper into the bowl or pot of vegetables.

Gently, stir the vegetables in the bowl or pot with a spoon or hands to evenly coat the vegetables with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. 



Line two large roasting pans with parchment paper.




Evenly spread the vegetables from the bowl or pot onto the lined roasting pans in a single layer, making sure not to crowd the vegetables together.


Place the roasting pans of vegetables in the oven and roast for 15 minutes.



Add the prepared red onion and Mexican onions into the bowl or pot.

Drizzle in 1 Tablespoon of olive oil.

Gently stir to coat the red onion and Mexican onions with the olive oil.



After the vegetables in the oven have roasted for 15 minutes, add the red onion and Mexican onions into the roasting pans. 



Roast for 7 minutes.

Then, at about this 23 minute mark of roasting time, carefully use a spatula or fork to turn ingredients over in the pan to evenly roast.



Roast for approximately 23 minutes, until the ingredients in the pan are golden brown and tender.  The total roasting time at this point will be approximately 35 minutes. 



Remove the roasting pans from the oven and place on wire cooling racks.




De-stem the kale by tearing away the center stalk from each leaf of kale.

Neatly tear the kale leaves into bit sizes.

Lay a bed of torn kale onto a large serving dish.



Top the bed of kale on the dish with the roasted vegetables from the roasting pans.



Baby curly kale is tender, bitter, and holds up well in salads with dressing and other ingredients. 



Visit Amazon to get your ingredients for this recipe.


Stir the dressing or place the dressing in a jar with a lid to shake.

Re-warm the dressing if needed.

Ladle the warm dressing over the roasted vegetables and kale on the dish.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. 



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Image credit: iStock

Marinated Artichoke Heart Salad In Belgian Endive Cups Recipe


Marinated Artichoke Heart Salad In Belgian Endive Cups





Give yourself more time to prepare and enjoy the party with this recipe.  Utilizing marinated artichoke hearts saves time and add lots of flavor.  Marinated artichoke hearts are light, zingy, and full of tasty ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, oregano, thyme, tarragon, and vinegar.

The other magic ingredient in this recipe is fresh tomatoes from the vine or greenhouse tomatoes.  Red, ripe, and juicy tomatoes this time of year are summer in edible form.  Diced tomatoes add a rich and sweet flavor to the dish.

This recipe for marinated artichoke heart salad in Belgian endive cups requires simple preparation, yet yields back a tasty time.  That flavorful result is in part because of the 
yellow chili peppers or Hungarian peppers.  Yellow chili peppers are slightly sweet, robust, and can make a dish mildly spicy to more spicy depending on if the seeds are included or not.

These little cups can be enjoyed as an appetizer for your next party near the beach, before your next dinner, or for Sunday brunch.


Time:  2 days

Ingredients

1 24 ounce glass jar of marinated artichoke hearts
Juice of 1/2 organic lemon
2 tomatoes on the vine/greenhouse tomatoes
1/2 cup red onion
2 tablespoons cilantro snipped, plus additional for garnish
2 teaspoons garlic
Salt 
24 Belgian endive leaves (approximately 4 Belgian endive spears)



Directions

Remove artichoke hearts from jar.  (Keep the marinade in the jar.)
Chop the artichoke hearts into a large dice.

Place chopped artichokes and marinade from the jar into a large glass bowl.

Wash lemon.  
Cut lemon in half.  
Juice one of the halves of the lemon into the large bowl containing the artichoke hearts and marinade.

Wash tomatoes.  
Dice tomatoes.  
Then place diced tomatoes in the bowl.

Peel and julienne (cut into thin, short slices) 1/2 cup red onion.  
Put 1/2 cup julienne red onion into the bowl.

Wash, peel, and dice the white bulb of the Mexican Green Onion/Mexican Grilling Onion.  
Place the diced bulb into the bowl.

Wash and snip 2 tablespoons cilantro.  
Then put snipped cilantro into the bowl.

