5.30.2011

2011, Recipes 42-44: Fish Tacos, Mexican Street Corn & Black Bean Dip

Fish Tacos 
Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay 

  • 1 pound white flaky fish, such as mahi mahi or orata (I used tilapia)
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1 tablespoons ancho chili powder
  • 1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 8 flour tortillas

Garnish:

  • Shredded white cabbage
  • Hot sauce
  • Crema or sour cream
  • Thinly sliced red onion
  • Thinly sliced green onion
  • Chopped cilantro leaves
  • Salsa
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Place fish in a medium size dish. Whisk together the oil, lime juice, ancho, jalapeno, and cilantro and pour over the fish. Let marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the fish from the marinade place onto a hot grill, flesh side down. Grill the fish for 4 minutes on the first side and then flip for 30 seconds and remove. Let rest for 5 minutes then flake the fish with a fork.

Place the tortillas on the grill and grill for 20 seconds. Divide the fish among the tortillas and garnish with any or all of the garnishes.

Results: Just okay. I loved the crunch of the cabbage but the fish calls for no salt but desperately needs it.  Once it was added, Rashan liked it, but it never recovered for me.  Maybe leftovers will be better.


Mexican Street Corn
Combined recipes from Rick Bayless and Budget Bytes 
  • 6 ears fresh sweet corn, in their husks
  • About 1/2 cup Mexican crema or sour cream mixed with a little milk or cream
  • 1/3 cup crumbled Mexican queso anejo or queso fresco, or cheese like parmesan, feta or farmer’s cheese (I used cotija)
  • About 1 tablespoon hot powdered chile 
About an hour before serving, place the ears of corn in a deep bowl, cover with cold water and weight with a plate to keep them submerged.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Once the oven is warm, place the corn directly on the oven rack and bake for 35 minutes.
Once the corn is done roasting, carefully remove it from the oven with an oven mitt, clean kitchen towel, or tongs. Carefully peel back the husks and remove the corn silk. Slather the kernels with crema then dust with cotija. Pass the powdered chile for your guests to use to their own liking.  The husks can serve as a handle while eating.

Results: AWESOME!!!!!!! I had this at a restaurant in Mississippi and was OVER THE MOON!  I was so glad it was so simple.  Both of these recipes called for butter on the corn.  With the crema and the cotija, I just knew butter was going to be an unnecessary ingredient and I was right!  So delicious!  I actually didn't even use the powdered chile and it was great!  A squeeze of lime at the end!  Man I want this again right now!!

Black Bean Dip
Courtesy of GF in the City

  • 1 15-ounce can black beans, drained & rinsed 
  • ½ cup salsa (I used tomatillo) 
  • 1 ½ oz cotija cheese*
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Juice of 1 lime (Optional: reserve zest for garnish)
  • Kosher salt, if needed
Place the beans, salsa, 1 oz of the cheese, the cumin, and lime juice into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few times to combine. For a chunky dip, pulse a few more times or until the desired texture is reached; for a smooth dip, process for a minute or two, until the consistency appears even. Taste and adjust for salt, if needed.
Transfer the dip to a bowl and garnish with the remaining ½ ounce of cheese and, optionally, a bit of zest from the lime. Serve with tortilla chips.

*You could also use chevre, feta, manouri, parmesan or ricotta salata. Depending on what you use, the final texture and flavor of your dip will vary slightly, but these would all produce great results.

Results: Simple & delicious!  Love all of the ingredients in this and was quite pleased w/the outcome.

5.28.2011

Dressed by the Men: Day 7

Jameil
This was interesting and fun.  LOL.  I really enjoyed watching Rashan struggle to pull something together.  And I was quite impressed that he wanted to put together outfits I wouldn't.  He did and I really liked a lot of the outfits he pulled, several to my surprise. Today he put on the palm tree necklace "because we're going to Savannah!" How adorable!  I have informed him that I will be asking him what I wear whenever I'm stumped... He looked dismayed. LOLOL



Shirt: The Limited
Pants: Banana Republic
Necklace: Gift from Stace
Shoes: Nine West

Naima
I'm pretty sure that BL couldn't be happier that this week is over!! (Don't tell him I said this, but I think we should do it again in the Fall/Winter.) I think he did an awesome job, and I'm kind of going to miss not having to worry about what I'm wearing every day.  I think he went through about 4 outfits before he settled on this one. Oh, the deliberation!! 


