An Inspired Cook

An Inspired Cook
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  • Category: Side Dishes

    • Loaded Green Chile Potato Salad

      Posted at 8:38 am by NativeNM, on August 2, 2022

      August in New Mexico means it’s green chile season! The harvesting has begun and any day now you may start seeing “Hatch” green chile in your grocery store no matter where you live. The roasters are fired up and the aroma of roasted green chile is in the air. As soon as I found them in the grocery store I picked up a dozen and roasted them myself on the grill. They had the perfect amount of heat and had so much flavor. I’m always trying to find new ways to incorporate green chile into everyday recipes and thought it might taste good in a loaded baked potato salad. Oh my goodness, this turned out better than I could have imagined. Joe isn’t a fan of traditional potato salads but he loves this version. Instead of mayo I used a low fat sour cream and seasoned it with dehydrated green chile powder, salt and garlic powder. Limiting the cheese and bacon makes for a lighter version but didn’t skimp on flavor. Adding roasted green chile was the perfect addition to the mix. Try it fresh when the potatoes are still warm enough to slightly melt the cheese. You will be amazed when you take a bite of the warm cheese and green chile combined with the creamy potatoes. It’s Muy Bueno!

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      Posted in Recipes, Red or Green, Side Dishes | 7 Comments | Tagged Hatch Green Chile, Loaded Baked Potato Salad with Green Chile, Loaded Green Chile Potato Salad, New Mexico Green Chile, Potato Salad
    • Pork and Green Chile Empanadas

      Posted at 8:52 am by NativeNM, on February 18, 2022

      I have an admission to make, this is my first time making empanadas. They are traditional here in New Mexico that have evolved over time. Influenced by many cultures over the years you will find savory empanadas stuffed with beef, chicken or pork, sometimes with veggies and spices. And then there are the sweet empanadas filled with pumpkin, sweet potato or fruit like apples, cherries or raisins as well as other fresh or dried fruits. As I researched the history of empanadas, I discovered that there are many meat pies around the world by other names made in the tradition of their region. From our time in Kansas City we had Steak and Guiness pies at Irish Fest. Joe’s home state of Michigan is known for their Pasties. We found Peasant Pies in San Francisco while on vacation one year. Those are just a few of the meat pies that we’ve had a chance to taste, each having their own distinct flavor. I wanted my first homemade empanadas to reflect the taste of New Mexico with ground pork and green chile. They are easy to make ahead and freeze, pulling out a few to warm up and serve alongside a bowl of soup or beans. They are so tasty, I can’t wait to try a sweet version next!

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      Posted in Bread, Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Recipes, Red or Green, Side Dishes | 6 Comments | Tagged Bueno Green Chile, Empanada Dough, Empanadas, Hatch Green Chile, New Mexico Green Chile, Pork and Green Chile Empanadas, Savory Empanadas
    • Green Chile and Cheese Hominy Casserole

      Posted at 7:05 am by NativeNM, on November 23, 2021

      It’s almost time to celebrate Thanksgiving. There was a time when we enjoyed turkey and dressing with all the trimmings. In those days there were a lot more people gathered around our table but in the last few years it’s been just Joe and I. We’ve been trying new things, mixing a little of the traditional with some new twists. This year we settled on smoking a pork butt with red chile spices and will add some different sides to the table. One of the sides I’ve planned is Green Chile and Cheese Hominy Casserole which would be a welcome dish on any New Mexican table. It can only be described as creamy, savory and spicy. I used a soft fontina cheese along with sour cream to bind the casserole together and then topped it with cheddar cheese and bacon bits. All the ingredients are prepared in a small dutch oven and baked to perfection which makes this dish easy from start to finish. I hope you all have a festive day making new memories around your kitchen table. Happy Thanksgiving!!