Peel and dice 2 teaspoons garlic.  
Place diced garlic into the bowl.

Wash the yellow chili peppers.  
Cut off the tops of the peppers.  
Slice the peppers lengthwise in half.  
Spoon out the seeds.
Dice the peppers.

Put the diced peppers into the bowl.



Toss together the chopped artichoke hearts, diced tomatoes, red onion julienne, diced Mexican Green Onion/Mexican Grilling Onion, snipped cilantro, diced garlic, and diced yellow chili peppers.

Add salt and pepper into the bowl of ingredients to taste.

Wash lime.  
Cut lime in half.  
Juice one of the halves of the lime into the large bowl.  
(Reserve the other half of the lime for garnish.)

Toss the bowl of ingredients until evenly coated.

Cover the bowl of ingredients with plastic wrap.
Place bowl in the refrigerator for 12 hours.




Taste test the ingredients before serving.  
Add additional salt and pepper if necessary.

For the endive cups, first cut off the root end of each endive.
Then carefully separate and wash the endive leaves.
Pat dry the endive leaves with paper towel.
Use the larger endive leaves for this recipe; save the smaller leaves to eat later or with another recipe.
Spoon ingredients from the bowl into endive leaves on a platter.

Garnish the platter with the remaining cilantro and half a lime.








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California Avocado Breakfast Sandwich Recipe



California Avocado Breakfast Sandwich





A mash-up between avocado toast and egg salad, this delectable sandwich is served open-faced on sourdough toast.  Creamy Hass avocados give rich flavor and satiate hunger in the morning.  

Avocados and California are synonymous.  Hass [rhymes with pass] avocados have a delicious history in the state.  The avocado fruit has been around for thousands of years.  According to Handwerk of the Smithsonian, “By 500 B.C. humans were cultivating what they called ahuacatl in Mexico and Central America, breeding the fruit to have more and more of the delicious flesh they loved in the process.” 

By the 1920 avocados reached La Habra in Orange County, California.  Postman Rudolph Hass planted avocado seeds and over time a new variety of avocado was born.  The Hass has rich, nutty flavor and a thick pebble-like skin.  

Enjoy this California breakfast sandwich with family, serve as a brunch item to friends, or have as a late night snack.


Serves 4-6


Ingredients

1 stalk celery
2 Hass avocados
2 tablespoons plain non-fat Greek yogurt (Greek Gods brand)
salt 



Directions

Crack six large eggs into a large bowl.
Use a whisk to beat the eggs together. 
Coat a large skillet with cooking spray.
Pre-heat large skillet over low heat.
Add whisked eggs to skillet. 
Use a heatproof spatula to gently pull eggs to the middle of the skillet, while the remaining liquid eggs go to the outer part of the skillet. 
Cook eggs while continually moving eggs with the spatula (approximately 2 to 3 minutes).
Lightly season scrabbled eggs with salt and pepper.

Coat large skillet with cooking spray.
Pre-heat large skillet to medium heat.
Remove vegan chorizo from packaging and place into skillet.
Brown the vegan chorizo, stirring occasionally, for approximately 8 minutes.



Wash and chop one stalk of celery.

Wash, peel outer later of white bulbs, and dice white bulbs of Mexican green onions.

Wash cherry tomatoes and cut each in half.

Wash and juice the lemon into a bowl.

Slice the avocado:  Slice vertically through the peel, twist, and separate the two halves of the avocado.  Remove the pit.  Slice the flesh of each avocado half vertically and horizontally, creating a grid.  Then scoop out the diced avocado with a large spoon.

Place the diced avocado in the bowl of lemon juice.

Add 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt, halved cherry tomatoes (reserve some halved cherry tomatoes for garnish), a dash of salt, and pepper to the bowl of diced avocado and lemon juice. Stir ingredients together.

Toast both sides of sourdough bread.





