Sour cream

Capon Tacos

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Capon Tacos

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I believe, nowadays most everybody is familiar with chicken tacos.
These here beauties are essentially the same, except that the chicken has been replaced with the much more succulent and tasty capon.
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What Is a Capon ?
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Excerpt of an article by Danilo Alfaro on “thespruceEats”
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A capon is a special type of chicken created to make the meat more tender and less gamy. It is a rooster that has been castrated before reaching sexual maturity, which improves the quality of the meat; after that, it is fed a rich diet of milk or porridge. The lack of testosterone makes for a more tender, flavorful meat that is a delight compared to regular chicken. Unfortunately, in the United States today, it may be rare to see capon on a dinner menu or in the grocery store.

You can prepare capon like any other poultry dish. Typically, capons are roasted and the procedure for doing so is similar to roasting a chicken; due to its larger size, however, the cooking time will be longer.
Traditionally, roosters are braised. For instance, the classic French dish coq au vin involves braising a rooster in red wine. That is because their meat is tougher than chicken meat and they are usually slaughtered at an older age, which toughens the meat as well. As such, braising is also a good cooking technique for preparing capon.
A capon is more flavorful than a chicken as well as a turkey, with tender and juicy meat that is is void of any gamey taste. It is full-breasted and has a high-fat content, keeping what could become dry white meat nice and moist as it cools.
If you do manage to find capon meat in your local grocery store, you can follow a braised chicken recipe to prepare it. A whole, cut-up capon combines with bacon, leeks, onion, garlic, rosemary, tomato paste, chicken stock, and white wine and cooks slowly until bubbling and cooked through.

A roasted capon is a perfect centerpiece for a dinner party or holiday table. Keep it somewhat simple or try something a little more exotic.
Depending on where you live and how specialized your local supermarket is, you may be able to find a capon in the poultry section. Since capon is not an item that is bought often and therefore restocked regularly, it is important to look at the “sell-by” date, as well as the quality of the meat and make sure it’s fresh.
If you don’t see a capon in the poultry case, it is worth asking the butcher if he can get one for you. Otherwise, specialty groceries and online meat purveyors are your best bet.
If you don’t plan to cook the capon immediately, you can store it in the refrigerator for two to three days. To be sure that no liquids escape into your fridge, place the packaged capon in a plastic bag first. For longer storage, you can freeze the capon for three to four months, although it will begin to lose its flavor after two months. If the capon came with giblets, remove them before freezing and store separately.
In a 4-ounce serving of roasted capon (including the skin), there are 259 calories and 13.2 grams of fat, as well as 97 milligrams of cholesterol (which is 32 percent of the daily recommended value). Capon also has 32.7 grams of protein, making it a good source of this nutrient.”
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End of excerpt
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Bon Appétit !   Life is Good !
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Read here all about   Capon
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Capon Tacos

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Capon Tacos

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Capon Tacos

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Capon Tacos

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Capon Tacos

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Preparation :
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Tacos De Pescado (Grilled Fish Tacos)

Tacos De Pescado (Grilled Fish Tacos)

I just realized that lately, I prepare tacos at least ones a week, sometimes even more often.
Of course, this makes perfect sense, since they are very tasty, easy to prepare and the possible variations are endless. I have them for any meal of the day, breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack.
My favorite taco is……..always the one I presently prepare and eat, no matter if they are soft or crisp, contain lots of “stuff” or just a few basic ingredients. They can contain beef, pork, fish, crab, shrimp, chicken, duck, chorizo, egg, guacamole, refried beans, shredded lettuce, shredded cabbage, onions, chiles, cheese, salsa Mexicana, salsa verde, black beans and a myriad of other stuff. As long as it is tasty, anything (well, almost anything), goes. 🙂
For today’s tacos, I used fresh cod fillets I got this morning at the “International Market”, a lonely Haas Avocado which was sitting all but forgotten by herself on a shelf in the pantry, and leftover red cabbage slaw, to which I added a bit of kernel corn . The result was, dare I say, as with all my tacos, smashing 🙂

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Bon Appétit !   Life is Good !

