Life Changes & Tacos

Once again it feels like I am beginning a new chapter in life (wtf, enough already). Despite my tendency to be cranky about changes, I am as grateful as the horizon is wide.

This is the view from my new neighborhood - sunset after a rain storm reminiscent of the east coast.

I am at the end of my first weekend in my new home. Most of what I have is still in boxes (most of what I have is still in a storage unit on the east coast), but more importantly I am grateful. I am grateful it rained this weekend versus last weekend while I was moving; I am grateful for my cozy, bright kitchen in my sweet little beach bungalow; I am grateful for the generosity of the beautiful people who helped me get here (with a lovely new collection of dishes, eating utensils, and cute Ikea storage containers); I am grateful for the little Mexican store across the street where they make the tiniest little tortillas, so I can make tiny little tacos for my super cute friends.

breakfast-for-dinner-tacos + mango avocado salsa

breakfast-for-dinner tacos deconstructed

 My friends are so cute - they came over and dolled me up for a vintage housewife photo shoot in my new kitchen while I made tacos (like a nice southern Californian vintage housewife).

"Do vintage housewives make tacos?"

"In southern California, they do."

We were banking on shrimp tacos, but I spent all my money moving and making ends meet, and there was no more money in the pot. Fortunately, I spend my Saturdays working at a charming little farm stand, and when I hang around colorful, luscious produce all day, I spend what little money I have left on the most necessary and/or seductive options.

The menu of my first beach bungalow dinner party included breakfast-for-dinner tacos with fried eggs, cabbage carrot slaw, avocado, and salsa fresca. We also had mango avocado salsa, made with some seriously seductive mangoes. They were so sweet and juicy, it was freaking inappropriate. The girls found cane sugar Coca Cola & rice pudding at the little Mexican store across the street, so we had sweet beverages and a sweet dessert to top it all off. It was so so dang delicious!

Beach bungalow dinner party #1

Let me just say, I am so easily torn apart by life changes, I don't know how I would have made it through this weekend without such wonderful friends. What is life without friends and food? and music? I should mention, the soundtrack to the photo shoot was provided by the most lovely, Zee Avi.

So, to all my friends, far and wide, please know how much you mean to me. I cherish the gifts and the memories more than you know... I only wish we could all get together for tacos more often. <3

Lime & Coconut

"She put the lime in the coconut" and what!? She made an avocado key lime coconut pie. Oh yes she did.

One particularly impressive ninja/capoeira master recommended this avocado confection when I had a boatload of avocados on hand. Well, dang. Look what I found, Vegan YumYum - What a find!

If you live in SW Florida, please put this recipe somewhere in your August 2011 calendar. You will be so dang prepared for avocado season, people will think you're some kind of ninja. If you live in some other avocado-producing region and avocados are available to you right now, you are one lucky son of a bitch.

I mean, let's not act like avocados aren't the best ever. Avocados are S.D.D.^10. Good at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert.

Avocado Key Lime Pie

• 1/4 C of key lime juice
• 1 ripe avocado, pitted and shelled
• 2 Tbsp of honey, or to taste
• 1 can of coconut milk, cream only (chill can and scoop off the cream - I use a small measuring cup to do this)

Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Fill the crust with the filling and refrigerate.

The crust! Fortunately, I am blessed with an abundance of pecans, and crushed pecans + honey + water = pie crust! Dang, sometimes the good things in life are so easy. The Vegan YumYum recipe uses a pistachio crust, but I say use whatever you have. Although, peanuts might make a weird combo.

Roasted Pecan Crust

• 1.5 C of pecans
• 2 Tbsp honey
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1/4 tsp fine grain sea salt

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Process the pecans in a food processor, pulsing the blade until the pieces of pecans are no bigger than a grain of rice. If desired, grease the pie plate with a neutral cooking oil, but this is not necessary... at least, I didn't bother. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. With moist fingers, press the pecan mixture down into sides and bottom of the pie plate, forming a crust with a consistent thickness. Bake for 10 minutes, until golden brown around the edges. Cool completely before filling.

Voila!

Oh baby! Garnish with a slice of lime or a sprig of mint, like so:

This will make a great addition to the holiday festivities, one that is relatively low in sugar and wheat-free. Let us celebrate good food along with everything else!

As easy as pie!

