Mexican

Tacos al Pastor

Tacos al Pastor

Second semester sophomore year, Ana’s Taqueria took over the space formerly occupied by a mediocre crepe shop inside the student center, and my life changed. Not in an altogether good way, mind you. On the one hand, I was over the moon because this place had the best Mexican food in Cambridge. On the other hand, I loved the food a little too much too often, and put on ten pounds that semester. Two grande burritos and/or quesidillas per day will do that, I guess. It took me the entire summer to run those pounds off, but looking back, it was totally worth it. The next year, I toned down my Ana’s consumption, but it was Dan’s turn, as a newly minted college man,...

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Guacamole

Guacamole

Cinco de Mayo isn’t until tomorrow, but I’ve already got Mexican food on my mind. This means, as is usually the case when I have Mexican on the mind, that I’m jones-ing hard for guacamole. Lots and lots of guacamole. Why guacamole? Shall I recite its merits for you? There are too many to list! But for starters, it’s easy to make, it’s relatively healthy, and it’s a satisfying dinner substitute when no one feels like cooking. And, you know…it’s super delicious. Four large HASS avocados, one tomato, and half a red onion produced a dauntingly gigantic bowl of guacamole, but Dan and I inhaled every last bite. I was sad to see the last smear disappear into Dan’s mouth, but tomorrow is a...

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Strawberry Margaritas

Strawberry Margaritas

It’s the weekend, the weather is 82 degrees and sunny, and I’ve just been treated to a delicious sushi buffet for lunch. Could my birthday get any better? Yes, but only if you throw in a pitcher of freshly blended strawberry margaritas (and a nap)! Tequila and I never used to be friends. But, that’s probably because my first experience with it was at a frat party where some guy poured lime juice into a solo cup full of Jose and said “here, have a margarita.” I took one sip and immediately spat it back into the cup. Yuck.  Never again. But, because I never wanted to drink tequila after that, I never got violently sick from it — Jose and I never “broke up,”...

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Aaron’s Chicken with Rice and Beans

Aaron’s Chicken with Rice and Beans

I know April showers bring May flowers, but…it’s been raining all freaking day. Yuck. On days like these, the only thing I want to do is stay home and be lazy. And, maybe eat something simple and tasty. My friend Aaron’s chicken and rice/beans dish is just that: no frills, super tasty. He made it for his housewarming party a few weeks back, and it’s been on my mind ever since. I don’t even like beans, but I was loving them in his chicken and rice! After some wheedling and cajoling, I finally convinced him to give me the recipe. And, because I am a great person, I am sharing it here with you, with some minor adjustments. Enjoy! Aaron’s Chicken with Rice and Beans Ingredients:...

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Salsa Chicken

Salsa Chicken

I woke up this morning and my brain immediately turned to dinner. For reasons I can’t fathom, I really wanted to make a dish that involved baked chicken and salsa. Have I ever eaten this dish before? No. Have I ever seen it made? Nope. I guess I was just feeling kind of zesty. A quick search on Google revealed that salsa + chicken is actually a real thing. Not to be confused with fiesta chicken, of course, which is far more complicated and involves more ingredients. Salsa chicken is literally just chicken smothered in salsa. Canned salsa. Oh yea, there’s some fancy cooking going on in my kitchen. If I wanted to get all fancy and health-conscious I probably could have made my...

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Spinach & 4-Cheese Quesadillas

Spinach & 4-Cheese Quesadillas

Yesterday was the second gathering of the Summer Supper Club, and it was Mexican night. After a long and painful week of bar studying, we needed the comfort of oozing cheese and guac and sour cream to help us unwind. So we blended up some mango margaritas, parked ourselves on my couch, and feasted on spinach & cheese quesadillas, enchiladas, 3-bean dip, homemade salsa, and apple-pie enchiladas (for dessert). The thing about quesadillas is that they’re delicious and easy to make. Dinner was set for 7:30, and I didn’t start cooking until nearly 7, but by the time everyone had arrived, I already had a huge pile of fresh quesadillas waiting on the table. Rachel Ray would be so proud! Not much to say about these quesadillas other than...

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