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Click here for more  Tacos  on  ChefsOpinion
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Tacos De Pescado (Grilled Fish Tacos)

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Tacos De Pescado (Grilled Fish Tacos)

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Tacos De Pescado (Grilled Fish Tacos)

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Preparation :
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Fajas De Res

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To  prepare a great meal is no problem for most of us –
as long as there is plenty of time, money and somebody who cleans up the mess afterward.
But what if there isn’t ??  Well, how about this easy solution: Fajas De Res (Beef Fajitas)
– Cut and marinate the beef and onions: 3 minutes
– Saute the beef: 2 minutes
– Prepare the guacamole: 3 minutes
– Reheat pre-made tortillas: 2 minutes
– prepare salsa Mexicana: 4 minutes
– All in all, no more than 15 minutes for a smashing dinner. Life is Good 🙂
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Bon Appétit !   Viva Mexico !
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Click here for  Salsa Mexicana Recipe  and  Guacamole Recipe  on  Chefsopinion
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For the fajas, cut beef flank into slices or batons, season with kosher salt, cayenne pepper and granulated garlic to taste, saute with sunflower oil in a VERY hot pan or comal until rare, add chopped onions, saute another minute. Serve with salsa Mexicana, guacamole, sour cream, and chilies.
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Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

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When  you decide to make tostadas, the biggest decision will be if you want to prepare  your own tortillas and fry them to a flat crisp or buy packaged tostada shells, which you can buy in any supermarket nowadays’, most of excellent quality. After that, the most sensible thing is to put the tostadas on a platter in the center of the table, arrange all the toppings in bowls around them and let everybody assemble their own favorite. Traditionally, refried beans, cotija cheese, a simple salsa and sometimes seafood are the main ingredients/toppings.
But, as you can imagine, tostadas, like most other dishes with a long culinary history, have evolved and advanced to be more adventurous and varied. Anything you fancy is allowed to grace your tostada, as long as it is delicious and makes you smile 🙂
Refried beans, shredded lettuce, sour cream, any cheese, any seafood, sausage, meat, grilled vegetables, any salsa, guacamole, etc, etc.
I happened to have some fresh Swai fillets at hand as well as white cabbage for a tasty cabbage slaw.  Added some guacamole, salsa Mexicana and a bit of sour cream and BINGO ! – exiting lunch served in a snap 🙂
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Bon Appétit !   Life is Good !
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Click here for more  Swai  on  Chefsopinion
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Click here for more  Tostadas  on  Chefsopinion
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Click here for  Guacamole Recipe  on  ChefsOpinion
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Salsa Mexicana Recipe:
2 medium tomatoes- diced; 1 med white onion- diced, 3 jalapeños- chopped, 1/3 cup cilantro- chopped; lime juice and kosher salt- to taste; combine, check/adjust seasoning.
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Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

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Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

Tostadas Al Pescado (Fish Tostadas)

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Preparation :
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Fajitas De Res (Beef Fajitas)

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Sour  cream. Salsa Mexicana. Guacamole. Chopped cilantro.
These are some of the usual condiments I use when I make Fajitas at home (Sometimes I add shredded lettuce and grated cheese). Together, they form the perfect addition to griddled meat and tortillas, and all together make this the superbly delicious culinary experience which Tex-Mex cuisine has popularized in America and around the world. Nothing new here, just a proven recipe for success 🙂
But here it comes – what if you want to enjoy this without all the fuss and a whole bunch of little bowls crowding the table?
– How about turning all the individual condiments into one marvelous topping, which simplifies assembling and eating in front of the TV so much ? (Since I live alone with Bella, in front of the TV is where we take most of our meals). Well, I’ve tried to simplify by combining sour cream, salsa Mexicana, guacamole, chopped cilantro and seasoning with great success. Since the first time I prepared this, I used it for a variety of other grilled meats, vegetables and seafood’s. On more than one occasion I have even used the leftovers as toast-topping for breakfast the following morning.
For lack of a better name, I call this concoction “Fajita-Topping“. 🙂
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Bon Appetit !   Live is Good !
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Click here for all about  Fajitas
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Click here for more  Fajitas  on  ChefsOpinion
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Click here for  Tostadas  on  ChefsOpinion
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Fajitas De Res (Beef Fajitas)

