Recipes | An Inspired Cook

Category: Recipes
- Grilled Steak Salad with Roasted Corn
  
  Posted at 9:25 am by NativeNM, on August 18, 2023
  We are just beginning to find fresh corn at some of the local farms. Every summer I can hardly wait to get my hands on some freshly picked corn and tomatoes. I’ve been craving a steak salad and finding the corn and tomatoes seemed like the perfect way to incorporate all my favorites into one bowl. Roasting corn brings out the sweetness that tastes so good. I also used some of my container grown parsley and chives to make a gremolata to sprinkle over top. It adds to the flavor of the salad and enhances the creamy balsamic dressing drizzled over top. With all my ingredients on hand this salad came together in 30 minutes. We enjoyed our salads with a slice of toasted French bread with dipping spices and olive oil.
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  Posted in Condiments and Sauces, Entree, Recipes, Red or Green | 3 Comments | Tagged @Los Poblanos Lavender Farm, @santafeoliveoil, Creamy Balsamic Dressing, Fresh Herb Gremolata, Goat Cheese, Gremolata, Grilled Steak Salad with Roasted Corn, Grilled Steak Salad with Roasted Corn and Tomatoes and Avocados, Red and Green Seasoning
- New Mexico Inspired Cuban Sandwich
  
  Posted at 9:58 am by NativeNM, on August 11, 2023
  When you look at this sandwich I realize it really doesn’t look nearly as good as it tastes. I hope you can get past the photo and imagine how this sandwich will taste with all the flavors that are packed within it. The story of this sandwich began in late spring when I got together with my sister Kat for a day out on the town. When we get together it doesn’t matter what we plan for the day, it always includes a lunch date. After some debate we decided on Range Cafe, a local favorite here in Albuquerque. They have a seasonal menu that they change, well . . . seasonally, so if you find something that sounds really good, you’d better order it because next time it might be gone. Their “Spring Features” menu included a Cuban Grilled Cheese that sounded intriguing. It was layered with Pork Carnitas with a Red Chile and Coffee Rub, Green Chile Mustard, Swiss and Cheddar Cheese with Ham and Pickles on a Crusty Baguette pressed panini style. All it took was one bite and I knew this was the one for Joe who loves a good Cuban sandwich. A year ago I made smoked carnitas that featured a red chile and coffee rub so the first order of business was to smoke another pork butt. The green chile mustard did not have roasted green chile but rather was spiked with dried ground green chile. This sandwich is so delicious, it’s been one of our favorite new sandwiches over the summer.
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  Posted in Burgers, Sandwiches, Paninis and Wraps, Recipes, Red or Green, Sandwiches & Paninis | 2 Comments | Tagged Cuban Sandwich, Green Chile Mustard, New Mexico Inspired Cuban Sandwich, Panini Pressed Cuban Sandwich, Red Chile and Coffee Rubbed Pork Cuban Sandwich
- No Bake Mocha Cheesecake
  
  Posted at 9:38 am by NativeNM, on August 4, 2023
  If it’s too hot to bake . . . try this no bake mocha cheesecake that has a firm texture and the taste of a baked cheesecake. I made my own graham cracker crust which took about 7 minutes bake time. Try making the crust ahead of time, perhaps in the early morning or evening when it feels cooler. Sometimes I make a crust up to a week ahead and place it in the refrigerator until I’m ready to make the filling. This cheesecake has two layers, a thin chocolate ganache and a creamy mocha filling. I love toffee bits with any coffee dessert so I sprinkled some on top for a little crunch. It tastes creamy and decadent with a slight hint of coffee flavor. If you’re a coffee lover you’ll love this cool mocha cheesecake!
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  Posted in Cakes, Cupcakes and Muffins, Dessert, Recipes | 3 Comments | Tagged Chocolate Coffee Cheesecake, Coffee Cheesecake, No Bake Cheesecake, No Bake Mocha Cheesecake, No Bake Mocha Cheesecake with Toffee Bits
- Tortelloni with Creamy Pesto Sauce
  
