Tex Mex Lazy Tomato Rice Food

TOMATO RICE WITH CRISPY CHEDDAR

Steps:

• Adjust an oven rack to the highest position and preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• In a large pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the onion and chile, spread them out in an even layer in the pan, and cook until the onion becomes translucent and starts to lightly char, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Increase the heat to high and add the tomatoes, using the back of a spoon to lightly crush them. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down into a chunky sauce, 5 to 6 minutes, then add the salt.
• Put the cooked rice in an 8-inch square (or similar size) baking dish, then fold in the tomato sauce. (You can also do the folding in a separate bowl and then transfer the rice to the baking dish, if you doubt your ability to not spill rice and sauce everywhere.) Evenly distribute the grated cheese over the top.
• Switch the oven to broil and place the baking dish on the top oven rack. Broil for about 3 minutes, until the top bubbles and turns golden brown. Serve immediately.

TEX-MEX TOMATO SOUP AND GRILLED CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat a griddle pan for the grilled cheese over medium heat.
• Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and melt 2 tablespoons butter into the oil. Add the garlic, onions, chipotle, adobo sauce and some salt and pepper. Partially cover the pot and cook to soften, 10 minutes or so. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until fragrant, 2 minutes, then deglaze the pan with 2 cups of the chicken stock and transfer to a food processor. Add the tomatoes and process until smooth. Pour the soup back into pot and add the remainder of stock. Simmer at a low bubble while you make the grilled cheese.
• Lightly butter 1 side of the bread slices. Make the cheese sandwiches with, and grill until crispy and the cheese melts.
• Stir the sour cream into the tomato soup and serve in shallow bowls with chives to garnish, and grilled cheese on the side for dipping.

TEX MEX RICE

Steps:

• In a heavy pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and shallots, and sweat until translucent, stirring often. Add the rice to the oil and stir constantly to lightly cook the rice until lightly golden.
• Stir in the chicken broth, tomatoes, carrots, corn, cumin and bay leaf. Season with salt, then cover and cook for 17 to 18 minutes.
• Remove from the heat, fluff the rice with a fork and discard the bay leaf. Garnish with cilantro, and serve.

SOUTH TEX-MEX RICE

Steps:

• In a large skillet set over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add the rice and serranos, and cook, continually stirring, until lightly browned, taking care not to burn the rice, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add the stock (it will make a loud sizzling noise, so stand back a bit), the onion, tomato, cilantro, bell pepper, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Taste the juice with a spoon and season to your liking.
• Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. (Do not uncover during cooking.) Remove the serranos and discard. Fluff and serve, garnished will a little more cilantro.

TEX-MEX RICE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute rice and onion in oil until rice is browned and onion is tender. Stir in the water, green pepper, chili powder and salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in tomatoes; heat through.

SIMPLE TEX-MEX RICE

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan.
• Heat over medium-high heat until water begins to boil.
• Cover saucepan with tight fitting lid, and reduce heat to low.
• Cook over low heat for 15 minutes without removing lid or stirring.
• After 15 minutes, remove lid and fluff rice with a fork.
• ~NOTE~The amount of taco seasoning can be adjusted to your taste. I use Penzey's "bold taco seasoning".