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      Posted in Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Recipes, Red or Green, Side Dishes | 3 Comments | Tagged Green Chile, Green Chile and Cheese Hominy Casserole, Hominy, Hominy Casserole with Green Chile, New Mexico Green Chile, Side Dish
    • Watermelon Arugula Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

      Posted at 1:44 pm by NativeNM, on October 8, 2021

      On our recent vacation to Wyoming we experienced some wonderful food, both familiar and some that was new to our palate. Josh took us to Calico’s Restaurant and Bar one evening. He had been hearing good things about their menu and wanted to give it a try. I was in the mood for a light meal and ordered their Watermelon Arugula salad. It was a big plate of marinated watermelon chunks with a sprinkling of arugula and goat cheese. The flavors in the honey lime marinade/dressing came through with just the right amount of sweetness. I was so impressed with this salad that I couldn’t wait to recreate it when we got home. I wasn’t sure if I could find watermelon since Fall is upon us. But sure enough when I went shopping they had some good sized watermelons that were on sale. While I was putting this together I kept thinking that this salad seemed familiar and not just from tasting it at Calico’s. It didn’t take me long to realize that I had seen a similar recipe from one of my favorite bloggers, Karen at Back Road Journal. Karen’s recipe is a Spicy Stacked Watermelon Salad with Feta and Arugula which is a spicy version that looks absolutely delicious! If you haven’t tried a watermelon salad, you don’t know what you’re missing.

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      Posted in Condiments and Sauces, Entree, Recipes, Side Dishes | 4 Comments | Tagged Arugula, Calico's Restaurant and Bar Jackson Wyoming, Goat Cheese, Honey Lime Dressing, Honey Lime Marinade, Watermelon Arugula Salad
    • Barbecue Baked Beans

      Posted at 9:42 am by NativeNM, on September 3, 2021

      Labor day for some signals the end of Summer and the beginning of Fall. I love grilling outdoors and this year I bought a pellet smoker which has been so much fun to smoke ribs, burnt ends and pulled pork. So now I thought it would be fun to focus on one of our favorite side dishes. . . barbecue baked beans. There’s a lot of flavors packed into these beans including bacon, onion and jalapeno along with some sweet molasses and brown sugar. They are not just for outdoor picnics or family barbecues alone. I made enough for a meal or two and plan to freeze the rest in smaller portions that we can have later. If you are celebrating with family or friends this coming Labor day weekend you might want to make a pot of delicious barbecue baked beans to serve alongside.

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      Posted in Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Recipes, Side Dishes | 10 Comments | Tagged Alton Brown's Baked Beans, Baked Beans, Baked Beans from Scratch, Baked Beans in a Dutch Oven, Barbecue Baked Beans, Slow Cooked Baked Beans
    • Breakfast Tacos with Cheese Hash Browns

      Posted at 3:38 pm by NativeNM, on April 6, 2021

      Breakfast tacos are easy to make and scrumptious to eat.  I like to make them with creamy scrambled eggs and toppings that include cheese, bacon, avocado and tomato with a drizzle of salsa.  There are so many options that might go into a breakfast taco . . . maybe some diced onion or red peppers, green chile, spinach, or herbs.  When it comes to toppings it’s all up to you.  What I really want to talk about is the cheesy hash browns on the side.  They are fantastic.  If you order hash browns at a dozen different restaurants you’ll probably get a dozen different tastes and textures.  I like my hash browns crispy outside while creamy inside.  That’s a rare find but I think I’ve found a way to make them at home.  After testing boiled potatoes and baked potatoes, I tried using dehydrated hash browns that you find in a box.  The dehydrated shredded potatoes were the one that achieved that perfect combination of crispy and creamy hash brown.  The addition of flour and butter makes the potatoes crisp on the outside while the cheese and egg keeps the inside creamy.  I plan on testing some other additions like sour cream or yogurt instead of cheese to see how that alters the taste and texture.  I’ll update you on my findings but in the meantime enjoy some breakfast tacos with some cheesy hash browns on the side.