  Posted at 1:30 pm by NativeNM, on July 21, 2023
  The heatwave this summer has lasted longer than I think anyone expected. We’ve experienced more consecutive days in the upper 90’s or topping over 100 degrees for most of July. It’s just too dang hot to turn on the oven or cook on top of the stove. Early on it was sandwiches or salads for dinner, but after a while I started searching for something more. I found some fresh pasta in the refrigerated section of the grocery store; the package directions called for a 3 minute boil. That sounded perfect, I knew just what to do. A creamy parmesan sauce with pesto would taste so good and take only minutes to make. Add a Mediterranean salad and call it a meal. I’ve included a couple more variations that I think you will enjoy as well.
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  Posted in Condiments and Sauces, Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Entree, Recipes | 5 Comments | Tagged @margartepottery, Cream Sauce with Pesto, Magarte Pottery Stoneware by Magalli Gomez, Pasta with Creamy Pesto Sauce, Rana Tortelloni Pasta, Spinach Pesto, Tortelloni, Tortelloni with Creamy Pesto Sauce
- Red Rocks Trails
  
  Posted at 9:39 am by NativeNM, on July 11, 2023
  One of our sources to find new trails to hike can be found on a facebook page “Hiking in New Mexico”. I love to pore over the stories of fellow hikers as they post their photos and provide information on the status of the trails, the road and weather conditions and maps. We actively seek out trails that aren’t well known, low foot traffic and of course beautiful scenery. The information we find from “Hiking in NM” is sometimes better than AllTrails. I came across a post for Red Rock Trails and immediately wanted to hike this trail. You’ll need to purchase a permit at the Walatowa Visitor Center which is located within the Jemez Pueblo on Hwy 4 open daily between 9 am – 4 pm. It’s a short trail only about 1.5 miles and showcases the Walatowa Red Rocks with a side trail leading to a gorgeous slot canyon. Every time we think we’ve found everything to explore in Jemez, we discover another gem.
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  Posted in Recipes | 7 Comments | Tagged Jemez Pueblo, Red Rocks Trails, Red Rocks Trails Slot Canyon, Walatowa Red Rocks, Walatowa Visitor Center
- Pork and Green Chile Burritos
  
  Posted at 8:21 am by NativeNM, on July 1, 2023
  Today is the 12th anniversary of An Inspired Cook. I’m proud of the content and how I’ve grown as a better cook over the years. In the beginning, I tried to put out 2 – 3 posts a week but these days I enjoy taking time in between traveling around New Mexico to explore our beautiful state as well as sampling some of the best food along the way. This past year I’ve been taking photos of our favorite dishes from some of the restaurants we’ve visited on our day trips and also here in Albuquerque. We try to seek out where the locals eat, sometimes in a little mountain town or a food truck at an art festival. Sometimes you find the best food at a little unknown cafe out in the middle of nowhere. One day I will put together a “best of” list but today I’m going to share the accidental burrito that changed my perspective on how to build a burrito. The plan was to make some green chile sauce with pork to smother burritos or enchiladas. I had an end piece of a tender pork loin that I saved to go in the sauce. I cut it into small bits and then stir fried the pork with some green chile salt. As the sauce simmered and cooked down it seemed obvious that this would make a delicious filling by scooping out the pork and green chile to fill a couple of tortillas. And there was enough sauce leftover to smother the burritos. It was one of the best tasting burritos I’ve ever made, however I didn’t measure the ingredients or take pictures so this is take two. I made enough for 2 burritos but it can be easily doubled or tripled. You can also substitute ground beef, chicken or steak in place of the pork.
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  Posted in Condiments and Sauces, Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Entree, Recipes, Red or Green | 8 Comments | Tagged Green Chile Sauce, New Mexico Burritos, Pork and Green Chile, Pork and Green Chile Burritos, Pork and Green Chile Sauce, Pork and Green Chile Smothered Burritos, Pork and Green Chile Wet Burritos
- Jemez Mountains Las Conchas Trailhead
  
  Posted at 10:02 am by NativeNM, on June 22, 2023
  A couple years ago I introduced you to a few of our favorite places within the Jemez National Recreation Area. There are so many lovely places to explore and each one has it’s own unique experience. Jemez is one of our favorite places to head off to for day hikes, especially in the summer. When it starts to heat up here in Albuquerque, we head north to the cooler temperatures of Jemez. New Mexico experienced some late snowfall and heavier than expected spring rains that have turned the landscape greener than it’s been in ages. The Las Conchas trail is one of the most beautiful trails crisscrossing back and forth across the East Fork Jemez River with lush green grass and tall evergreen trees. The skies never disappoint with such vivid blue’s and rolling white clouds floating in the breeze. We feel fortunate to live only an hour away and visit quite often. Early mornings are the best time to go, its easier to snag one of the few parking spaces and there are less crowds earlier in the day. There is a sense of serenity when listening to the breeze rustling through the evergreens or the river flowing steadily along. And the aroma of the mountains surround you with scent of evergreens.
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  Posted in Recipes | 2 Comments | Tagged East Fork Jemez River, Jemez, Jemez New Mexico, Las Conchas Trailhead, New Mexico True
- Roasted Asparagus and Tomatoes with Goat Cheese and Candied Pecans
  
