Let’s TACO ‘BOUT it!

by | posted in: BBQ, Corporate, Events, Films, Holidays, Private Party, Recipes, Taco Cart, Uncategorized | 0

Hola Amigos!

Cinco de Mayo is NACHO ordinary holiday!

Many of us know how to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, but what most of us don’t know is why!
With Cinco de Mayo just 17 glorious days away, we wanted to shed a little light on how this cherished holiday came to be and of course share a few of our favorite recipes to celebrate it with.

First thing is First! ~ To all who thought this, do not feel bad. You have been misinformed.
It is actually one of the greater misconceptions of this holiday.
Here’s the truth bomb… Ready?

Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexico’s Independence Day.

Cinco de Mayo or the fifth of May actually celebrates the date when the Mexican Army defeated France in battle. The battle of Puebla vs. France during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862 to be exact. Which in actuality is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico.

Although, here in the United States we celebrate this convivial holiday as a commemoration to Mexican culture and heritage. And boy oh boy! Do we love the culture, not to mention the deliciousness that comes from their palate!

 

Now our favorite part…THE FOOD!

 

Guacamole is a MUST!Screen Shot 2018-04-17 at 10.25.02 PM

Ingredients:

8 Ripe Avocados (pitted & peeled)
3 Roma Tomatos (chopped)
1/2 cup of Fresh Cilantro (chopped)
4 Green Onions (chopped)
4 Jalapeños (seeded & minced)
4 Garlic Cloves (minced finely)
3 Limes (juiced)
Salt and Black Pepper (for taste)

Directions:

Mash Avocados with the rest of the ingredients in a bowl. Place avocado seeds in the guacamole.
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic, and leave it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

 

Tacos Al Pastor

Ingredients (serves 12):

Screen Shot 2018-04-17 at 10.45.38 PM5 lbs pork shoulder
4 Pasilla chiles
4 Guajillo chiles
3 Chiles De Arbol
3 Tbsp achiote paste
2 Onions
1½ cups fresh pineapple
5 Cloves of garlic
1 Tsp cinnamon
2 Tsp kosher salt
1 Tsp Mexican oregano
Corn or flour tortillas
1 bunch cilantro
Limes

Directions:

  1. Using gloves, crack the stem off and scrape out the seeds from the dried chiles. Place them in a blender and cover with hot water. Allow to soften for 20 minutes.

  2. To the blender add achiote paste, one onion, skin removed and halved, pineapple, garlic, cinnamon, salt and Mexican oregano. Blend until pureed.

  3. Trim fat from the pork shoulder and slice meat into small chunks. Place in a plastic bag that seals or container that can be covered with a lid and pour the chile mixture over the pork. Using gloves, mix the chile marinade and pork and chill in refrigerator overnight. 8 hours is fine, but 24 hours is better.

  4. Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) Method:

  5. Place marinated pork and remaining marinade in the Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker) and close lid and lock. Press (Manual) and at the High Pressure setting, then use the [+] button to choose 75 minutes pressure cooking time. When done, remove from pressure cooker and place pork chunks in a 11×13″ baking pan or stone. Roast uncovered for 1 hour in 225°F oven to render fat and crisp up edges.

  6. Oven Method:
  7. Shake off excess marinade and place pork chunks in a 11×13″ baking pan or stone.

  8. Slow roast at 225°F covered with aluminum foil for 4 hours. Remove the aluminum foil and continue roasting for 1 hour or until completely tender when pulled with a fork.

  9. Serve over rice and beans or in small tortillas topped with chopped onions, cilantro and a squeeze of lime juice and hot salsa.

     

Screen Shot 2018-04-17 at 11.00.50 PM The Original Margarita
Ingredients:
2 Onces of silver tequila
3/4 Ounces of simple syrup or agave nectar
3/4 Onces of lime juice
1/2 Ounce of Triple Sec or Cointreau
Kosher Salt
Directions:
1) For the salted rim, take a wedged lime and coat the rim of the margarita glass. Dip in the salt and rotate until the rim is covered.
2) Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker with a cup of ice. Share vigorously and pour straight into a chilled margarita glass with the ice from the shaker. Garnish with a lime wheel. 
Rise and Shine Catering will make it a day to remember.
Book us for your celebration. 

Screenshot_2018-04-17-23-18-39

MLK DAY

by | posted in: BBQ, Corporate, Desserts, Events, Films, Holidays, Recipes, Weddings | 0

As we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today, we encourage each of you to spread kindness and help one another.

mlk

Hogwarts Feast!

by | posted in: Holidays, Recipes, Uncategorized | 0

For those of you who grew up with the Harry Potter phenomenon you know that the boy wizard’s story is timeless. As we get closer to Halloween and the witching hour you might be looking for a fun Halloween Party idea since not everyone can make it over to Hogwarts for Halloween. Or perhaps your kids started reading the books or they have been watching the movies and you want to do something fun with them! Either way here are a few fun ideas for treats that you can serve at your very own Harry Potter Party along with some fun viewing ideas.

Halloween Pretzel Rods from Our Best Bites

Wizard Wands-

What you need-

  • Long Pretzel sticks (Snyder’s of Hanover work best)
  • White Chocolate Meltys (Can be found at Michael’s or JoAnns)
  • Milk Chocolate Meltys
  • Dark Chocolate Meltys
  • A wide variety of candy, sprinkles and other decorations.

