Skinny Verde Chicken Enchiladas

April 22, 2015 Amanda Plott

With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, I thought it would be a great week to fill with lots of Mexican inspired dishes! I'm all about Mexican food. I could seriously eat it every single day without complaint. My grandmother who is visiting me right now is the same way... and my mother as well. Oh, and my little one could eat her weight in beans and rice.

Yep, four generations of Mexican food loving women in my house right now!

I say Mexican food but, it's really more 'Tex-Mex'. I'm well aware that our idea here in the States of Mexican food is vastly different from what they actually eat in Mexico.

Yep! I've had real Mexican food before.

Regardless, one of my most favorite dishes are sour cream chicken enchiladas. So, I've taken those enchiladas and lightened them as best I can...

Crock Pot Pork Chile Verde

November 20, 2014 Amanda Plott

I had some leftover tamales that I stored in my freezer a week or so ago, and I was wanting something warm to pair them with that wasn't chili. I'm a little burned out on beans lately. Gasp! No, no. Just meat and vegetables here. Somewhere in the midst of racking my brain, I remembered this Mexican style stew that they serve up at one of the favorite local Mexican places here in Austin. Pork green chile verde.

The name is debatable. It's called 'green chile verde' because it's made with green chiles. Not because it comes out green in the end result. Generally, pork chile verde is a slow simmered pork that's stewed in hatch green chiles...

Mexican Style Breakfast Toast

July 25, 2014 Amanda Plott

There's something about me that many of you may not know. I have gone my entire life turning my nose up to any sort of egg that wasn't either scrambled or hardboiled. I didn't make such a decision based on taste. No, no. My dislike for runny yolks was merely fear of the unknown.

Just over a year ago, I was out having brunch with my mother. I ordered an item that, unbeknownst to me, came with a fried egg on top. The place was pretty busy and I had a mimosa in me, so I figured, why not? Liquid courage at it's finest! I tried it and I liked it. Oh, happy day!

Over the last year, I hadn't really been fearing the previously inapproachable yolky versions of eggs. And in the past weeks, I've had more and more. Dare I say... I actually like runny yolks now? Gasp...

Mexican Summer Tomato Salad

July 14, 2014 Amanda Plott

If you're looking for a super easy and fresh Mexican inspired side dish for the summer, this is it! This salad takes all of 5 minutes to prepare and toss together while tasting absolutely amazing with it's bright and bold flavors.

This dish actually reminds a bit of a greek antipasto salad, except that it's meatless and hints towards Mexican roots. There's queso fresco instead of feta, jalapeño in place of peperoncinni and the proud zing of some lime and cilantro added in there...

Mango Chile Lime Popsicles (Paletas)

June 15, 2014 Amanda Plott

A couple of months ago I was out at Eeyore's birthday here in Austin.

Yes... we celebrate Eeyore's birthday here. It's quite a thing, actually.

Anyway! It was pretty warm out that day and there was a vendor selling some rather interesting sounding homemade organic local popsicles. One of the flavors on the list was a mango chile flavor.

Of course, that's the one that I ordered! Unfortunately, they were all sold out. Ergh!

Well, it sounded easy enough. I've made my share of popsicles in the past so I thought I'd try my hand at this mango chile one too!

Skinny Crock Pot Cochinita Pibil

May 3, 2014 Amanda Plott

A couple of months ago my mom was insistent on me meeting her all the way across town to try this little Mexican place nearby her house that she had recently discovered. Usually, my mother and I are not quite on par when it comes to places that we enjoy dining out... so I was more than a little skeptical.

However, she tempted me with happy hour margaritas.

I'm a sucker. What can I say?...