Southwestern Corn Tortilla Chorizo Quiche

The month of May bursts with holidays, celebrations, and special occasions. For Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day, I've got you covered with a Southwestern Corn Tortilla Chorizo Quiche and Roasted Strawberry Parfaits.

 Southwestern Corn Tortilla Chorizo Quiche 

Cook's notes: This Southwestern dish is definitely a showstopper fit for any meal. A white corn tortilla crust is packed with flavor using chorizo sausage, Mexican cheeses, tomatoes, peppers, onions, green chile, and seasoning. Browning meat and sauteing peppers with onions ahead of time make preparation easier. The degree of hotness can be controlled by the amount of seasoning and chiles used. Your favorite toppings of cilantro, sour cream, and salsa can be added right before serving. I loved the dish

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. chorizo pork, Italian sausage or beef sausage
• 1/2 cup each diced red and green pepper
• 3/4 cup diced, sweet onions
• 1 cup grape tomatoes diced
• 1 tablespoon green chile peppers, drained
• 6-6 inch white corn tortilla (Super Soft brand)
• 1-1/2 cups Mexican Four Cheeses Blend
• 6 beaten large eggs
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup half and half (low fat)
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon Adobe Mexican Seasoning (check the internet on how to make your own)

Directions:

• Spray a large 9-inch quiche or pie plate with cooking spray. Arrange 5 tortillas around the baking dish so they overlap on bottom and up sides extending up over the rim of the baking dish. Lay the sixth tortilla in the center of the baking dish's bottom.
  
  
  
• Place 2 sheets of paper towels together on the counter. Set diced tomatoes on paper towels.
• Brown the sausage, drain it really well, and place it with tomatoes. Saute onions and peppers. Add in chiles and place with the meat mixture.
• Transfer meat mixture from paper towels to the center of tortilla shells. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the cheese mixture.
  
  
  
• In a bowl, mix eggs, cream, half-and-half, and Mexican spice seasoning. Slowly pour the egg mixture over the ingredients in the tortilla crust. Don't worry if some of the liquid runs underneath the shells.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and puffy or until set in the middle. Let the quiche rest for 5 minutes before cutting. Add your favorite toppings.

Baking Tip: If the crust bakes too quickly. lay a sheet of foil over the quiche.

Ever Ready Margaritas

The recipe makes 2 large glasses.
Ingredients:

• 6 shot glasses of plain ( no alcohol) margarita mix ( I like to use Jose Cuvero)
• 2 shot glasses of Tequila
• 1/2 shot glass Cointreau
• 1/2 shot glass Grand Marnier
• 2 cups crushed ice

Directions:

• In a blender add crushed ice. Add the rest of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
• Dip the rim of the glass in lime juice and then into salt. Pour liquid into the prepared glass.

Roasted Strawberry Parfaits

Ingredients:

• 3 cups fresh strawberries, quartered
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons (good quality) balsamic vinegar or chocolate balsamic
• 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/2 cup granola
• Mint for garnish, optional

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, combine strawberries and sugar. Spread strawberries on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with balsamic vinegar.
• Roast in the oven for 12 minutes or until the strawberries start to release their juices but are still a little firm. Carefully pour the roasted strawberries and their juice into a bowl and set aside.
• Mix yogurt and honey in a medium bowl and stir until combined.
• Add a layer of yogurt to the bottom of 8-ounce glasses or parfait cups to assemble. 
• Next, add a few spoonfuls of the strawberries on top of the yogurt and then a spoonful of granola on top of the strawberries. Repeat the layers until the serving glasses are full. Top the parfaits with a spoonful of strawberries and a sprinkle of granola. Optional, place a sprig of mint for garnish.

Another option

Warm Roasted Strawberries
Cook's notes: Follow the roasting directions above. Serve warm roasted strawberries over ice cream. Try roasted strawberries over blackberry ice cream. It's amazing!