Assemble

Spoon a layer of the avocado mixture on the top of toasted bread.
Add a layer of scrambled eggs on top of the avocado mixture.
Place vegan chorizo on scrambled eggs.
Garnish with a few halved cherry tomatoes. 






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Credit: Handwerk, Brian. “Holy Guacamole: How the Hass Avocado Conquered the World.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 28 July 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/holy-guacamole-how-hass-avocado-conquered-world-180964250/.

Braised Short Ribs with Ancho Sauce Recipe



Braised Short Ribs with Ancho Sauce Recipe





Whether you are a beginner cook or seasoned professional, you will enjoy this deliciously sweet and tangy sauce with short ribs that melt in your mouth.

Remember.  Cooking and preparing food is a powerful skill.  Some readers are at an advanced level and will prepare this dish with ease.  Some will go on to experiment with other ingredients.  While others looking at this recipe may be too intrepid to cook.  As with any skill there can be barriers and self-doubt involving fear, sensitivity, motivation, and emotions.  

If you are stuck at the point of merely looking at recipes, thinking about changes you want to make to your diet, and are unsure of your way around the kitchen, then make this recipe your one goal.  Start with this recipe, read the directions a few times, make notes, and plan out the preparation needed.  Once you conquer this recipe you will feel more inspired to make other recipes and create ones of your own.

After you discover the foods, recipes, and techniques you like, the barriers will melt away.  No need to be scared in the kitchen.  Here is where expert knowledge of cooking, restaurants, and trusted expertise comes in handy.  Many readers rely on Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven as a source for how-to and where-to regarding cookery, culture, and community.  Let an enjoyable experience with this recipe be your start.  If you are a more advanced cook, then come back and share what you made and other ideas.




Preparation time: 2 days


Day 1


Ingredients for Braised Short Ribs

3 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil (California Olive Ranch), divided over recipe


1 small red onion, organic, thinly sliced


3 pounds beef short ribs (6 ribs)


1 can (14.5 ounce can) fire roasted diced tomatoes, undrained


1 1/4 cups plus 1 Tablespoon filtered water


1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar, organic


1/2 cup organic agave nectar


1 Tablespoon organic dark brown sugar

1 teaspoon organic mustard

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, organic




Cilantro, organic

1/2 cup red chile adobo (see ingredients below)


Visit Amazon to get your ingredients for this recipe.



Ingredients for Red Chile Adobo



1 1/4 cups filtered water

8 garlic cloves, peeled

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, organic

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, organic

1/8 teaspoon ground cumin, organic

1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, organic

3 Tablespoons sherry vinegar, organic

1 1/2 teaspoons salt




Ingredients for the Spiced Quinoa 

Serving:  Makes approximately 3 cups cooked

1 cup organic quinoa

2 teaspoons ground cumin, organic

2 Tablespoons smoked paprika, organic

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, organic

Water to rinse the quinoa 

1 3/4 cups vegetable broth, homemade or organic







Cooking check:  pause to ensure you have all the ingredients for the Braised Short Ribs, Red Chile Adobo, and Spiced Quinoa above.






Directions

First, make the red chile adobo.

Bring 1 1/4 cups water to a boil in a sauce pan on stovetop.

Turn off stove.

Stir in 1/2 cup ancho chile powder into boiling water until well combined.

Set the water-chile powder mixture, slurry, aside to cool.

Peel 8 garlic cloves (small segments of a head of garlic).

Place the 8 garlic cloves into microwave safe bowl.

Pour water into the microwave safe bowl to cover the garlic cloves.

Microwave the garlic for 1 minute.

Use oven mitts to remove the bowl of garlic from the microwave.

Drain the water form the garlic cloves.

Wait approximately 5 to 10 minutes for garlic cloves to cool.

Use a garlic press to smash the garlic cloves into a paste or use a chef’s knife to mince and 
then scape the garlic cloves into a paste.  A vegetable grater may also be used to create the garlic paste.