Fajitas De Res (Beef Fajitas)

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Fajitas De Res (Beef Fajitas)

Fajitas De Res (Beef Fajitas)

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Fajitas De Res (Beef Fajitas)

Fajitas De Res (Beef Fajitas)

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Preparation :
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Chipotle-Chicken Quesadilla

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We  owe Mexico a lot for its invention of the quesadilla. It would be difficult to find another dish as addictive yet comes together so quickly with so little effort. Quesadillas are highly adaptable:
Make them a meal with large flour tortillas, or gluten-free with corn tortillas. A little low-fat cheese and a lot of vegetables, and they could almost pass for a health food; on the flip side, a generous pile of shredded pepper-jack could be the remedy for a bad hangover. A good quesadilla is a thing of beauty. It’s crispy and golden brown at the edges, but a bite quickly reveals a soft interior with gooey melted cheese. For this quesadilla I used chicken , which you can replace with other proteins of your choice, such as shrimp, beef, chorizo, etc. For a vegetarian alternative, just omit the animal-protein and add more vegetables.
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P.S.
As you can see, I dug in with my hands. However, if your boss shows up for dinner, you might want to get out forks and knifes 🙂
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Provechito !   Viva Mexico !
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Chipotle-Chicken Quesadilla

Chipotle-Chicken Quesadilla

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Chipotle-Chicken Quesadilla

Chipotle-Chicken Quesadilla

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Chipotle-Chicken Quesadilla

Chipotle-Chicken Quesadilla

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Preparation :
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Burritos De Carne De Res

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It  can be hard to cook REAL Mexican food outside of Mexico because of the difficulty of sourcing authentic ingredients and because preparing AUTHENTIC cuisine is something which usually requires a lot of effort , time and money to duplicate in a foreign land.
Tex-Mex to the Rescue !!!
Tex-Mex is not only easier to prepare but also more acceptable to the typical “Gringo’s” palate than some of the more exotic offerings of real Mexican fare.
So, as usual, I am not trying to be the master of the ethnic cuisine I am preparing, but trying to be as close and simple to the ideas, taste and charm of the ethnic food that inspires me to cook certain dishes.
In this spirit, I prepared these Burritos, which were very plain with just two ingredients for the filling and accompanied by the most basic condiments.
It is not at all close to the food which I have enjoyed traveling in Mexico, living there and actually cooking Mexican food of the highest quality on many occasions, but it satisfies my craving for the food I love so much and remember fondly.
My earliest memory of a Burrito takes me back much further, to the first vacation I spend in Puerto Vallarta in the mid-70’s. It was late at night and after many drinks, lots of dancing and a few puffs of the funny stuff, enormous hunger had me ready for anything. Although this was in a disco, food was available at the bar. I did not know Mexican food (yet) and ordered what, by it’s description on the menu, seemed to be the biggest bang for the buck. I was not at all disappointed, neither with the size, the taste, nor the condiments it came with, especially the spicy sauces. Memories……..
Truth be told, it amazes me how many details I remember about food, places and the people I shared them with, after all these years (Decades, actually) 🙂
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Viva Mexico !   Live is Good !
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Read more of my memories of  Puerto Vallarta
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All about Mexican Cuisine

All about  Tex-Mex
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Burritos De Carne De Res

Burritos De Carne De Res

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Burritos De Carne De Res

Burritos De Carne De Res

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Preparation :
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Tostadas De Camarones

