My Southwestern Flair!!!!

For those who know me, and if you don't know me you really should cause I'm lots of fun. Anyway, for those who know me you know how much I LOVE Mexican Cuisine!! I absolutely can not get enough. But I really love the more authentic stuff. I was born and lived the first 14 and a half years of my life in California. So the Mexican food that comes from the Southwest is the best. Anyway, I am ALWAYS looking for good mexican recipes and I write them down. This doesn't mean, however, that I always get around to trying them So here is the latest one I have found and thought I'd share with you. If anyone every tries this, or is I do, please share!!! Thanks and enjoy!




Tortilla Tower
Recipe courtesy Ingrid Hoffman, 2008
See this recipe on air Saturday Apr. 19 at 1:30 PM ET/PT.
Show: Simply Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffmann
Episode: Farmer's Market



2 split chicken breasts
1 celery stalk
1/2 yellow onion peeled plus 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
White Salsa, recipe follows
1 tablespoon corn oil
1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
1/2 cup broccoli florets
1 ear corn or 1 cup frozen corn
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Roasted Red Salsa, recipe follows
1/4 cup vegetable oil
12 corn tortillas
1 cup Mexican 4-cheese blend
Cilantro leaves, for garnish

In a large pot, combine chicken, celery stalk, and 1/2 yellow onion. Cover with 1 quart cold water. Simmer until the chicken is tender and cooked through, about 40 minutes.
Remove chicken from cooking liquid to cool on cutting board. Once cool shred, discarding the skin, bones and fat.

Combine chicken meat with half of the White Salsa and set aside.

In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon corn oil over medium high heat. Add onions, red bell peppers, and broccoli. Saute until onions are soft, about 3 minutes. Add corn and cook for another 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and mix with half of the Roasted Red
Salsa.


To prepare tortillas:
Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add a tortilla and lightly fry for 10 to 15 seconds. Flip the tortilla over and continue to fry until the tortilla is pliable and heated through, about another 10 to 20 seconds. Place tortillas on a paper towel lined plate, cover with a kitchen towel, and set aside. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.


To Assemble Tortilla Tower:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Place 4 tortillas on a baking sheet. Top each with a layer of the chicken mixture. Top chicken mixture with another tortilla, then a layer of vegetable mix. Top with another tortilla. Spread the remaining White Salsa on the top tortilla of each of the 4 towers. Sprinkle with the Mexican cheese blend and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Remove from oven and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with cilantro and serve with remaining Roasted Red Salsa.


Roasted Red Salsa:
1 large tomato
1 medium yellow onion, peeled
1 head garlic, sliced in 1/2 lengthwise
1 large poblano pepper
2 tablespoons corn oil
1 teaspoon chopped oregano leaves
1 teaspoon sugar
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Rub the tomato, onion, garlic head, and poblano pepper with 1 tablespoon corn oil and place them on a foil lined baking sheet. Roast for 20 minutes or until the tomato and pepper skins start to blacken.

Remove to cutting board to cool. Squeeze garlic to release from its skin. Quarter the onion into 4 pieces. Remove the stems and seed from the poblano pepper. Combine all the roasted vegetables in a blender and blend for 1 minute, or until smooth.


Heat remaining 1 tablespoon corn oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the tomato mixture, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 6 minutes. Set aside.


White Salsa:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 ounces heavy whipping cream
Salt and freshly ground black pepper


Heat cream cheese and heavy whipping cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until cheese begins to melt. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the mixture is completely smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.