R&R Pulled Pork Tacos & Gnarly Nachos

Yeah, I know … I’ve been lagging BIG TIME around here. Rather than bore you with all mundane, yet legitimate, excuses as to why, I think I’d rather share this delicious combo of American BBQ and south of the border flavors! Besides, wouldn’t you rather have a delectable new dish to try instead of being up to date on the daily trials and tribulations of an ordinary Neanderthal??? I thought so!
These tacos are kind of a domesticated version of the famous Al Pastor taco found in most authentic Mexican taquerias. First thing you’ll need to do is follow the instructions for preparing one recipe of Dutch Oven R&R Pulled Pork. Be sure to start that recipe a day ahead, as you will have to marinate the pork shoulder overnight with some smokey dry rub – we prefer our homemade BBQ Rub-a-dub which was developed specifically for this recipe.
Once it is in the oven cooking, you’ll want to get on making the R&R BBQ Sauce, which takes a couple hours of simmering on the stove top. By the way, don’t be afraid to try this sweet and spicy sauce on ribs, beef, chicken, or anything else you might barbeque.
You’ll definitely want to top those tacos with some salsa (We’ll have to write up our simple and sapid salsa recipe for you soon … it will make you forego bottled salsas for good!) and some guacamole. Since the Pulled Pork and BBQ sauce cook for so long, you’ll have plenty of time to whip up some Rockin’ Guac. Be sure to make extra, because not only are you likely to be nibbling on some before the meal, but you’ll also need some to go with the Nachos!
Speaking of which, the recipe for our Gnarly Nachos is so simple, we are actually going to abandon the usual step-by-step photo instructions and just spell it out for you here. Take a medium sized baking dish or pan and lightly coat with non-stick spray. cover the bottom with a single layer of your favorite tortilla chips. Top the chips with scattered spoonfuls of refried beans (we use the vegetarian variety for the herbivores in our Cave clan), then cover with shredded cheddar cheese. Add another layer of chips, and repeat the process with the beans and cheese. Place in an oven preheated to 350° for 10-15 minutes, until cheese is completely melted and the beans are hot. When done, remove from oven and top with pickled Jalapeno slices, salsa, and guac. If you like, you can also add chopped tomatoes and onions, sour cream, cilantro … you name it!
When the pulled pork recipe is complete, heat up some corn tortillas, top them with a healthy scoop of the tender meat and top with guac and salsa. I guarantee that the mewls of palatable pleasure you will hear around the dining table will be the perfect musical compliment to these devine dishes!

©2011 Caution: Caveman Cooking/UHearMe, Inc. All rights reserved. This originally appeared on the Caution: Caveman Cooking blog at http://cavemancooking.net authored by Caveman. This may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.

Mangocado Salsa

This ain’t your Mama’s Mango Salsa … that is, if she ever even made it! Delicious on fish, with tortilla chips, or just by the spoonful!! Best of all, this is super easy to make.

INGREDIENTS

1 Large Mango
1 Large Avocado
1 Medium Tomato
1/2 Medium Sweet or White Onion
1 Teaspoon Fresh Cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 Teaspoon Cumin Seeds
1 Lime, juiced

RECIPE

Dice mango, avocado, tomato and onion.

Place diced ingredients into medium sized bowl. Add cilantro, cumin seeds, and lime juice.

Gently stir all ingredients together until mixed well.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. This is great as a side dish, appetizer, or just munching it solo! Served here with fresh grilled Sockeye Salmon (I bet you can’t guess what the next recipe will be! )

Prep Time = 15 minutes
Cook Time = n/a
Serves 6-8

©2010 Caution: Caveman Cooking/UHearMe, Inc. All rights reserved. This recipe originally appeared on the Caution: Caveman Cooking blog at http://cavemancooking.wordpress.com authored by Caveman. This recipe may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.

Cinco de Mayo Musings

When I was a kid growing up in So Cal, other than from some of my Mex-Am classmates, you hardly heard much mention of Cinco de Mayo – a voluntarily observed holiday that commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. But, while it is now observed with incredible gusto in the United States and other countries around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, it’s basically ignored in Mexico. However, if you are a true Caveperson, you find any excuse you can to to make mucho merriment! With that in mind, I thought I’d recall a few Cave-faves that make perfect plates for your fifth day of May fiesta.

What celebration of our neighbors to the south would be proper without some Rockin’ Guac?!? Whether you are serving it as an appetizer with chips and margaritas; a topping to tacos, enchiladas or quesadillas; or a condiment on a torta, guacamole is a must! Make sure your avos are ripe and your ingredients fresh, and your guac will certainly rock!

Tacos. Everyone loves tacos! Well, almost everyone. But, if you have any affinity at all for tacos and happen to like shrimp, too, you will love these Texas Red Grilled Shrimp Tacos! What’s not to love??? They are quick, easy, and best of all, absolutely delicious. Plus, they are a bit different from your everyday street taco. Put some Mariscos on your Cinco menu to make it a fully flavorful fiesta.