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I am not sure if I should call the this dish “Tostadas”, “Shrimp Salad” or “Shrimp Cocktail”.
It is actually all of the above, so pick the name that best suits you 🙂
All I know is that this was a great dinner after a long day at work , followed by a few hours of running errand’s.
Since I was very hungry and it was already late when I got home, something quick and light was appropriate. After all, at 3.00 am the alarm will sound again and I’ll have to be ready for another long, hard day. I already have started to have my breakfast and lunch according to the “Hans’Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” Plan, which will start in full on Monday, January 19th. If you are interested, you might want to go to  “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” for more details. These “Tostadas”, “Shrimp Salad” or “Shrimp Cocktail” would be a typical example of a dinner Item on my monthly “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” meal plan.
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Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
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Shrimp Tostadas

Shrimp Tostadas

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Shrimp Tostada

Shrimp Tostada

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Preparation :
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Milanesa Mexicana



Playing with food 🙂
Green
, white and red –
very easy to come up with a real Mexican dish using the  mexican flag  colors.

 ¡ Buen Provecho !    ¡ Viva México!


Click here for  Guacamole  recipe

Click here for  Salsa Mexicana  recipe


Mexican Flag (without the eagle)

Milanesa Mexicana

Milanesa Mexicana

Milanesa Mexicana

Milanesa Mexicana



Preparation :

mise en place

mise en place

season veal cutlet with kosher salt and cayenne pepper, bread with flour, egg and breadcrumbs, saute in olive oil and butter until golden and cooked medium well, remove to absorbent paper

season thinly pounded veal cutlet with mustard, kosher salt and cayenne pepper, bread with flour, egg and breadcrumbs, saute in olive oil and butter until golden and cooked medium well, remove to absorbent paper

place onto serving platter, drizzle with lime juice, top with guacamole, sour cream and salsa mexicana, sprinkle with chives or cilantro

place onto serving platter, drizzle with lime juice, top with guacamole, sour cream and salsa mexicana, sprinkle with chives or cilantro (however, there is already plenty cilantro in the guacamole)

Milanesa Mexicana

Milanesa Mexicana

Milanesa Mexicana

Milanesa Mexicana



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please be so kind and click on the video on the bottom of this page.  Thank you 🙂






“Easy Does It” # 5 – Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream Salad

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Dear  Friend’s
Although most of my followers are culinary professionals, there is also a large segment of followers who are just starting to enjoy cooking on a slightly higher than basic level. I have therefore decided to publish, under the moniker “Easy Does It“,  from time to time some very basic recipe variations of dishes which otherwise might seem complicated to some folks. I will break them down to the easiest, most simple instructions, so that those of you who are intimidated by elaborate recipes will be able to prepare these dishes properly, adjusted to your taste and liking, right from the get-go.
Enjoy :-)
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Salad made with cucumbers, sour cream or yogurt and dill is served in many countries, of course under  many different names but with basically the same ingredients. I grew up in Swabia in Southern Germany, were gurkensalat was part of many meals, either served as part of a mixed salad (salat teller) or by itself as accompaniment to a main dish. It is made with cucumbers (any type), salt, pepper, a dash of sugar, vinegar and either sour cream or yogurt, .

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream  Salad

Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream Salad

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wash cucumbers, pat dry

wash cucumbers, pat dry

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peel cucumbers, slice thin

peel cucumbers, slice thin

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season generously with kosher salt, mix well, let sit for 30 minutes

season generously with kosher salt, mix well, let sit for 30 minutes

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squeeze as much moisture from cucumbers as possible, discard liquid

squeeze as much moisture from cucumbers as possible, discard liquid

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add sour cream or greek yoghurt, granulated garlic, cayenne papper and lots of dill. mix well

add sour cream or greek yogurt, granulated garlic, cayenne pepper and lots of dill, mix well

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Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream  Salad

Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream Salad

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Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream  Salad

Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream Salad

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Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream  Salad

Cucumber, Dill & Sour Cream Salad

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