Cooking 110 ~ Me & Bobby Bustin' Out the SW Cuisine

Loser! I'm talking about moi. Me. I have been chained to the stove but can't seem to get it together long enough to post one stinkin' recipe. Sorry, needed to vent.
     Well we totally outdid ourselves at the last cooking class ~ ask anyone who was there. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

  I love this picture...everyone looks SO busy! 
Bueller? Anyone?

Here's the menu from the 
Southwestern Cuisine Cooking Class/Jan 2014:

Caramelized Poblano Chile and Onion Dip

Shrimp Nachos with Avocado-Corn Relish 

 

 Chicken and Mushroom Posole

 

Cotija Crusted Quesadillas with Basil + Jalapeno

Topped with Sweet Balsamic and Charred Corn + Smoked Red Pepper Sauce  

 

Blue Corn Crusted Mahi-Mahi

on Jicama-Pepper Slaw, with Roasted Poblano Sauce + Serrano-Mango Crème  

 

Vanilla Ice Cream

Laced with Cayenne Pepper + Mexican Cocoa, Drizzled with Dulce de Leche

Oops, bad pic. We dug in before anyone remembered to take a picture.

We spanked this with a smoked serrano sea salt. It was the perfect combination of hot, cold, sweet and salty. Do try this at home!

 

As you know I'm a big Bobby Flay fan and some of these recipes (the Posole and Quesadillas) were from my man and some were my own creations. All were pretty dang good and we ate ourselves silly, which isn't hard to do in this group.

As we were getting all fired up for class, my sous chef Scott tells me that he called my Bobby and left him a message asking him to come to our Southwestern Class because after all, he is the master.
     Apparently my Bobby didn't return the call. I can't be certain, but I told Scott I was pretty sure it had something to do with that restraining order that he's got against me. I will admit that I am a little butt hurt that he won't just show up at my door anymore without the bodyguards. Whatev Bob, I'm about over you because look what I can do!  ↓

I've already posted the Chicken and Mushroom Posole and the Cotija Crusted Quesadilla recipes, so click here and here for those, and scroll down. 

You know I'm not a baker, so I was feeling the pressure in coming up with a SW themed dessert. Desperate people do desperate things, or so I've heard, and only when there is a mixer held to my head can I come up with a dessert idea that doesn't involve loading the beaters. This was so genius ~ sometimes I even surprise myself. 
     I softened up some vanilla ice cream, stirred in some Mexican hot cocoa mix and a generous pinch of cayenne pepper. The result was a cold treat with a little fiery bite that you felt deep in the back of your throat, after you swallowed. We topped it with a bit of dulce de leche sauce and a pinch of smoked serrano sea salt. Mucho Bueno!

 Jeez, can't you guys just act like you like it?

I also made a my Cilantro Pesto, which is super yummy. Click here, or on the "Misc. Recipes" tab. Spread a little on a tortilla, top with some sharp white cheddar and/or Monteray Jack cheese and make yourself a dang quesadilla.

     Call me Bobby, love ya, mean it!

PRINT RECIPE:  Chicken Mushroom Posole

PRINT RECIPE:  Cotija Crusted Quesadilla 

PRINT RECIPE:  Cilantro Pesto