Here in the Southwest we love or Hatch Chile season! We’re right in the middle of the harvesting these flavorful versatile chiles that are known for their perfect balance of sweet and heat. Besides elevating the taste of enchiladas and rellenos, we also love hatch chiles in stews, soups, sauces and even smothered on burgers. In my opinion, there is no better hatch chile then when roasted or charred. It’s easy to do on an outdoor grill, in the oven, or with a grate over your gas cooktop! Just keep turning the chiles until they blister, place them in a Ziploc back while still warm and let them sweat. he charred skin will come right off and then you can scrape the seeds out and dice! While you can used canned chiles for this Chicken Enchilada Soup, the hatch chiles takes the freshness and flavor to a whole new level! Oh! And those cornmeal dumplings? The perfect topper to a this hearty Southwestern favorite!
Recipe
Chicken Enchilada Soup with Cornmeal Dumplings
Carne Asada
Simply put, Carne Asada means “grilled steak.” But because we use cuts like skirt, flank or sirloin steaks, let them bathe in aromatic marinades and top the meat with spicy seasonings, Carne Asada has and will always be a southwestern favorite! It can be served as a stand-alone entrée often served with a chimichurri sauce, or made into tacos, tostados or perhaps as a hearty salad served with avocado, tomatoes and queso. Carne Asada can be purchased already prepared in a marinade or you can make the marinade at home. This recipe combines a homemade marinade with a spice rub for maximum flavor. Cooking the asada is easy. It simply requires a hot grill or grill pan and, for best results, a meat thermometer. The key to a great carne asada is too cook the meat to about a 125-130 degree internal temperature and then let it rest for at least 10 minutes, during which time the meat will continue to cook a few more degrees. If making tacos with the carne asada, here’s tip for great tortillas. For flavorful, authentic tasting tacos, heat tortillas in a dry skillet or griddle for about 45 seconds on each side or until tortilla bubbles up and develops charred spots. Stack on top of each other to keep warm and pliable. If you’re looking for a shareable family-style Sunday supper, Carne Asada brings the flavors of the Southwest to life!
Watch my how to video for Carne Asada here!
Carne Asada
Caramel Peach Cobbler
Caramel Peach Cobbler
If you love road trips as much as I do, this is the perfect time to hop in the car and visit our Arizona farms and ranches to pick some tree ripened fruit. Even though we are approaching the end of peach season, there are still some tasty ones for the pickin’, and Amadio Ranch is the perfect destination! This small, family heritage farm in Laveen, Arizona produces a number of naturally grown heirloom vegetables and plenty of fruits like peaches, many of which get turned into made-from-scratch fruit pies that you can buy at the ranch. Also, look for the Amadio Ranch Peach Truck at farmer’s markets throughout the Valley. So, once you buy your peaches, give this Caramel Peach Cobbler a try! It goes together in three layers, but in the oven, the bottom layer rises to the top and bubbles over the peaches to create a delicious cobbler! The most time-consuming part of the entire recipe is peeling the skin off the peaches, so I have a fabulous tip that will make the process so much easier in the directions. This reminds me of a farmhouse recipe that you might find at a charming place like Amadio Ranch, and believe me, if you make it for family or friends, they’ll think it’s just peachy keen!
Watch my How to Video for Caramel Peach Cobbler here!
