Tag: southwestern

Southwestern BBQ Sauce

The simple addition of a few chipotles in adobo sauce to what is normally just a great regular-ole tomato-based BBQ sauce really makes for a totally different, utterly fantastic sauce for ribs, chicken, pulled pork… you name it. Chipotles (smoke-dried jalapenos) are one of my favorite things. I love the combination of heat and smokiness. They’re perfect for things like this southwestern BBQ sauce.

Southwestern BBQ Sauce

I rubbed down a rack of St. Louis-style ribs with homemade Cajun seasoning. Then I smoked it for 6 hours until the meat was nice and tender.  I then brushed on some of this great southwestern BBQ sauce let the ribs smoke for another 15 minutes, just long enough to set the sauce up just a bit. It’s not a thin sauce, and it’s not a thick sauce. I’d call it just the right consistency for things like ribs. You know you’re going to get messy eating them, but there’s no reason to drown in the sauce or to have it all just roll off the ribs and down your arms.

I like to keep my sandwich sauces in squirt bottles. It’s fun to squirt sauces onto sandwiches or well, just about anything.


Also try my strawberry chipotle BBQ sauce.

Southwestern BBQ Sauce
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Southwestern BBQ Sauce

The simple addition of a few chipotles in adobo sauce to what is normally just a great regular-ole tomato-based BBQ sauce really makes for a totally different, utterly fantastic sauce for ribs, chicken, pulled pork… you name it.
Course Sauce
Cuisine American
Keyword BBQ, sauce, southwestern
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 cups
Calories 226kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Add the onions and saute until starting to soften, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and the chipotles and cook for 1 minute.
  • Deglaze the pan with the vinegar and lime juice.
  • Reduce heat and simmer until the liquid is reduced by half.
  • Add the adobo sauce, tomato sauce, molasses, mustard, bay leaves and salt.
  • Increase heat and bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and continue simmering, stirring often, for 15-20 minutes or until the sauce is the desired thickness.
  • Remove from heat and let cool slightly before straining through a fine-mesh strainer.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1799mg | Potassium: 1524mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 1647IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 5mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Southwest Wraps

Anita and I took a little day trip over to Springfield, Ohio, to peruse the Heart of Ohio Antique Center. It’s one of our favorite antique malls. And although there’s a nice little cafe in the mall, we decided to pack a lunch. Besides some Kaw-Cajun 4 bean salad and chips, I made a few of these southwest wraps. They’re the perfect picnic: spicy, tasty, and different than the usual boring sandwich. Tomatoes, black beans, corn, cilantro, turkey, habanero cheese and spicy Ranch dressing, all inside a habanero wrap. Definitely not boring.

Southwest Wraps

The spicy Ranch dressing I made for these wraps is really great stuff. I also use it on sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs. It definitely has a little kick. I keep a batch in a squeeze bottle in the fridge for any time I want something with a little bite.

Also try my crab salad wraps.

Southwest Wraps
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Southwest Wraps

Make these for perfect picnic: spicy, tasty, and different than the usual boring sandwich.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword southwestern, wraps
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 98kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

For the Spicy Ranch Dressing (you’ll have plenty leftover for other dishes)

For the wraps

  • 1 15 ounce black beans rinsed, drained
  • 1 14 ounce sweet corn drained
  • 2 Roma tomatoes chopped
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro chopped
  • ½ red onion chopped
  • 8 habanero wraps
  • Turkey sandwich meat
  • lettuce Red or green leaf
  • Spicy Ranch dressing
  • Habanero cheese slices

Instructions

For the Spicy Ranch Dressing

  • Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.

For the wraps

  • Combine the beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro and onion in a bowl and mix gently.
  • Lay out the wraps. Assemble the wraps by stacking the ingredients on one half of the wrap (so you can then roll it up.
  • Add the sandwich meat first, This will help keep the wrap from getting soggy.
  • Add the lettuce and a tablespoon or so of the dressing.
  • Spoon on a few tablespoons of the bean and corn mixture.
  • Add the cheese and wroll up the wrap.

Nutrition

Calories: 98kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 255mg | Potassium: 106mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 317IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

I’ve made a lot of snack mixes in my time. Traditional ones. Sweet ones. Savory ones. Sour cream and onion ones. Cajun ones. Italian-ish ones. And now, this most awesome spicy Tex-Mex party mix. Quick and easy to make.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

I really prefer our homemade taco seasoning in this mix over the store bought stuff in the little packets, and not just because it’s so much cheaper to make. When you make the seasoning from scratch you can control how fine or coarse it is. For this party mix I wanted a little texture from the seasoning so I didn’t grind it for very long.

You can also substitute your favorite Chex cereal for the cereal. Or use a combination of your favorite ones!

Also try my southwestern snack mix. Less kick, great flavor.

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Spicy Tex-Mex Party Mix

I’ve made a lot of snack mixes in my time. Traditional ones. Sweet ones. Savory ones. Sour cream and onion ones. Cajun ones. Italian-ish ones. And now, this most awesome spicy Tex-Mex party mix. Quick and easy to make.
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Southwestern
Keyword Chex mix, spicy
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 464kcal
Author Mike

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cup peanuts roasted
  • 2 ½ cup pretzels
  • 3 cups corn chips
  • 3 cups mini shredded wheat cereal not frosted Or, substitute Corn Chex cereal.
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted
  • 1 packet taco seasoning

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 F.
  • Place peanuts, pretzels, corn chips and shredded wheat cereal into a large bowl.
  • Drizzle the butter over the snack mix and fold to coat.
  • Sprinkle with taco seasoning and mix to coat.
  • Spread out on a baking sheet (or two) and bake for 10 minutes.
  • Let cool and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 575mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 510IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.