Jims Galley

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Monday, December 15, 2014

The Best Taquito Recipe by JB



Mexican, always a fav of mine!! First off the filling can be varied a hundred different was. Always best is to slow cook some seasoned pork shoulder or butt with onion, cumin, garlic, black pepper, crushed red pepper and salt. This can even be done in a crock pot and it is fantastic. Also of course you can use a pot roast and crock pot it, using all your favorite Mexican seasoning, just do everything low, slow, and at least overnight.


Fillings can also include seafood like shrimp or meaty fish like Rockfish or Red Fish. Lobster is also good and imitation sea legs are not a bad substitute for this dish. My favorite is to prepare a combination of surf and turf Taquito’s, that is sure to bring smiles from everyone.

Veggie Taquitos are also wonderful! Bean and cheese is great as well as seasoned jalapeño. All good to use as filler.

Cheese? What ever you like. I like it all but have no problems with simple extra sharp cheddar. This has always been a favorite of mine as well as Monterey jack. Use what ever you like.


While the fillers can range greatly depending on what your preference is, there some basic instructions that are going to be the same regardless of the filling. Here is a quick, “Must Do” in Taquito prep.

Fresh Veggies: Fresh spring onion and romaine lettuce for plating, & cilantro.

Tortilla: CORN ONLY! Never Flour. Yellow corn if you can find it, white is ok as well.

Cilantro Salsa: You can look this up and vary how you like. However my main ingredients are canned tomatoes then hand crush, fresh garlic, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, one bunch of fresh cut cilantro, cut spring onions, black pepper, sea salt, soy oil, red wine vinegar, chopped jalapeño, water, chopped parsley and tomato sauce.

Oil: fresh canola or canola olive oil mix.

You will also need a cast iron skillet, cumin, sheet pan, tongs, what ever cheese you like, tooth pics, and paper towels.

TO PREPARE

Here I will do my fav and most simple, ground beef tortilla, but use what ever you would like for a filling. Beef, pork, seafood, veggies or anycombination is all good. Just one thing, prepare your filling in advance and set aside on warm heat. You can even make the day ahead if you like, just make sure all fillings are finished before moving forward. I have a three crock pot server and will make the fillings early in the day then prep time is very quick once dinner time comes.

For my ground beef I use a basic asada seasoning I make, garlic pepper, cumin and salt, all equal parts. Brown off the ground beef then add the seasoning as well as some water. Then I add one cup of cilantro salsa to the mix, then set aside in a warming crock pot. The longer it sits the better.

The bottom line here is to pre cook all fillings and set aside.
 
PREPARING TORTILLAS
Here is a BIG trick! What you do is take the corn tortillas and place them in the hot oil in the skillet for only about 15 seconds on each side, drain and set aside on a sheet pan. Then let cool, and you will be ready to stuff them prior to frying them. This also makes the tortillas SUPER crunchy once finished.


NEXT
Stuff your tortillas with your pre-prepared filling and add a little of your favorite cheese. Do NOT over stuff the tortilla and push the filling from both ends about 1\2 inch towards the inside. Then roll the tortilla gently and insert a tooth pic on both ends sealing the tortilla shell. This does work very well and keeps the filling from escaping during te next stage of frying.


FRYING
Place taquitos in medium high oil in your cast iron skillet. It will not take long to cook both sides. Cook until golden brown then set aside to drain.

SERVING
Plate with a side of slow cooked black beans. Also plate with fresh cilantro and more cut spring onions. I use lettuce as a bed for the taquitos. Sides also can include sour cream and of course more cilantro salsa.

Serve hot and fresh. Truly a delicious dish that is super festive and fun. It is my wife Donna’s favorite Mexican, she loves it and she s not a huge Mexican food fan like me,  guess it’s the German Italian in her I guess. But she LOVES this dish. It is one of those break out dishes for the weekend or if you really want to surprise your dinner guest with something super fun and wildly tasty.


Tight lines, good reads, and Godspeed!

Jim Baugh


Just to good for words!!

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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Jim's Christmas Recipe Countdown! Top Ten all time favorites we cook up over the Holidays


Probably one of my favorite things about Christmas, besides of course celebrating Christ birthday and what it represents, is cooking up a fun feast for family and friends. The holidays have always meant to me a large mix of culinary delights and many of which are harvested during the fall and winter. The following is my top 10 picks of “MUST” make dishes during Christmas and New Years. No doubt, everyone of these recipes has been truly tested and enjoyed for many, many years. All of them are “Can’t Miss” recipes. The top 10 list is in no particular order at all, they are all number one. These ten dishes also offer a great variety of table fare that will accommodate the most discriminating palate. If you are looking for a great Christmas company dish just pick out of these, your family and friends will love you for it.

If you really enjoy these recipes, you can always say thank you buy buying us an appetizer here on Jim’s Galley. Tis the season!

Ok, here we go!!

1)    Baugh’s Baguettes
I don’t know what else I can say, everyone loves gourmet artisan home baked bread. It goes with everything over the holidays and fresh baguettes served with an olive oil dipping spice mix is a dinner within itself. You can always vary this recipe with your own blended flowers. These days I usually do a mix of half whole grain and half high glutton or bread flour. This recipe is also one of our top five most requested recipes of all time, it is a darn good one. Here ya go!


2)     Sea Bass
This here in the Mid Atlantic is one of our favorite Holiday and Wintertime dishes. Fresh Sea Bass caught deep offshore is one of thhe tasetyest fish yu could ever pan fry. You won’t be disappointed with this one!

3) Cajun Injected Smoked Brined Turkey 
Cajun injucted brined Turkey.
Well, nuff said. Just DO IT!! Also be sure to make some “Muff” sandwiches with some of those Turkey slices. WOW!! Now that is some leftovers!


4) Apple Wood Smoked Salmon with Asparagus
Salmon goes with just about any celebration. If you have not planked it up yet, make a point to this Christmas. A VERY good way to prepare Salmon and it is something your guest will not often have the pleasure of having. Cheers!

5) Jim Bo Lyia
Jim Bo Lyia is always a Christmas Fav and breaks up the traditional with a little spice. This recipe is from a buddy of mine who is a world renowned chef. This is a sure “Fire” recipe that every Holiday should enjoy. We Do!!

6) Linguine and clam sauce
Clams! Clams! Clams! A SUPER MUST during Christmas. Clams anyway and every way you can fix them Clams Casino is a fav and the recipe is also here on the Galley. This Linguine is a stable recipe that we prepare a lot and can also go as a side with man other main entrees. It is fantastic alongside a nice think Holiday steak!! Have fun with this one!

7) Oyster Stuffing Patties
Well, if you’re not going to have Oyster stuffing, then just call off the whole darn shootin match! This is a MUST HAVE HOLIDAY DISH!

8) Muffuletta
The key here is the oiva salad, it goes with everything. Make it a couple weeks before Christmas and enjoy it with everything. You don't have to use the authentic meat ingredients, the smoked Turkey your going to have on hand is awesome with this olive salad. What ever else you may do over the Holidas, make SURE you do this one. You will be sooooooo glad you did!

9) Jim's Chicago Deep Dish Extravaganza
Nothing better on a chilly Holiday evening to break up the smoke smell in the house from all that TUrke than a great deep dish pie. This is one of our top five requested recipes. A gooden!!

10) Steamed Lobster with Clams and Drawn Garlic Butter
 This one just needs no explanation at all. Just do it!


Merry Christmas From "Santa Jim"
1978 Regency Square Mall
Richmond VA