So Dang Spoiled

Dang y'all, fortune smiles upon me! After a busy day working at Jessica's fabulous organic farm, I came home with an incredible bounty of produce. New life change: I am an amateur farmer with too much food (not complaining).

Isn't it beautiful? This Saturday was my fourth day at the farm, and I couldn't be happier with my new job. It is very clear to me that this is a step in the right direction.

Soon after arriving home to a very happy puppy, I got word that my badass friend, Dave, finished the latest modifications to my bicycle! No more perpetual motion of the pedals, woohoo! Watch out world! Here comes a safer, sassier cyclist! As if my night wasn't already completely delightful, Dave's badass wife, Missy, delivered dinner right to my table:

• Fish tacos with mango avocado salsa (all-time fave)
• Black bean, jicama, corn salad (sdd)
• Fresh sliced pineapple (fave)
• Pumpkin brioche bread pudding (o.m.gee)

I am notoriously seduced by food, it's no secret. But there are few things that satisfy my belly the way good fish tacos satisfy my belly. Most specifically, this recipe. I have a borderline love affair with these tacos. They are simultaneously simple and tricky, but arguably more simple than tricky.

Halibut Fish Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa

Mango Avocado Salsa

Honestly, the tricky part is finding the ingredients. To make mango avocado salsa you have to have a ripe mango and avocado on hand, which is easier said than done (although, I suspect you can use frozen mango). Then, for these tacos to be completely outstanding, you have to go to a tortillería to buy soft corn tortillas, which isn't a big deal, just a little out of the way. I go to a little place, called Bianca's, where 1 lb. of fresh corn tortillas = $1! Bianca's tortillas are amazing.
I would love to be a total foodie and request a steak of pole-caught amberjack from the Gulf every time I make these, but I typically don't have time for all that, so I usually buy a couple of frozen steaks of halibut from WFM. When I say "steak" I mean steak. No tilapia allowed. Seriously, tilapia does not belong in a taco unless it is expertly battered and deep-fried, and even then, it's not my first choice. I know tilapia is hella affordable, but there is a reason for that (if you want to know more, send me an email, sodangdelicious@gmail.com, and I will do my best to explain). On that same note, having these tacos is a rare treat for me, which is why I got all excited and had to write about it on SDD.

I acquired this recipe some years ago, and subsequently shared it with my friend/coworker. It was from a domestic ladies' magazine, but I forgot which one and I forgot to cite it in my recipe collection, so I can't tell you who, specifically, is responsible for this goodness. I can tell you it's not me, although I am definitely responsible for those tacos in the picture above.

Fish Tacos & Mango Avocado Salsa

• 1 mango, peeled, pitted & cut into 1/3" cubes
• 1 ripe avocado, cut into 1/3" cubes
• 2 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 c fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
• 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice + wedges for serving
• 1 3/4 tsp kosher sea salt
• 3 Tbsp cornmeal
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1tsp chili powder
• 1 lb. white fish (halibut, flounder, or amber jack), skinned & bones, cut into 3/4" cubes
• 2 jalapeños, seeded and sliced
• 4 Tbsp canola oil (approximately)
• 16 6" fresh corn tortillas

Place mango, avocado, scallion, cilantro, juice, and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl; toss gently for salsa. Set aside.

Combine cornmeal, cumin, chili powder and remaining 1 1/4 tsp salt in a bowl; add fish and toss until coated well (discard excess coating); set aside.

Using 2 Tbsp (approximate), lightly brush onto one side of each tortilla. Heat a large non-stick skillet (cast iron if you wanna be SDD) over moderately high heat. Add tortillas in pairs with uncoated sides together and cook, turning once, until just golden and starting to crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with a towel.

Heat remaining 2 Tbsp oil on the same skillet. Add jalapeño and fish; toss to coat with oil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until fish is just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Spoon into paired taco shells. Serve with salsa, lime wedges, and hot sauce, if desired.

Please be warned, you will be spoiled after eating these tacos. Fish tacos will never be the same.

The mango avocado salsa is SDD on almost anything spiced with cumin and/or chili powder. If you are opposed to eating fish, replace the fish with tempeh. An especially lovely friend of mine turned me on to the combination of tempeh and quinoa in tacos. SDD without a doubt. Spice up your quinoa with scallions and fresh basil, and add it to the mix!

I would really like to take this opportunity to thank Missy & Dave for being so wonderful!