taco tuesdayz: spicy mushroom tacos + green onion chimichurri

southern california is my home. and there are few foods we hold more dear in socal than tacos. taco tuesday is pretty much a weekly ritual where i’m from. when you drive by any mexican joint on a tuesday, it is jumping.

and like any good socal girl, i’m always game for tacos.

now, traditionally, they are filled with meat. but there are SOOOO many things you can put in a tortilla to make a delicious taco. and these mixed mushroom tacos are pleasing to vegetarians and meat eaters alike. in fact, my husband who says he needs a protein with every meal wolfed down five of these before i sat down and had a bite.

they were so good, they left me wanting more. so good in fact, i made them twice in three days because i just hadn’t had my fill.

spicy mushroom tacos + green onion chimichurri

serves: 8 tacos

prep time: 20 minutes

active time: 20 minutes

total time: 40 minutes

ingredients: 8 corn tortillas. 1 large portobello mushroom, chopped into 1 inch pieces. 4 ounces crimini mushrooms, chopped into 1 inch pieces. 2 oz shitake mushrooms, chopped into 1 inch pieces. 1 bell pepper (color of your choice), sliced into long, thin pieces. 1 red onion, halved and sliced into .5 inch thick. 1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced. 3 garlic cloves, minced. 3 green onions, white and green parts, chopped fine. 1 small shallot, chopped fine. 1 tbs finely chopped cilantro. 1 tbs finely chopped parsley. .5 cup olive oil. 2 limes, sliced into wedges. 2 tbs apple cider vinegar. 1 tbs kosher salt. 1 tsp freshly ground pepper. .5 tsp red pepper flakes. large heavy pan. smaller pan for heating tortillas.

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start by combining all the mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and the serrano in a large bowl.

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drizzle the veggies with half the olive oil and season with half the salt and pepper. toss well till everything is well combined. heat your pan over medium high heat and let it get nice and hot. while the pan is heating,

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combine the green onions, the cilantro, parsley, garlic, shallots, the rest of the salt and pepper, the red pepper flakes, the juice of 1 and a half limes and the vinegar in a small bowl.

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stir in the remaining olive oil and set the chimichurri aside.

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when the pan is very hot, add in the veggies. cook them, stirring every couple minutes until they are browned, softened and all the liquid has cooked out. about 10-12 minutes. while your veggies are cooking, in a smaller pan, heat your tortillas. about 30 seconds a side till they are nice and warmed and place them in a bowl covered by a towel or in aluminum foil.

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once your veggies are cooked and tortillas are warmed, start assembling your tacos.

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fill them with a good helping of veggies. top them with a spoonful or two of your chimichurri.

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squeeze a bit of lime juice on top and enjoy.

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spicy mushroom tacos + green onion chimichurri

serves: 8 tacos

prep time: 20 minutes

active time: 20 minutes

total time: 40 minutes

ingredients: 8 corn tortillas. 1 large portobello mushroom, chopped into 1 inch pieces. 4 ounces crimini mushrooms, chopped into 1 inch pieces. 2 oz shitake mushrooms, chopped into 1 inch pieces. 1 bell pepper (color of your choice), sliced into long, thin pieces. 1 red onion, halved and sliced into .5 inch thick. 1 serrano pepper, thinly sliced. 3 garlic cloves, minced. 3 green onions, white and green parts, chopped fine. 1 small shallot, chopped fine. 1 tbs finely chopped cilantro. 1 tbs finely chopped parsley. .5 cup olive oil. 2 limes, sliced into wedges. 2 tbs apple cider vinegar. 1 tbs kosher salt. 1 tsp freshly ground pepper. .5 tsp red pepper flakes. large heavy pan. smaller pan for heating tortillas.

start by combining all the mushrooms, bell peppers, onions and the serrano in a large bowl. drizzle the veggies with half the olive oil and season with half the salt and pepper. toss well till everything is well combined. heat your pan over medium high heat and let it get nice and hot. while the pan is heating, combine the green onions, the cilantro, parsley, garlic, shallots, the rest of the salt and pepper, the red pepper flakes, the juice of 1 and a half limes and the vinegar in a small bowl. stir in the remaining olive oil and set the chimichurri aside. when the pan is very hot, add in the veggies. cook them, stirring every couple minutes until they are browned, softened and all the liquid has cooked out. about 10-12 minutes. while your veggies are cooking, in a smaller pan, heat your tortillas. about 30 seconds a side till they are nice and warmed and place them in a bowl covered by a towel or in aluminum foil. once your veggies are cooked and tortillas are warmed, start assembling your tacos. fill them with a good helping of veggies. top them with a spoonful or two of your chimichurri. squeeze a bit of lime juice on top and enjoy.

friyay happy hour: spiced apple smash

apple season is raging and the produce stores are packed to the gills with ripe, delicious fruit.

it’s not often these days that i stumble upon a new fruit or vegetable, but i couldn’t help myself from picking up some of these pink pearl apples when i saw them at my local store. they are GORGEOUS. and equally tasty. like a mild, but just as delicious honey crisp apple.

i knew i had to use them for a recipe, but i wanted to get out of the regular apple box. i’m all pied out and i have had enough whiskey lately to last me for a while. so instead, i mixed these stunning apples with some unexpected friends to make a refreshing cocktail that still has a holiday feel.

now, i know that pink pearl apples are not popping up in everyone's produce store, so if you aren’t lucky enough to find some, you can easily sub a pink lady or honey crisp apple in this recipe. and with the holidays in mind, i realize you may need to make more than one cocktail and muddling can be a little tiresome if you are making more than one cocktail. if you need to make a large batch, you could combine the rosemary, apples and vodka in a food processor and then strain the contents to get the tasty infused vodka apple juice if need be.

spiced apple smash

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 1 oz lemon juice. 3 tbs chopped pink pearl apples (you can sub pink lady or honey crisp) + 1 wedge for garnish. 10 rosemary leaves + a sprig of rosemary for garnish. a couple of pinches of cinnamon. 4 oz club soda. 1 cup of ice. muddler. shaker.

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start by combining the rosemary leaves, vodka and apples in the base of your shaker. use the muddler to smash the apples into little bits, breaking up the rosemary as you go.

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once the apples are really mashed, add in the lemon juice, cinnamon and a couple of ice cubes to chill everything. cover your shaker and shake well till everything is well combined.

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fill your serving glass with the remaining ice. strain the contents of your shaker into your serving glass.

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top off with club soda. garnish with rosemary sprig & wedge of apple.

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serve and enjoy.

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xo, a

spiced apple smash

serves: 1 cocktail

prep time: 2 minutes

active time: 2 minutes

total time: 4 minutes

ingredients: 2 oz vodka. 1 oz lemon juice. 3 tbs chopped pink pearl apples (you can sub pink lady or honey crisp) + 1 wedge for garnish. 10 rosemary leaves + a sprig of rosemary for garnish. a couple of pinches of cinnamon. 4 oz club soda. 1 cup of ice. muddler. shaker.

start by combining the rosemary leaves, vodka and apples in the base of your shaker. use the muddler to smash the apples into little bits, breaking up the rosemary as you go. once the apples are really mashed, add in the lemon juice, cinnamon and a couple of ice cubes to chill everything. cover your shaker and shake well till everything is well combined. fill your serving glass with the remaining ice. strain the contents of your shaker into your serving glass. top off with club soda. garnish with rosemary sprig & wedge of apple. serve and enjoy.