  Posted at 9:56 am by NativeNM, on June 9, 2023
  There are a few vegetables that I feel need some help to make them taste extraordinary. This is just my opinion but roasted asparagus needs more than just salt and pepper to entice me to eat it. I guess over time I got burnt out on asparagus but recently I’ve discovered some new flavors to add to it that make it taste fresh and new. Josh was my inspiration for this dish. He was here over Mother’s Day and suggested we make roasted veggies. We picked up some of his favorites, including asparagus and tomatoes. We crumbled some goat cheese and added a drizzle of balsamic vinegar with salt and pepper. Asparagus suddenly tasted good again! So I got to thinking that I’d like to add something crunchy to the mix and came up with some candied pecans which paired perfectly. There’s a contrast of flavors ranging from salty, tangy, sweet and savory. As I try to make healthier choices I’m striving to make those healthy choices taste better.
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  Posted in Recipes, Side Dishes | 6 Comments | Tagged @santafeoliveoil, Asparagus, Grilled Asparagus, New Mexico Red Chile Dark Balsamic, Roasted Asparagus, Roasted Asparagus with Goat Cheese, Roasted Asparagus with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese and Candied Pecans
- Mangonada Margarita
  
  Posted at 11:07 am by NativeNM, on May 5, 2023
  Happy Cinco de Mayo all! Cinco de Mayo has always been one of our favorite holidays to celebrate with spicy food and drinks. I have to admit I rarely drink alcohol but I do enjoy a good margarita now and then. It’s just as tasty to leave out the alcohol and make it a mocktail. Mangonada margaritas are made with chamoy sauce and are a favorite among New Mexicans. What is chamoy sauce? Well, it’s described as a salty, sweet, sour and spicy sauce made from a combination of dried fruits such as apricots, mangos or plums with chili powder, salt and sugar. Many of our farmer’s markets or outdoor arts & craft fairs will have a booth selling these tasty chamoy margaritas in a mason jar with lime and Tajin seasoning around the rim. They can be made with other citrus and tropical fruits but mango seems to be the most popular. The explosion of flavors is like nothing you’ll ever taste. I love the tangy salty flavors that are blended with the sweet fruit, spicy chamoy and Tajin spices. And, one day while I was in Spouts Market, I found a bag of spicy chamoy gummi worms . . . OMG they are amazing and fun to put a couple in your margarita! So cute and tasty too. If you haven’t tried one of these tasty drinks, it’s time to make one. You will be happy you did!
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  Posted in Favorite Drinks, Recipes, Red or Green | 2 Comments | Tagged Chamoy Margarita, Chamoy Sauce, Cinco de Mayo, Frozen Margarita, Mango Frozen Margarita, Mango Margarita, Mangonada Margarita, Tajin Seasoning
- Chimichurri Meatballs stuffed with Cheese
  
  Posted at 9:19 am by NativeNM, on April 14, 2023
  If you ever have a craving for some giant meatballs stuffed with herbs and cheese, look no further than these chimichurri meatballs. They have so many flavors packed inside and the warm stringy mozzarella cheese makes them even tastier. I wish my boys were here to try them; meatballs never lasted long when they were around. But my audience of one (Joe) loved them. The chimichurri is made with parsley, cilantro and chives along with garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes salt and olive oil. It makes any meatball so moist and flavorful. We found these giant meatballs so filling that 2 were enough for a plate of spaghetti and sauce and also meatball hoagies. This one’s a keeper, plan on putting some up in the freezer. They make an easy meal over the summer when you don’t want to turn on the oven.
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  Posted in Burgers, Sandwiches, Paninis and Wraps, Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Entree, Recipes, Sandwiches & Paninis | 4 Comments | Tagged Chimichurri Meatballs, Chimichurri Meatballs stuffed with Cheese, Meatball Sandwich, Meatballs Simmered in Sauce, Meatballs stuffed with Cheese, Rao's Pasta Sauce, Spaghetti and Meatballs
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