Mexican Breakfast Food

MEXICAN BREAKFAST

Steps:

• Peel and finely slice the onions and garlic. Deseed and finely slice the peppers and chillies.
• Get a large frying pan (make sure you've got a lid to go with it) on a high heat and add several good lugs of olive oil.
• Add the onion, garlic, peppers, fresh and dried chillies, bay leaves and a good pinch of sea salt and black pepper, and cook for 15 minutes, or until to softened and caramelised, stirring regularly.
• Pour in the tomatoes, using a spoon or potato masher to break them up. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a medium heat and cook for a further 5 minutes to reduce the sauce.
• When you've got a nice thick tomato stew consistency, have a taste and adjust the seasoning, if needed.
• Slice the fresh tomatoes and lay them over the top of the mixture.
• Use a spoon to make small wells in the tomato stew, then crack in the eggs so they poach in the thick, delicious juices - try to crack them in as quickly as you can so they all get to cook for roughly the same amount of time.
• Season from a height, put the lid on and let the eggs cook for around 3 to 4 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.
• Warm the tortillas while this is happening. You can pop them into the oven at 180°C/350°F/gas 4 for a few minutes, microwave them for a few seconds or even lay them over the lid of the pan so they heat up as the eggs cook.
• Take the lid off and check your eggs by giving them a poke with your finger. When they're done to your liking, turn the heat off and take the pan to the table with the warmed tortillas, the Cheddar and a grater so everyone can get involved and make their own. Personally, I like to grate a bit of cheese right on to a warm tortilla, spoon an egg and some of the wonderful tomato stew on top, wrap it up, and eat it right away. What a beautiful way to wake up!

THE BEST HUEVOS RANCHEROS - AN EASY AUTHENTIC MEXICAN RECIPE

Steps:

• Saute the potatoes, onion, and ham in a small amount of olive oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Lightly fry the tortillas, and pat dry. Put on a plate
• Warm up the refried beans, and spread onto the tortillas.
• Fry an egg to your preferred level of doneness, and put on top of the tortilla and beans.
• Top with salsa, queso fresco, and fresh cilantro.
• Serve with the potato, onion, and ham mix.

MEXICAN BREAKFAST

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
• Add the tortilla pieces and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until they begin to get crisp, stirring occasionally.
• Add the onion, jalapeño pepper, and garlic, and saute for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the onion is transparent.
• Stir in the tomato and oregano; mix well.
• Add the eggs and stir to scramble until the eggs are set.
• Remove the skillet from the heat, add the cheese,and stir until the cheese is melted.
• Top with the salsa and serve.

MEXICAN BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Roast the peppers by placing them on an open gas flame, turning them frequently with tongs until all sides are charred black, about 7 to 10 minutes. (Alternately, the peppers can be roasted under a broiler, or on top of a gas or charcoal grill.) Place the blackened peppers in a plastic or paper bag, and let rest until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Peel the peppers, split in half lengthwise, and remove the seeds and the stems.
• Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Spread the chiles in a flat layer across the bottom of the dish.
• In a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium-high heat, stirring to break up the meat, until browned. Add the onions and bell peppers, and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes. Add the garlic and chili powder, and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and half-and-half with the hot sauce, salt and black pepper.
• In another bowl, combine the green onions, cilantro, jack, and cheddar, and mix well.
• Spoon 1/3 of the sausage mixture over the chiles in the dish, top with 1/3 of the tortilla quarters, and 1/3 of the cheese mixture. Repeat layering, ending with a cheese layer. Pour the egg mixture over the ingredients. Let rest, covered, in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake until bubbly and golden brown, and a knife inserted into the custard comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest 10 minutes before serving. Serve with sour cream and picante sauce.