Shirt: Calvin Klein
Jeans: Banana Republic
Shoes: Franco Sarto
Cat: Nigel

5.27.2011

Dressed by the Men: Day 6

Naima
I felt like BL hit a wall last night so I had to give him a pep talk: "We're almost at the end! You can do this! Get your mind right!!" I swatted him on the butt and he got back into the game. Good talk.

There are two versions of this outfit -- shirt tucked in (how he intended me to wear it) and shirt out (how I wore it). What's the verdict, in or out?



Shirt: Old Navy
Necklace: Forever 21 (same from day 1)
Belt: The Limited
Jeans: Rock & Republic
Shoes: Cynthia Vincent for Target

Jameil
It's hilarious that BL needed a pep talk.  Rashan was SO frustrated last night picking out TWO outfits: one for day and one for night.  He managed to pick out the few items in my closet that don't fit and was about to scream!  It was pretty funny/weird.  He so rarely gets frustrated that it was really bizarre.  Loved the night outfit.  Less joyous about day but it'll do.

Shirt: Caché
Scarf: Free from Grandma!
Earrings: Free from Stace (Theme of the Week!)
Jeans: Express
Shoes: Nine West


Dress: Express
Necklace: Free from Mom
Earrings: IDK... Forever 21?
Bracelets: Free from College Friend
Shoes: Nine West

Oh... and Stace quit.  Ah well.

5.26.2011

Dressed By the Men: Day 5

Jameil
This man... he insists I look like I'm going to church or to teach. LOL  This outfit felt way too conservative for my taste even with the yellow scarf.  I felt better when I opened up my shirt.  He felt like I usurped his authority because I wore a tank underneath. What???  I am so sorry I didn't want to be see-through!  Power gone to his head, y'all!  LOL  In my office.  Accidental pic.  I'm so naturally awesome...
 Plaid shoes
 Unbuttoned

 For Naima... LOL 
Just like yesterday!
Shirt: Martin + Osa (RIP)
Scarf (as belt): Don't remember
Pants: Express
Shoes: Nine West

Stace
Another mishap. HOPEFULLY tomorrow we'll be back on track!

Naima
BL asked me what I was doing today and I told him, "Working from home & picking up my dad." I think the he chose outfit was perfectly suited for just that.

As per usual when my dad visits, we made a Whole Foods run. BL suggested we take advantage of the "good lighting" and get the pictures knocked out. Ummmm, OK. I guess I'll just cop a feel on this pineapple then. (No pineapples were harmed during the taking of these pictures).




Shirt: Old Navy
Jeans: 7 for All Mankind
Necklace: Heliotrope
Purse: Big Buddha (Christmas present from BL)
Shoes: Sam Edelman

5.25.2011

Dressed by the Men: Day 4

Stace
I.O.U.
I spilled sweet tea all over myself this morning and hung my clothes to dry on cabinet doors. Due to unforeseen circumstances, I had to leave school early was my fashion challenge clothes are still hanging in room 128. I sahwee. I usually take my pics after school when my dad is home/awake. Don't worry, I'll give you a double whammy tomorrow :-) But PLEASE enjoy Nima and Jam! They look AWESOME!


Naima
Since today was my last day going into the office this week, I told BL that jeans were no longer off limits. What does he pick? Jeans! Who's surprised? Not me! And here's to day 3 of me being extra tall, thanks to his shoe picks!

I think I must have walked in on him in the closet about 3-4 times trying to pick something out. This is very similar to something I've worn before (no veto needed), so I think my interruptions made him nervous and he just grabbed something familiar. Ooops! And yes, that us a yellow belt that you see. Everyone in yellow!! Hahahahaha!!




Shirt: Old Navy
Tank: Old Navy (super clearance! still had tags on it!)
Necklace: Heliotrope
Belt: The Limited
Jeans: Banana Republic
Shoes: Target



Jameil
Rashan, like 'Cardo, likes me in way dressier clothes than I would ordinarily wear to sit around and do nothing and/or work. J'adore this outfit other than the tightness of the pants. This will def. be my last time wearing these! This shirt is one I bought at the end of the season & it was awesomely cheap! I'm not sure about this belt that came with it, though. It seems a bit much. Unexpected side effect of being dressed by Rah, I feel really pretty seeing my outfits through his eyes! :)


Every time I see that pic, Mary Tyler Moore plays in my head!