Directions-

  1. Empty the bags of meltys into microwaveable safe bowls and microwave them at 20 second intervals until the chocolate melts into a proper liquid.
  2. Place the bowls of chocolate along with the candy and pretzels on a clean surface for the kids to start dipping the pretzels and designing their own wands.
  3. Line a cookie tray or baking sheet with parchment paper (no irony there) for the kids to let their wands harden before eating them.

**Note of warning- This activity can get very messy and if the chocolate starts to harden in the bowls just put them in a microwave for another 15-20 seconds.

***If you don’t have a microwave a double boiler works just as well for melting the chocolate.

Butterbeer!

From Fox News

Start to finish: 1 hour (10 minutes active)
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
1 cup light or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
6 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
1/2 teaspoon rum extract
Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda
In a small saucepan over medium, combine the brown sugar and water. Bring to a gentle boil and cook, stirring often, until the mixture reads 240 F on a candy thermometer.
Stir in the butter, salt, vinegar and 1/4 heavy cream. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
Once the mixture has cooled, stir in the rum extract.
In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar mixture and the remaining 1/2 cup of heavy cream. Use an electric mixer to beat until just thickened, but not completely whipped, about 2 to 3 minutes.
To serve, divide the brown sugar mixture between 4 tall glasses (about 1/4 cup for each glass). Add 1/4 cup of cream soda to each glass, then stir to combine. Fill each glass nearly to the top with additional cream soda, then spoon the whipped topping over each.

Ton Tongue Toffee

From Harry Potter Recipes

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
8 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon rum or vanilla flavoring
1 1/4 cups water

Instructions
Place all ingredients in a heavy saucepan.
Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
Without stirring, boil until mixture reaches 290 ºF on a candy thermometer.
Pour into a buttered, 9-by-12-inch pan.
Let cool until almost firm to the touch.
Mark into 2-inch squares with a sharp knife.
When cool, break into squares or shards.
Makes 1 1/4 pounds.

Spider Deviled Eggs (Black Olives) - Halloween Recipe

Spider Deviled Eggs

What you need:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Paprika for garnish (optional)
  • 1 can whole California Black Ripe Olives
  • 1 dozen XL large eggs, hard boiled and cooled

Instructions:

  1. Prepare eggs by slicing them in half lengthwise and scooping the yolks out into a medium sized bowl.
  2. Add the Mayonnaise, Vinegar, Mustard and Salt to the Egg Yolks and whip the mixture until smooth. (Make sure you save about 2 tablespoons of the filling for use later on.)
  3. Arrange the halved whites of the eggs on a plate and scoop or pipe the filling mixture into them. Garnish with a shake of the Paprika if desired for taste.
  4. Take the can of Olives and drain them. Cut them in half lengthwise. Place one half in the center of each egg full of filling.
  5. Cut the remaining halves of olives lengthwise into strips for the legs and add four legs to each side of the body.
  6. Serve and enjoy!!!

Ghost Cookies - Halloween Recipe from Pillsbury

Ghostly Cookies!

What you will need:

  • 1 package of  Nutter Butter Cookies
  • 2-3 bags of White chocolate Meltys
  • 1 bag of chocolate Meltys

What to do:

  1. Dump the white Meltys into a microwaveable bowl and put the bowl into the microwave for about 20 seconds. Continue this until the chocolate is a liquid.
  2. Line a cookie sheet with Parchment Paper.
  3. Dip the cookies into the melted chocolate and then let them sit on the parchment paper to harden. When hardened dip the other end into the chocolate so that the whole cookie is coated and wait till it is hardened.
  4. Repeat the melting process with the regular chocolate and using a fork or a toothpick to make the eyes and whatever faces you want on the ghostly cookies.

Halloween Recipes - Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Soup

What you will need:

  • 1 Pumpkin, boiled or steamed until soft
  • 1 Carrot, peeled, chopped
  • 1 Onion, chopped
  • 2 cup Chicken stock
  • 1 tsp. of dried oregano
  • Some Paprika powder as you like
  • Some Cinnamon powder
  • Some Nutmeg powder
  • Baguette bread, sliced
  • 1 tbs. of butter
  • 1/2 cup of cream
  • Some dried basil
  • salt and pepper
  • Plain yoghurt
  • 3 tbs. Olive oil

Directions:

  1. First mash the boiled/steamed pumpkin and set aside.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a pot and stir in the onion until golden brown then add the carrot.
  3. Pour in the chicken stock, mashed pumpkin, paprika powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, and dried oregano and boil until the carrots get soft.
  4. After the soup is boiled and the carrot is soft turn off the fire then blend the soup in blender or you can use hand-blender to do it.
  5. Blend the soup til all the ingredient is mixed up and make sure nothing is still in chunk.
  6. Turn on the stove again. Pour the cream and some butter, add salt and pepper for seasoning. Then pour some plain yoghurt before you serve it.
  7. Enjoy!

 

 

For wizards over the age of 21 we bring you! Harry Potter Alcoholic Drinks!

Check out these magical sites for some shockingly good drinks based on your favorites!

20 Alcoholic Harry Potter Themed Beverages

Harry Potter, Grown-Up Style

Harry Potter Cocktails

Harry Potter Mixology

 

 

References:

Our Best Bites