Bush’s BBQ Tex-Mex Tostadas

Bush's Beans hosted a "Best Darn Backyard BBQ" Contest and when I saw that the prize was a Big Green Egg package, I knew I had to try to win one for Louis!

Well, it's my (and his) lucky day- I was chosen as one of their regional grand prize winners and pretty soon we'll have a Medium Big Green Egg Grill, an Egg Nest, set of two Egg Mates, a 10 pound bag of lump charcoal, an ash tool, grill gripper and a box of charcoal starters!

My kids (and I) love tostadas. They're delicious and really quick to throw together on a busy weeknight. This is my Tex-Mex BBQ twist on tostadas. I piled grilled fajita chicken and smoked cheddar cheese on top of a crispy tostada shell. Instead of traditional re-fried beans, I made BBQ re-fried beans using Bush’s Grillin’ Beans Steakhouse Recipe and drizzled the whole thing with a delicious jalapeno cilantro ranch sauce! If you have any leftover sauce, use it as a salad dressing- you won't be sorry! 

Bush’s BBQ Tex-Mex Tostadas

1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

2 Tablespoons oil

1 (1.12 oz) packet Fajita seasoning

¼ cup jarred sliced pickled jalapenos

½ cup ranch dressing

1 cup cilantro leaves

1 (22 oz) can Bush’s Grillin’ Beans Steakhouse Recipe

10 crispy tostada shells

8 ounces shredded smoked cheddar cheese

1 ½ cups shredded iceberg lettuce

 

Place the chicken, oil and fajita seasoning in a large zip top bag. Massage the seasoning into the meat to evenly coat it and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

Place the pickled jalapeno slices, ranch dressing and cilantro in a blender and puree until smooth. Place in the refrigerator to chill.

Pre-heat a grill over high heat. Place the chicken on the grill, smooth side down for 5 minutes. Flip and continue to grill for 4-5 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from the grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Place the Bush’s beans in a food processor and puree until smooth. Pour the beans into a large non-stick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the beans, stirring frequently, for about 10 minutes or until heated through and thickened.

Shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Spread a heaping Tablespoon of the beans onto each tostada shell. Top with cheese, shredded chicken and lettuce. Drizzle with the cilantro sauce and serve immediately.

 Makes 10 tostadas.

 

Meaty Mushroom Frito Pie Burger

My second entry for The Mushroom Channel's Game Day Blend Contest is a mouthful! 

What goes better with Texas football than Frito Pie? 

Frito Pie Burgers, of course!

Their challenge is to create the best blended burger for your next football party or tailgate session using their method of blending:

"Create delicious, healthy meals with one simple ingredient – mushrooms. Research shows that people who eat mushrooms have better diet quality and increased intake of some nutrients, making them the go-to ingredient for delicious family meals. It’s never been easier to use mushrooms to transform meals, starting with those that may already be in the weekly rotation. Simply chop mushrooms to match the texture of ground meat – beef, pork, chicken, turkey (or tofu) – and use in place of some of the meat in recipes such as burgers, tacos, meatloaf, lasagna, pasta sauce, or meatballs to make every day dishes more healthful and delicious. This technique is referred to as The Blend."

Meaty Mushroom Frito Pie Burger

 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

12 ounces cremini (baby portobello) mushrooms

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon creole seasoning

1 pound lean ground beef

 cheddar cheese

5 bakery hamburger buns

Toppings Bar:

Mayo

Chili

Red onions

Sliced pickled jalapenos

Fritos

Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Roughly chop mushrooms and add them to the hot oil. Cook for 10 minutes or until mushrooms have browned and softened. Add the garlic and sauté for 2-4 more minutes. Place sautéed mushrooms in a large mixing bowl and set aside to allow them to cool.

To the large mixing bowl with the chopped sautéed mushrooms, add the Worcestershire sauce, creole seasoning and ground beef. Mix thoroughly to combine and shape the meat mixture into 5 patties. Heat the remaining Tablespoon of oil in the pan. Once oil is hot add patties to pan and cook 5-7 minutes or until a brown crust has formed on the underside of the patty. Flip burgers over and cook another 3 minutes.

Place cheese on each burger and continue to cook, until melted, for 2-4 minutes.

Toast the buns until nicely golden brown.