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      Posted in Breakfast, Recipes, Side Dishes, Tacos, Taquitos and Flautas | 5 Comments | Tagged Breakfast Tacos, Cheese Hash Browns, Creamy Hash Browns, Crispy Hash Browns, Egg Tacos, hash browns, Tacos with Eggs
    • Caesar Salad

      Posted at 9:51 am by NativeNM, on February 5, 2021

      Salad is the side dish that we have most often, it goes with almost everything.  I miss going out to restaurants and getting those great salads with the house made dressings.  They are always so good and you just can’t replicate the same taste from a store bought dressing.   So lately I’ve been making more homemade dressings in small batches so that can change it up without taking up too much space in the fridge.  One of my favorite salads is the ever popular Caesar salad, however it’s taken some time experimenting with recipes that tastes like the dressing you might eat at a restaurant, or takeout as we do these days.  I found a recipe that checks all the boxes, simple to make, tastes great and no anchovies!  I tweaked it a little bit and now it’s my go to Caesar dressing.  Once you have a good salad dressing, the rest is simple.  Romaine lettuce, parmesan cheese and croutons complete the salad.  So what has kept this salad so popular over the decades, it’s the dressing of course!
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      Posted in Condiments and Sauces, Entree, Recipes, Side Dishes | 0 Comments | Tagged Caesar Dressing, Caesar Salad, Caesar Salad with Chicken, Homemade Croutons
    • Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Honey Mustard Coleslaw

      Posted at 9:31 am by NativeNM, on November 3, 2020

      Recently I came across a recipe for honey mustard coleslaw.  It sounded intriguing but at the same time I was skeptical.  When it comes to coleslaw I’ve always been about the tried and true recipe which has never failed me.  I decided to just go with it and picked up a bag of pre-chopped cabbage and added my own spicy honey mustard sauce.  To my surprise it was delicious!  And it makes a great chicken sandwich which was too good not to share.  If there were any doubts, I can truly say this is one of my favorite ways to dress a sandwich.  I think I will try it next on some pulled pork or pulled chicken.
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      Posted in Burgers, Sandwiches, Paninis and Wraps, Recipes, Side Dishes | 6 Comments | Tagged Brioche Buns, Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Chicken Sandwich with Honey Mustard Coleslaw, Honey Mustard Coleslaw
    • Calabacitas

      Posted at 9:57 am by NativeNM, on August 28, 2020

      Calabacitas is a staple side dish here in New Mexico.  I wouldn’t say my version is traditional but it’s pretty close.  I like to make myself a little batch this time of year when there is fresh corn and tomatoes available.   I prefer zucchini squash over summer yellow squash, however I see many recipes with a combination of the two, and really how could you go wrong with either one.  This was a side dish to chile rellenos and the next day I filled a couple tacos with the leftovers.  It makes a really good vegetarian taco, just add some sliced avocado and queso fresco cheese.  Calabacitas is a tasty side to any Mexican dish but it’s especially good when made with fresh ingredients.  If you would like some additional ideas for how to incorporate calabacitas into other recipes you should go over to MJ’s Kitchen.  MJ has made some wonderful meals including her latest Calabacitas Quiche.
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      Posted in Recipes, Red or Green, Side Dishes | 14 Comments | Tagged Calabacitas, Calabacitas with Zucchini, Green Chile, Onion, Tomatoes, Zucchini
    • Smoked Sausage Teriyaki Skillet with Rice Pilaf

      Posted at 10:10 am by NativeNM, on April 7, 2020

      Smoked sausage skillet meals are so delicious and can be made with many different ingredients to make them savory, sweet or spicy.  I had some pineapple chunks in the freezer that would pair well together for a tasty teriyaki skillet dish.  Adding rice pilaf on the side complimented the sweet and spicy sausage.  With so much free time these days it made sense to assemble all the ingredients and start the prep work early.  Once that task was done it took no time at all to put it together.  I added some chopped onion and roasted red pepper to the mix but you can use other things that you have on hand including broccoli, carrots or any sweet or bell peppers.  For such a simple meal it won’t be soon forgotten.
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      Posted in Condiments and Sauces, Dutch Oven and Cast Iron, Entree, Recipes, Side Dishes | 7 Comments | Tagged Rice Pilaf, Smoked Sausage and Pineapple with Teriyaki Sauce, Smoked Sausage Teriyaki Skillet Dish, Teriyaki Sauce
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