I’ve got March Break on the mind. It happens to us Northerners some time in March. We’ve endured as much winter fun as one should have to, and as the days get longer, the birds start chirping a little louder and the occasional patch of muddy grass pokes through the snow piles, we start to think about warm places. March is really a mind jam – you think spring is coming, but there’s still a ways to go, and the days are frustratingly unpredictable. So many many many many of us head south for a week or so, just to give us the strength to endure the slow tease of springs unveiling.
With that in mind, I thought it might be fun this week to look for a recipe that combines the fun of a classic spring break cocktail with the sin of a sticky sweet treat. The result is a stunning dessert that will leave you feeling like you’ve indulged in a romp at a beach side restaurant without the hangover!
Ingredients
4 large egg yolks
1-14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 C Margarita mix (see below for homemade margarita mix)
1-2 T tequila
1-9 inch prepared graham cracker pie shell
Unsweetened whipped cream (optional)
Preparation Instructions
Position rack in the center of oven and preheat to 350. Whisk together the yolks and the condensed milk. Add the margarita mix and whisk for 1 minute. Whisk in the tequila. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and bake until filling is lightly, but evenly set and the edges of the shell are lightly browned, 12-15 minutes. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 2 hours. Top wedges with whipped cream (optional) to serve.
Home made Margarita mix
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup fresh lime juice
Mix all ingredients. Cook in a saucepan until all the sugar has dissolved, and mixture has thickened somewhat, about 10 minutes. Let cool. Will keep refrigerated about a month.
September 27, 2012 | Posted in:
Tortilla chicken soup
by Sarah S.’s book, Milwaukee, WI
Ingredients
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 large cans of fat-free chicken broth
2 jalepeno peppers, chopped or mashed
4 tsp. chili power
2 cups chopped seeded tomatoes (canned OK)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (or add to taste)
1 T. ground cumin
Salt to taste
4 (6-inch) corn tortillas
2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup Mexican cheese — (grated)
Preparation instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Heat a soup pot or Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add cubed chicken and saute 5 minutes or until slightly browned. Remove chicken from pot.
Add onion to pan, cook 4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic; saute 15 – 30 seconds. Add chicken broth, jalepena peppers, and chili powder. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.
Stir in tomato and next 3 ingredients; add chicken. Cover and simmer another 20 minutes.
While soup simmers, cut tortillas into 1/4 X 2-inch strips. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer, and coat lightly with cooking spray. Bake at 425 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely.
Ladle soup into bowls; sprinkle servings evenly with grated cheese, cilantro and tortilla strips.
Submitted by: Sarah S