To assemble the burgers spread a thin layer of mayo on the top and bottom of each toasted bun half. Place a burger patty on each bun bottom and top with chili, onion, jalapenos and Fritos. Place the bun tops on each and serve immediately.

7 Layer Tex-Mex Mushroom Burger

I've had so much fun creating blended burgers for 

The Mushroom Channel's Game Day Blend Contest!

Their challenge is to create the best blended burger for your next football party or tailgate session using their method of blending:

"Create delicious, healthy meals with one simple ingredient – mushrooms. Research shows that people who eat mushrooms have better diet quality and increased intake of some nutrients, making them the go-to ingredient for delicious family meals. It’s never been easier to use mushrooms to transform meals, starting with those that may already be in the weekly rotation. Simply chop mushrooms to match the texture of ground meat – beef, pork, chicken, turkey (or tofu) – and use in place of some of the meat in recipes such as burgers, tacos, meatloaf, lasagna, pasta sauce, or meatballs to make every day dishes more healthful and delicious. This technique is referred to as The Blend."

My first entry took 7 Layer Dip and Blended Burgers and mashed them together. Cook the burgers, toast the buns and let your guests top theirs themselves while you sit back and enjoy the game!

7 Layer Tex-Mex Mushroom Burger

 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil

12 ounces cremini (baby portobello) mushrooms

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon creole seasoning

1 pound lean ground beef

5 bakery hamburger buns

For the Toppings Bar:

 shredded cheddar cheese

re-fried beans

sliced avocado

sour cream

assorted salsas

diced red onion

pickled jalapenos

cilantro

Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Roughly chop mushrooms and add them to the hot oil. Cook for 10 minutes or until mushrooms have browned and softened. Add the garlic and sauté for 2-4 more minutes. Place sautéed mushrooms in a large mixing bowl and set aside to allow them to cool.

To the large mixing bowl with the sautéed mushrooms, add the Worcestershire sauce, creole seasoning and ground beef. Mix thoroughly to combine and shape the meat mixture into 5 patties. Heat the remaining Tablespoon of oil in the pan. Once oil is hot add patties to pan and cook 5-7 minutes or until a brown crust has formed on the underside of the patty. Flip burgers over and cook another 3 minutes.

Place cheese on each burger and continue to cook, until melted, for 2-4 minutes.

Toast the buns until nicely golden brown.

Set out the burgers, buns and assorted toppings and let your guests have fun making their own creations!

Apple-gato

It's finally fall! 

Which, in Texas, means nothing since it's still hot and it will be for quite some time. Every Halloween my kids come home from Trick-or-Treating and we have to peel them out of their costumes, since they're covered in sweat and sugar. 

One of my favorite treats this time of year is the Caramel Apple Cider from Starbucks. I don't get them often, but it truly is like drinking an apple pie! Hot apple cider, cinnamon, caramel and whipped cream all combine to make a comforting, delicious drink.

Since Starbucks isn't cheap, and there isn't one close to my house, I decided to start making them myself and skip the ridiculous drive through price tag. While enjoying my copycat drink at home I started thinking about what would happen if I combined my Caramel Apple Cider with an affogato?! Affogato means drowned in Italian, and it is made by pouring a shot of hot espresso over scoops of vanilla ice cream.

My concoction takes cinnamon infused hot apple cider in place of the espresso and pours it over caramel gelato and a drizzle of salted caramel sauce! Decadent I tell you!

These are dead simple to put together but also look pretty impressive. If you want to serve these at a party, or before heading out to trick-or-treat, just keep the apple cider mixture in a crock pot (it'll make your house smell amazing as well) and let guests ladle the hot mixture over their gelato right before serving.

If you really want to be naughty, a shot of butterscotch schnapps is delicious mixed in as well!

Apple-gato

1 cup apple cider

1 cinnamon stick

2 Tablespoons jarred salted caramel sauce

4 cups caramel gelato

Place the apple cider and cinnamon stick in a small saucepot over medium-low heat. Bring the liquid up to a simmer and allow to steep for 10 minutes. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick.

While the cider is simmering, place the caramel sauce in a small shallow plate and holding the glasses upside down, dip the edges into the sauce.

Place about 3 scoops of gelato into each rimmed glass and pour about ¼ cup of the cinnamon infused cider in each glass. Serve immediately.