Julie’s Steak Tacos

This taco recipe is my personal masterpiece.
I am always asked if these are “authentic” Mexican tacos. Tacos in Mexico are different from hamburgers in a fast food restaurant chain. They will all be a little bit different. Some will be better, and some worse. Some are great, some are no so great.

I think that my process for making tacos will be very familiar to anyone who’s ever had or made tacos in Mexico. So yes, these are authentic Mexican tacos.

People come to our house in hopes that I will be preparing these wonderful tacos.
I’ve been asked to make these tacos for the special dinner high school kids plan for the prom.
Whenever there is a special occasion in my family, everybody reminds me that I need to plan to make my tacos.

The meat I use in these tacos is New York Steak. I grill it, cube it, and grill it again. I only season the meat with a little salt. If the meat isn’t prepared on a grill outside, then I grill the meat in its own juices.

My salsa makes this meal complete. Making salsa is the sentimental part of this recipe, because of the smells that fill the house. My kids tell me that’s their favorite part of having tacos.

Mexican women take great pride in their salsa recipe and it is something that is very personal. Although I have taken inspiration from many special women in my life, I can honestly say that my salsa recipe is my very own.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Roma tomatoes.

Anaheim peppers

1 White onion

Limes

Salt

Good quality steaks

White corn tortillas

The tomatoes and the peppers must be grilled until the skins are black.

The onions needs the first layer peeled, and then I wrap it in aluminum foil. Then I put the wrapped onion in the oven at 350 degrees for about twenty minute.

Now take the grilled tomatoes and peppers and onion, and dice them finely. Make sure not to lose any of the juice. Put them all together in a dish, and add salt and one lime’s worth of juice.

Salt the steaks and lightly oil the pan, if you’re grilling on the stove. Grill the steaks and then cube them. You need little, smaller than bite size pieces. Then put the little cubes back in the pan for a light finishing.  

Put a handful of white corn tortillas in a zip lock bag and microwave them for a minute or two. Or, wrap them in a moistened dish towel. This makes the tortillas soft and pliable.

I load the tortillas with the cubed steak pieces, and then deliver them to the table. Two or three tacos for each person at the table. Each of us at the table spoons up as much salsa as we want on our tacos. I keep Tapatio hot sauce on the table so that people can spice up their tacos a little more if they want.

One of the keys in making these tacos is making enough.  People always want more.

Grandma’s meatloaf

This recipe always makes me think of “Everybody loves Raymond”.

Meatloat is one of the dishes that fascinated me when I came to the United States in college. I wanted to learn authentic American recipes. I learned this recipe from my mother in law, but it took me years to get it right. I sometimes wondered if she had given the recipe wrong on purpose just to keep me from taking credit for her delicious meatloaf!

From the beginning and for a long time, my meatloaf turned out very flat. I may never know why this happened.  But now it turns out great every time.

Here’s the recipe:

You’ll need one pound of ground beef

One and a half slices of bread (whatever kind you like)

One egg

Salt and pepper

Steak sauce or ketchup

2 table spoons of chopped onions

One cup of milk.

Add a raw egg to the ground beef. Whip the egg a little before adding it. Then mix it vigorously together.

Now vigorously mix in a cup of milk.

Salt and pepper the mixture to taste.

Now mix in about 2 tablespoons of chopped onions.

Finally, mix in about a tablespoon of steak sauce, or ketchup, or a little of both.

Now crumble in your slice and a half of bread. It’s better if the bread is a little stale. Sourdough bread gives it a great flavor. You can experiment with different kinds of bread.

Mix it all in well.

Now bake it.

I like glassware, in an appropriate rectangular shape.

Spray some cooking oil in the corners so the corner don’t stick.

Now, don’t man-handle the uncooked meatloaf, just gently arrange it in the pan.
Then cover the pan with aluminum foil.

Cook the meat loaf at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

It should turn out perfect. Let me know if you have any variations.

Croquetas de Atun.

Fast and fun and easy.

My croquetas are tuna and potato rolls. Rolled in spicy breadcrumbs and browned in oil, they are a fun meal served with rice and vegetables.

Start by boiling four small potatoes. (for this version of the recipe)

Mash with one can of tuna.

Add salt and pepper.

Add grated cheese. (I use mozzarella)

Add one egg to bind it all together.

Form into little logs.

Roll carefully in bread crumbs.

Heat and oil a frying pan.

Carefully toast croquetas in the oil.

That’s it! You’re ready for a fun meal. It’s great and tasty and nutritious. In our family we put Worcestershire sauce on our croquetas, but we’ve been known to use soy sauce as well.

We’re fans of Famous Dave’s

There’s just nothing like sitting there in Famous Dave’s, listening to good blues music, taking in that wonderful smell of barbeque, waiting for your ribs.

The service is fast and enthusiastic.

We just went to Famous Dave’s for my birthday. My daughter and her husband were able to join us. It was a Friday evening and there was a good crowd out at Famous Dave’s. But the thirty minute wait was not bad at all. The atmosphere in Famous Dave’s is fun and cozy and it makes waiting for your table part of the fun. There is a big fire place in the entry with plenty of seating all around. The fun blues music playing throughout the restaurant leaves you with a good feeling.

But the smell, holy cow, the smell is what makes waiting at Famous Dave’s the best.  It just makes you think of good times.  By the time you get a table, you are READY for some great barbeque. And that’s what Famous Dave’s is all about.

We always order “The Feast”. We usually ask them to switch the barbeque chicken for more brisket. The pork and beans is great, and spicy.  And finally, the corn bread muffins are the best!

Most of all Famous Dave’s is a great place for a cozy dinner with my family. I get sentimental about that restaurant!