Cuban Garlic Chicken
I posted a picture of this chicken on Facebook and it got such an amazing response, I felt that I had to get this onto Mommy Bistro for you as soon as possible! If you have ever had real Cuban Garlic Chicken (meaning you have been to Versailles Restaurant in Encino, CA or another location), then you know what I am about to give you. Anyone who has been to this gem of a restaurant, realizes the magnitude of the gift this recipe is. I obviously didn’t steal their recipe (if I only knew how!!), so this is my own version. This is the dish to end all dishes, the-end-of-the-world-what-am-I-going-to-eat-before-I-die Cuban Garlic Chicken. The last time I made this I didn’t have time to go to Jons Market for La Lechorana so I used the Albertsons brand from concentrate orange juice and I used three lemons instead of two. I serve this chicken with cilantro rice and black beans.
Hubby’s Note: If I were on Death Row, this might possibly be my last meal request. But only because you can’t count on the quality of the Filet Mignon in prisons these days. They don’t make them like they used to. Back to the Chicken – it’s amazing. I’ve been known to start speaking in a Cuban dialect while eating this dish and spouting the benefits of communism whilst cursing the capitalist pigs that insist–wait, I digress. Ok, I know it looks nice and neat in the picture, but I highly recommend ripping this dish a new one. I cut all the chicken up first and then ditch the carcass so I can devote 100% of my attention to the delicious mess of Chickeny Citrusy Garlicy Rice-Beansy Oniony goodness before me. Warning – suprisingly, the hottest part of this dish is the raw onion. I asked my wife if she could maybe sweat the onion a little bit to tone it down. She responded by taking my “Man-Card” from me. I had to do masonry work in the yard to earn it back.
Pure Comfort Enchiladas
So, we live in California and one of the perks that goes with the outrageous amount of money we spend on houses and property taxes is that we are surrounded by the best Mexican food in America. And of all the Mexican food available, the Enchilada is by far my favorite. It’s a squishy, yummy, delicious combination of all the best flavors our California Mexican food has to offer. And I say Californian Mexican food, because it really is it’s own style of mexican food. I’ve been to Mexico. I’ve eaten the food, got the t-shirt. I honestly prefer ours California version. And when it comes to Mexican restaurants here in CA, I quite honestly judge them based on their enchiladas. Ok, their chips and salsa have to be good to. And their Guacamole. And their chile rellenos better be good too. I know. I’m judgmental.
These enchiladas are the perfect comfort food and quite amazing. Pixie always has second helpings when these pop out of the oven.
Hubby’s note: These things are ridiculous. They’re so good in fact that they are almost a substitute for sex. But not quite. I prefer mine with no cheese, for Lactosian reasons. But I HIGHLY recommend adding ground beef to these. My wife makes me my own separate enchilada pie with no cheese and lots and lots of taco meat (ground beef soaked in taco seasoning). HUBBY APPROVED!
Crockpot Tortilla Soup
The past two winters in California have been less than fun. Us Californians are used to having short winters with a month or two TOPS of rain. However with all of this global warming hullabaloo we had no summer last year and two very long, rainy, windy and cold winters. Our poor agriculture took a massive hit. So, that left us stuck in doors quite a bit. With the fireplace going almost every night, soup just sounds GOOD. This crockpot tortilla soup is a fabulously easy meal to throw in first thing in the morning and then forget about so you can tackle bigger things like “where in the world can we go play indoors today with the kids where they won’t catch some germs and get sick…again!”