Stir together the water-chile powder mixture, slurry, with garlic paste, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano, 3 Tablespoons sherry vinegar, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.

*Any remaining red chile adobo sauce may be stored in a food safe storage container or jar in the refrigerator for later use with other recipes throughout the upcoming week.

Next, peel and slice the red onion. 

In a medium saucepan over medium, heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the sliced red onion into the saucepan and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion slices are soft and caramelize, approximately 7 minutes. 

Add the red chile adobo into the sauce pan and stir for one minute.

Open the can of fire roasted diced tomatoes and add into the sauce pan.

Add in the 2 cups plus 1 Tablespoon water.


Turn down the heat on the stovetop and simmer until the mixture has a thicker consistency, approximately 30 minutes. 

Turn off the heat.

Place mixture to the side to cool for approximately 30 minutes.

Use a spoon and rubber scraper to place the sauce into a blender or food processor.

Process until smooth. 

Use a rubber scraper to help pour the sauce back into the saucepan.

Coat a 1 cup measure with cooking spray.

Measure 1 cup agave and pour into the saucepan.

Then stir in the 1 Tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 Tablespoon dark brown sugar, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper.


For the short ribs.

Follow food safety when handling short ribs.

Sprinkle each side of each rib with salt and pepper. 

In a large pot with a tight lid or Dutch oven, heat 1 1/2 Tablespoons olive oil for approximately 2 to 3 minutes.

Use tongs to carefully place the short ribs in the pot or Dutch oven.

Turn the short ribs every 2 to 3 minutes, browning each of the four sides of the ribs.  It will take approximately 10 minutes in total to brown the short ribs.

Drain off fat into a milk carton or into paper towels on a ceramic plate; allow oil to cool and then discard. 

Pour the red chile adobo into the pot or Dutch oven.

Add in 1 cup plus 1 Tablespoon water.

Turn up the heat on the stovetop to high.

Bring to a boil.

Cover the pot or Dutch oven with the lid.

Reduce the heat to a simmer.

Cook for approximately 45 minutes (until internal temperature reaches 160˚ Fahrenheit/71.1˚ Celsius), until the short ribs are tender.

Turn off heat when finished and remove the lid.

Allow to cool.

Put the lid back on the pot and place the pot of short ribs in the refrigerator over night.


Day 2


Remove the pot of short ribs from the refrigerator and spoon out the fat solid that formed on top of the short ribs.

Then reheat the short ribs.
Preheat the oven to 250˚ Fahrenheit/121˚ Celsius.
Place the short ribs in an oven safe pan with 1/4 cup water and ancho sauce.
Cover the ribs with parchment paper.
Heat the ribs until they reach an internal temperature of 165˚ Fahrenheit/74˚ Celsius.
Carefully remove from oven.


For the spiced quinoa.


*Cooking directions may vary.  See package directions.

Place the 1 cup quinoa into a fine-meshed strainer or metal coffee filter.

Rinse with cold water.

Place the quinoa into a 1.5 quart saucepan.

Add in the 2 teaspoons ground cumin, 2 Tablespoons smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.

Pour in the 1 3/4 cups vegetable broth.

Bring to a boil on high heat.

Reduce the heat to a simmer.

Cover the saucepan with the lid.

Simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until broth is absorbed.

Turn off heat and gently fluff the quinoa with a fork.
Plating

Place the spiced quinoa onto the serving platter.

Place the braised short ribs on top of the bed of quinoa.

Carefully spoon a bit of the sauce from the pot of short ribs over the short ribs and quinoa.

Snip the cilantro with kitchen scissors.

Wash and pat dry the cilantro with paper towels.

Top the short ribs with cilantro.

Enjoy your hard work.







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Credits: Pexels

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taste in cookery, culture, and
community, provides gourmet goods
made with organic ingredients, inspired
by the culinary worlds of California,
Central, and South America, and
engages in a community of customers
and readers with lifestyle content,
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Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.