The enchilada may be the quintessential Mexican dish. This is true south of the border comfort food. But, if they aren’t made well, there is little comfort afforded to those that partake. This recipe for Tasty Enchiladas, authored by the Cavewoman, will assure that you will be safe from sub-par samples of this soul-soothing dish. Plus, we offer both veggie-friendly and carnivore-cordial versions to make sure everyone at your Cinco de Mayo celebration is covered.

Whether you choose any or all of these recipes, or opt for other Mexican favorites, we wish you a fun, flavorful, and frolic-filled fete. Just be sure that if the Mezcal starts flowing to leave the worm in the bottle!

©2010 Caution: Caveman Cooking/UHearMe, Inc. All rights reserved. This originally appeared on the Caution: Caveman Cooking blog at http://cavemancooking.net authored by Caveman. This may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.

BBQ Cod Tacos

Now that the initial hoopla of our Want Beef? Giveaway has mellowed a bit, I can finally post a new recipe – Wooo HOOOO!
I’m always looking for a deal. So, I usually go nuts when something tasty goes on sale and buy way too much of it … this week it was fresh Alaskan Cod! Mmmmm MMMMMM!!

INGREDIENTS

1 Pound Fresh Cod Fillets
1-2 TBSP Butter
1/4 Head of White Cabbage or Iceberg Lettuce, shredded
2 Tsp TSS Herbal Red Seasoning
1/2 Fresh Lime
6 Corn Tortillas
1 Preparation of Rockin’ Guac

RECIPE

Rinse Cod fillets and pat dry. Place them onto large sheet of foil sprayed with cooking oil. Slice butter as thinly as possible into pats, and place on top of fish. Evenly squeeze the juice from half a lime over the fillets. Then evenly sprinkle the TSS Herbal Red seasoning over the fillets, and add a pinch of Kosher or sea salt if desired.

Heat grill until hood temp is around 325°. Reduce the middle burner to low or, if using charcoal, be sure to leave a gap in the middle of the grill for some indirect cooking. Place foil with fish onto center of the grill and cover for 3-5 minutes, until fish has lost most of it’s translucence.

With a large spatula, flip fillets and place directly onto the grill uncovered to give the fish a little grill-crusting on the outside. Just a minute or two does the trick. Take the melted butter that remains on the foil and evenly pour it over the fillets.
I like to give both sides some browning, so I do a re-flip for an additional minute before taking them off the grill.
NOTE 1: There are many ways to heat up your tortillas (a must do unless they are fresh off the griddle). One of my faves is to roll up three at a time in some foil and place ‘em right on the grill … very Cavemanesque, don’t ya think?!? )

The fish should easily flake up into bite sized chunks. Place shredded cabbage or lettuce (the Cavekids have been on a binge of the latter, lately) onto tortillas, then add fish, and top with some Rockin’ Guac. You can also top with shredded cheese and/or your favorite salsa or hot sauce.

With any luck, you’ll get a response something akin to what the Cavekids gave these. They had each already wolfed one down before I could even get to the table and take my first bite!

Prep Time = 10 minutes
Cook Time = 7 Minutes
Serves 3-4

©2010 Caution: Caveman Cooking/UHearMe, Inc. All rights reserved. This recipe originally appeared on the Caution: Caveman Cooking blog at http://cavemancooking.net authored by Caveman. This recipe may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.

Tasty Enchiladas

Back by popular demand, the Cavewoman returns to share her tasty Cheese Enchilada recipe. Don’t worry fellow carnivores, we’ll still show you how to turn them into awesome Chicken Enchiladas, too!

INGREDIENTS

1 12 oz. package Queso Fresco
2 Cups finely shredded Chedder Cheese
1 16 oz. Can of Corncorn
1 28 oz. Can Enchilada Sauce
12-16 Flour Tortillas
3 Serrano Peppers, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. Vegetable Oil

RECIPE

Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large, flat non-stick fry pan and lightly fry tortillas. Pat dry with a paper towel. If pan dries out after 5 or 6 tortillas add another tablespoon of oil.
I don’t like them too brown, just lightly cooked. Frying them is a must though, I tried it once skipping this step and it was horrible. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for healthy meals, but sometimes a little grease is a good thing.

Make sure the Queso Fresco is culture pasteurized … otherwise you’ll be playing Russian Roulette with your digestive system. Crumble Queso Fresco into a large bowl.

Mix in the rest of the dry ingredients and then combine with 1/3 of can of the sauce.

The next step is very important. Make sure you have an adorable sous chef! If you don’t have one, I highly recommend getting one.

If you want to do the meat-lover’s version of this recipe add some chicken to the cheese mixture and combine well. My hubby, the Caveman, likes to cook up one of his Juicy Beer Can Chickens and add about 1.5 to 2 cups of it, shredded. He swears by it but, of course, I just skip this step and keep it veggie-friendly.

