| Drinks and Dinner - Mexican Style |
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| Saturday, 15 August 2009 00:00 |
With apologies to Rick Bayless and others who prepare authentic Mexican cuisine, I'm going to use tonight's dinner to kick off a new feature. Call it... Drinks and Dinner?This is a riff on an old recipe I once cut out of some magazine. When I pulled it out tonight, I realized, I liked the idea of the recipe more than the actual recipe. So, I made my own meal of it. You may have offered a cocktail post or recipe or news in the Virtual Lounge. My Facebook page I put up as salve for my wounds when I couldn't make it to Tales of the Cocktail. Come by the lounge to see what folks have shared. Killer recipe from ChezUs for the classic Papa Doble, the drink of Hemingway lore. Lauren Clark's video from the Athaneum. Know what Red Rot is? Don't you just love a story with your drinks? The Cocktail Hour Years ago, I used to go to Martha's Vineyard with friends each summer. After a day at the beach, we'd return home, and begin showers, drinks and apps. Another couple of us would start dinner. I loved the sunset drinks on the deck, martinis and my olive tapenade. This beautiful photo and recipe on MattBites, Green Goddess a la Mateo. Green Goddess, goodness! Remember how delicious this old recipe is? Of course, Matt, being Matt, makes it his way. Adding a little Mexican Crema. So, I prepped some crudité and brought out my Green Goddess ingredients. I didn't have Mexican Crema but I do have good homemade mayonnaise. I have tarragon, anchovy paste (because me, being me, had to do my own thing, too) parsley, scallions... mm. Spiced Rubbed Mexican Chicken and Corn, Bean Casserole with Tabasco Watermelon Margaritas For the Chicken: (four skin on chicken thighs) Make a spice paste:
Make spice paste and rub all over chicken. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours to overnight. Bring out of frig to warm to room temp an hour before serving. Place on oiled grill pan or roasting pan. Grill or bake at 375 until nearly done. Remove from oven, reduce oven temp. to 300. Prep veggies:
In oven safe saute pan, saute pepper and onion in light oil, to soften, add beans, corn, garlic. S&P, oregano, cumin. Place chicken over vegetables, shred a little Monterey Jack over the casserole, place in oven to melt cheese. Squeeze lime over all and serve.
Tabasco Watermelon MargaritaFor the first time in the brand’s storied 140-year history, the McIlhenny family has licensed Tabasco brand Pepper Sauce in the distilled spirits category. Tabasco brand Spicy Tequila is the result of the blending of premium tequila and the iconic pepper sauce. Founded in 1934, Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heaven-hill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned marketer and producer of distilled spirits products. These two products, tequila and Tabasco are a natural complement. This evening I buzzed up watermelon, agave syrup, fresh lime juice and Tabasco Tequila. The spicy Tequila was tantalizing with the sweet watermelon.
I've also tried the Tabasco Tequila in my Sangrita Tomatoes, and in a barbecue sauce for pork tenderloin. It's the fun Tequila, the Friday night Tequila, the with food Tequila. Ribs, barbecue, Bloody Marys. Spice it up!
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written by RichardA , August 15, 2009
The Tabasco Watermelon Margarita sounds absolutely delicious! I was unaware of the Tabasco Tequila but will have to check it out. I have had other spicy margaritas before, with habanero infused tequila (I think at Masa), and really enjoyed them.
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written by Chez US - Denise , August 16, 2009
These margaritas sound amazing ...... time to get a drink!
RichardA
written by Jacqueline , August 16, 2009
This is good stuff. I love it with tomato or with watermelon. It's Heaven Hill, and Tabasco so you know it's two good houses.
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written by adele , August 16, 2009
My experiences with tequila in college were of the "one tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor" variety, and I've given it a wide berth since. Tabasco tequila, however, is enough to make me rethink my position...
Adele
written by Jacqueline , August 18, 2009
I think that's why my friend calls it "te-kill-ya" but this is a quality tequila so you really only have to control for the quantity you consume. I used a 2 oz measure, a good amount of watermelon and ice and, here's the trick, use a smaller martini glass. I had 5 or 6 drinks from what was really 1.5-2 pours. We're so used to the jumbo 4 oz glasses in bars these days our proportions are out of whack. An observant friend noted that one glass was too modern in size on "Mad Men" but generally the glasswear on that show shows the original size of cocktails.
With this drink you get all the lycopene from watermelon, anyway, so call it a health drink and enjoy!  |
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