Shirt w/belt: BCBG Max Azria
Pants: Express
Earrings: No clue
Shoes: Gap

5.24.2011

Dressed By the Men: Day 3

Jameil
Wow! Selecting an outfit was SO dramatic today. Partly because I was going to an adult slip n slide party!  Yes it was as fun as it sounds! He spent literally hours including breaks picking it out last night. That's the first outfit. Once it was on, he didn't like the black tank underneath. I honestly didn't mind it. I didn't love the ribbon on his ancient ankh charm. LOL

So he brought me the cream shirt but he didn't like it again.
Then he didn't like the green shirt.
All of these are things I wouldn't have brought together but really liked once they were on. He settled on yellow. I guess he wanted me to join the club. Naima('s "co-worker") wanted to know if a veto was allowed. I quickly poopooed that idea! But... I wanted to veto this necklace but I also didn't want to hurt his feelings or interfere with his design. But that's why it's tucked in. LOL Sorry love!



Shirt: Express (gift from Stace)
Shorts: MK by Michael Kors (So cheap it was almost free)
Earrings: Forever 21 (Something like $3)
Necklace: Free from sister
Bangle: I really haven't the foggiest but pretty sure it was free, too.
Shoes: Free from Stace

Naima


 I didn't think the length of this dress was work-appropriate (hence the veto question), so I called an audible & added a pair of skinny jeans before I left the house this morning. These pictures are the true representation of "the creator's vision". LoL!! I guess he was inspired by Jameil's dragonfly pin in yesteray's post, because he almost added my owl pin to the mix (very glad he didn't)!

Dress: LuLu's
Necklace:
New York & Co.
Shoes: Lela Rose for Payless
Stace
Last night, I told Cardo, "Okay, tomorrow is Tuesday. What's the deal?" "Do you have anything special planned?" "Nope, just a regular day." "Okay, dark skirt, light top." "... I have 4 dark skirts and countless 'light tops', be more specific." He pulled out my 3 knee length black skirts and got amped over the one with ruffles in the back. Then he was torn between a white wrap shirt, a light blue button down or its gray sister. He went with the gray (YES!) button down. I asked what shoes and he said "Nothing too high." Then he looked at my racks and racks and racks of shoes and found the shortest heel that's not a kitten heel.

I liked the outfit! I was sassy smart today. I got a few usual compliments at school but my fave was at Chipo.tle. I was getting a fork to aid in my assault & battery of 3 soft tacos and the guy sitting by the fountain drink/napkin/utensil area said, "Wow, are you a model? You look like one!" Duhhhh, winning!


























Shirt: Old Navy
Skirt: gift from sister (Dillard's)
Shoes: Nickels
Jewelry: Macy's

I don't understand what the pictures are doing. My apologies!!!!

5.23.2011

Dressed By the Men: Day 2

Today is the official second day, but my (Jameil's) first day participating. For the rest of the week, we'll combine each day into one post. I decided we make it too easy on these men by having such cute clothes! Whose guy wins for best outfit today? Stace's dad, my bf Rashan or Naima's fiancé B?

Naima
"He put me in "real clothes" b/c my manager was visiting the office today." LOL Her coworkers and manager all gave the thumbs up!

Shirt: Target
Pants: theory
Shoes: Dolce Vita for Target
Belt: Target
Necklace: Walmart (yeah, I'm surprised too)

Jameil
I might have picked something similar but I would've left off the pin. He was so cute picking out this outfit! He would stare at my clothes for 10 minutes, get frustrated, take a break, pick out some more. Extremely amusing! BUT once I got everything on, I actually really liked it!  This is the back of my shirt first, then the whole thing, then my dragonfly pin.



Earrings: Forever 21
Shirt: Anthropologie
Pin: I haven't the slightest idea
Pants: Express
Belt: Talbot's
Shoes: Nine West

Stace
He told me YESTERDAY that I was wearing pants today (I personally like to wear dresses on Monday) but when he told me, "Wear the outfit you wore in your class picture. Yellow is so pretty on you!" I was like, "*lol* Okay! More yellow for me! Can I wear a headband today?" "No. You can be all flowery on Friday. Make sure your hair is brushed and shiny." (brrrr? LOL)

























Shirt: Bebe
Pants: Express
Shoes: Steve Madden
Jewelry: Macy's