The Kitchen’s Not Burning, Dad’s Just Making Mexican Food!

It was one of those rainy Sundays, those weekenders that make you just want to curl up in bed, then order pizza to go with the movie you rented, wind down and charge up for another hectic week. The sun may have backed off a bit, but not on me.

 

Struck with Mexican Inspiration

As a staunch proponent of “active rest”, I took a brisk walk with my 23-month-old son Brayden to a nearby grocery and decided to prepare a mini fiesta for my family and two helpers. I didn’t exactly have anything planned Special Ops style, but I did know one thing, Basic Mexican cuisine is easy to make, and whole lot of fun to dive into.  

All the elements for an alternative to dialing a five digit number for your family lunch or dinner, or heading out to a restaurant. Plus, it’s a good thing for children to “help out” in the selection process at the supermarket.  


Trip to the Market: Doubles as Bonding Time
I felt good showing my son where the stuff I get comes from, short of taking him to a farm and picking vegetables, and looking at cows…wait. Brayden was having a good laugh as I made funny faces with the tomatoes we picked together, as I was a running commentary on colors, shapes and food groups. After that, he watched from a good distance as I chopped, diced, stirred, mixed and prepared the ingredients, while having a hand at mixing the salsa with his Mommy’s help, as well as sorting the lettuce and cheese.


Kids in the Kitchen
Later, when everything was ready and done, our small family sat down to customize our meals, and kids really love making their own food!  The freedom it grants makes them feel in charge, that with the fact that they actually witnessed the entire process makes them appreciate family meals and the values of unity and gratitude.  Through this one simple meal, we had not only filled our bellies but also our hearts, as it was a great opportunity to bond and be genuinely grateful for each other.
 

 

Click here to see the grocery list and recipes Robert prepared for their Mexican feast.

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Read on to see the grocery list and recipes Robert prepared for their Mexican feast.

 

Here are the entrees and recipes for Tacos, Tuna Quesadillas and Banana Fritters with Ice Cream good for six! Enjoy!

Grocery List:
•    1 box Taco Shells (12 pcs, regular size)
•    4 Medium Tomatoes
•    1 Medium Iceberg Lettuce
•    1 Small Bunch of Cilantro (wansoy)
•    1 Small Lemon or Lime
•    5 kilo Ground Beef
•    2 Standard Bars of Local Cheese or 1 Bar of Monterey Jack Cheese and 1 Bar Colby Cheese
•    Hot Sauce (Optional) Cholula Hot Sauce is highly recommended
•    Tomato Ketchup
•    1 Pack Tortillas (Regular or Whole Wheat, about 12 wraps)
•    1 Can Tuna in Brine
•    6 Pieces Saba Banana
•    1 Medium Tub Ice Cream (Your Favorite Flavor)
•    Spices: Cumin, White Pepper, Worcestershire Sauce
•    Canola Oil
•    Brown Sugar
•    1 Small Tub Sour Cream

Simple Recipes
 
Salsa Fresca/Pico De Gallo
1.       Dice tomatoes according to desired “chunkiness”
2.       Pull off fresh cilantro leaves, slice to release flavor
3.       Dice onions smaller than you would the tomatoes
4.       Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, add lemon or lime to taste
 
Easy Fil-Mexican Tacos

1.       Slice lettuce into small strips, set aside in a bowl
2.       Grate the cheese.  If using Monterey Jack and Colby cheese, grate then mix.  Put 2/3 in a bowl
3.       Place meat in bowl, add two teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce, salt and pepper to taste.  Mash!
4.       Fry meat in pan in low fire with canola oil until dark brown (well done, better for the kids)
5.       Let “sit” for five minutes, add three tablespoons of tomato ketchup
6.       Heat taco shells 1 minute less than package instructions
7.       Serve with Salsa Fresca and hot sauce if desired

 

Click here to see the recipe for tuna quesadillas and banana fritters and ice cream.

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Read on to see the recipe for tuna quesadillas and banana fritters and ice cream.

 

Tuna Quesadillas
1.       Drain tuna in can
2.       Prepare a tortilla on a plate
3.       Sprinkle cheese on the tortilla, add tuna around
4.       Close the mix with another tortilla
5.       Heat the tortilla on a skillet until crisp/golden brown (flip once).
6.       Serve with Salsa Fresca and Sour Cream
 
Banana Fritters and Ice Cream
1.       Slice Saba bananas lengthwise.  One banana should yield 3-4 slices
2.       Coat liberally with brown sugar
3.       Fry in low fire with Canola Oil until sugar has caramelized.  This happens fast, so watch out for burning!
4.       Set in a plate, and serve with a scoop of ice cream
 
 
All done!  Now serve the entrees buffet style because the fun is in creating your own delicious combinations!
 
Kids will enjoy this meal with a glass of healthy home made orange or kalamansi juice or a refreshing lemonade.  For Moms and Dads who enjoy a responsible beer, this generally best paired with Wheat Beer (Oettinger, or Gordon Biersch Hefeweizen), but personally I enjoy a good porter like Southern Tier.  See? It’s all about choices, from selection, preparation to gobbling up this wonderful mini fiesta, alluding slightly to the choice of one happy family to sit down and delight in each other’s company on that one lazy Sunday.  Unforgettable!
 

Photography by Michelle Del Rosario