I always forget, but use a nonstick spray before doing this next step. You’ll be happy later that you did. If you forget like I did, it makes for very messy enchilada’s when you go to scoop them out. They still rock, but they just aren’t as pretty. After you spray, coat the bottom of the large baking dish with some sauce.

Place a mound of the mixture in the center of the tortilla. “Testing” the mixture is a must at this point. I like it almost as much raw as I do cooked. It’s amazing, no need to be patient, nibble away. There’s plenty.

Squeeze lightly but firmly while you are rolling. Yikes, my hands look BONEY!!

Place in pan seam side down and cover them with the remaining sauce. Cook them at 350 covered with foil for 35 minutes. If you like melted cheese on top, uncover at 30 minutes and put more cheese on top.

We like diced up Serrano’s on ours. These are homegrown and so good. But, we have more than we know what to do with! If you have any good Serrano Pepper recipes, please send them our way. We could use them!!

Even though these are Cheese Enchiladas here, the Cavedude found a way to beef ‘em up with some Carne Asada and Rockin’ Guac.
You may think I’m crazy, but my favorite thing about making this dish (besides nibbling on the uncooked filling) is having leftovers for breakfast the next day. And then more for lunch. And, perhaps, even more for dessert! I just can’t get enough of these … yes, I need help.

Prep Time = 15 minutes
Cook Time = 35 minutes
Serves 6-8

©2010 Caution: Caveman Cooking/UHearMe, Inc. All rights reserved. This recipe originally appeared on the Caution: Caveman Cooking blog at http://cavemancooking.net authored by Caveman. This recipe may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.

Rockin’ Guac

As promised in Freezer Food Fest #10, here is my recipe for some killer guacamole. It doesn’t hurt that I get some phenomenal homegrown avocados, courtesy of the Cave-in-laws!

INGREDIENTS

3-4 Medium Avocados, ripened
1 Medium-Large Roma Tomato
1/4 Cup Sweet Onion, minced
1 Tbsp Garlic, minced
1 Tbsp Cilantro, finely chopped
1/4 Fresh Lime
1/4 tsp World Spice Merchants Ancho Chili Powder
1/4 tsp Tapatio Sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste

RECIPE

First, make sure you enlist the help of a good sous chef. Not only do things go faster, it’s a lot more fun to cook with some one else … especially if it’s your kid!

With a sharp knife, cut avocados in half, lengthwise. Score the avocado into 1/2 inch square sections, being careful not to cut through the skin. Then use a spoon to scoop out the flesh of the avo and place into a medium-large bowl.

Chop tomato and cilantro, mince garlic and onion, and place into the bowl. Add chili powder, Tapatio Sauce, salt, and pepper, as well.
HINT #1: I like to use Garlic Salt instead of regular for this recipe.

Take a fork and begin to mix all the ingredients well. Continue until the avocado starts to smooth a bit, yet leaving some chunks, as well.

Squeeze the juice from the lime section onto mixture and mix in well.

At this point taste the guac and adjust seasonings as needed. Place into bowl and serve immediately, or cover air-tight and refrigerate until needed (not more than 4 hours for freshest flavor and color)
HINT #2: Reserve one avocado pit and place into center of completed and plated guacamole. It not only looks kind of cool, but it also helps it from turning color too soon. No one likes guac that isn’t green!

Prep Time = 15 minutes
Cook Time = n/a
Serves 4-8

©2010 Caution: Caveman Cooking/UHearMe, Inc. All rights reserved. This recipe originally appeared on the Caution: Caveman Cooking blog at http://cavemancooking.net authored by Caveman. This recipe may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.

Texas Red Grilled Shrimp Tacos

Quick, easy and absolutely delicious.

INGREDIENTS

12-20 (depending on size) Raw, peeled, and veined medium-sized Shrimp
4 Corn Tortillas
1 Tbsp of Texas Select Seasonings™ “Herbal Red” (or more, to taste)
1 Cup shredded White Cabbage
1 Tbsp Mayonaise
1 Tbsp Sour Cream
1 Tsp Chipotle Chili Powder (or more, to taste)

RECIPE

In small bowl, mix together mayo, sour cream and Chipotle Chili Powder. Cover and chill until needed.
Place shrimp onto skewers and cover liberally with TSS Herbal Red seasoning:

Place shrimp skewers on the grill and cook until done. I like ‘em on the “crispier” side:

Just before removing shrimp from grill warm up the corn tortillas:

Put White Cabbage and Chipotle sauce on tortilla, add 3-5 (depending on size) shrimp, and garnish with avocado and/or salsa:

Prep Time = 10 minutes
Cook Time = 10 minutes
Makes 4 tacos

©2009 UFishClub.com/UFC – Unemployed Fishing Club™ All rights reserved. This recipe originally appeared on the UFC – Unemployed Fishing Club Forums at http://ufishclub.com/ufcfishingforum.html authored by Caveman. This recipe may be shared and reprinted as long as this entire copyright message accompanies it.