Tex-Mex Football Party

[cheesecake17]

For Sunday night's football championship games, we're having some friends over for snacks and dinner. The first game starts at 3- so I'm expecting everyone around then. I'm going with a taco/tex-mex theme. Figured it was simple and the food could sit out for a while buffet style.

Any help with the menu would be appreciated. No cheese/dairy- has to be kosher.

Appetizers (will be on the table when guests arrive)
- hummus with veggies
- salsa with tortilla chips (all homemade)
- drummettes
* I need a good recipe for drummettes/wings- not fried. Something spicy and kind of tex mex...
* what else?? I know I need something else!!

Dinner
- sliced grilled chicken
- sliced grilled steak
- sliced grilled portobellos
- brazilian black beans (mark bittman's recipe)
- sauteed peppers and onions
- guacamole
- shredded red cabbage and radish salad
*what else should I add? I know I need more veggies... but what?

Dessert
- almond cake with cranberry sauce (from smitten kitchen)
- fruit
- something else??

[funniduck]

How about a potato? I would serve tater tots, but roasted or baked would make sense too.
I also love Picadillo... that spicy ground beef dish.

[Rmis32]

I've gotten a good reaction when I've served Bittman's Papaya Salsa to guests. Not a dipping salsa, more of a salad. Can be served as an appetizer or a side w/dinner. It is Mexican, in origin.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/din...

Also. a salad of cooked carrots & beets, both diced, corn & thinly sliced red onion, dressed w/Oil, lime juice, cilantro & a dash of chili powder.

[CocoaNut]

Thank you for making the distinction that the Papaya Salsa is "Mexican" in origin, which most of the suggestions here are and should not to be confused with "Tex-Mex" - a TOTALLY different style of food.

[Channa]

Roasted, spiced pumpkin seeds would be a nice nibble. Or this peanut and pumpkin seed mix from Rick Bayless:

http://www.rickbayless.com/recipe/vie...

[hollyd]

I made curry-lime wings once that were absolutely amazing. The coating was basically melted butter, lime juice, curry paste, and mint. I don't see why you couldn't swing that tex-mex, with say, lime-chili sauce-cayenne-cilantro-melted butter. Or something like that.

[cheesecake17]

Would you sub margarine for the butter?

[hollyd]

I've never tried but I can't see why not. If you have cooked with it in the past and it doesn't break or do anything weird when baked. I always just go for the real stuff, so I'm not sure.
But the butter or margarine is a must. Can't be left out!

[cheesecake17]

Do you fry the wings/drummettes or bake?

[hollyd]

bake. The initial recipe called for seasoning with s&p and baking them, then mixing with the sauce. I did that the first time and thought the meat needed more flavor. The second time I basted them with a little of the sauce before baking, then tossed with the sauce after and they were great!

[cheesecake17]

I'm serving guacamole along with the taco items.

Ceviche is definitely not for this crowd... but I would love to learn how to make it for myself.

I don't know of anywhere to buy tamales. Can I make them myself?

[CocoaNut]

If you are looking for kosher, I would be seriously concerned about you purchasing tamales as they are traditionally made with lard - ie, rendered pork fat. You could find them made ***otherwise, but if you're not absolutely certain, I would think you would want to steer clear.

Where are you from? I see Tex-Mex in the title and then see items such as HUMMUS and CABBAGE, ALMOND CAKE etc on the menu. With all due respect, kind of looks like pot-luck to me. ;) Salsa, chip and guac do not a Tex-Mex feast make.

I recently sent this to a friend concerning a very casually served Mexican Pile-On:

Taco seasoned ground beef
Shredded lettuce
Both sliced and chopped tomatoes
Chopped onion
Whole and sliced black olives
Shredded colby and jack cheese
Black Beans
Pinto Beans
*** Refried Beans (beware of lard - you'd want to get the vegetarian ones)
Sliced Jalepenos
Carrot sticks
Sour Cream
Sliced avocado
Guacamole
Tomatillo (green) salsa
Red tomato salsa
Corn and flour tortillas (wrapped in parchment and nuked to heat and soften)
And of course, a big pitcher of sangria!

Hope you enjoy your feast with the games! Geaux Saints!!!

[cheesecake17]

I do keep kosher and that's why I asked if I could make the tamales. I've never seen or heard of a kosher tamale.

Re the other items- the hummus will be on the table because everyone loves it. The red cabbage salad has chiles and a cumin/lime dressing- to me that's considered tex mex. And the almond cake will be for my birthday.

It's sure as hell not a potluck- I'll be making everything from scratch myself!

[Emme]

here's a vegetarian tamale dough: http://www.starchefs.com/features/cinco_de_mayo/html/recipe_01.shtml

a few other links:
http://caloriecount.about.com/raven-raynes-tamale-masa-recipe-r105848
http://www.isabelscantina.com/blog/recipe-for-masa
http://www.ivu.org/recipes/mexican/ma...

[gordeaux]

I totally brain farted on "buying" the tamales, good call.

Cheesecake, you can definitely make them with veg shortening, but they are kind of time consuming - maybe give it a try on another day.

[JerryMe]

Sopapillas w/ honey for dessert would be spot on. Do you have a fryer?

[cheesecake17]

I don't have a Fry Daddy or anything like that. Can it be made in a regular pot?

What is it exactly?

[JerryMe]

Sopapillas are just fried dough that are either sprinkled w/ powdered sugar or drizzled w/ honey. They best served hot. I asked if you had a fryer, cuz' it's easier than manning the stove to fry, but yes, they can be fried in a regular pot. I'll try and find an exact recipy

[cheesecake17]

before you dig out a recipe.. do these have to be prepared in advance?

i was thinking to just make the almond cake and cookies or something since i want all the desserts to be done from saturday night.

[JerryMe]

Try this:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/real-sop...

[cheesecake17]

Thanks! Looks easy enough to make if I have time.

[JerryMe]

Ditto on the tamales. They hold up well. Have you considered flautas? Or perhaps ceviche?

[gordeaux]

Jicama salad or slaw with lime juice and cumin in the dressing

Can you get your hands on some tamales (if you don't have time to make them?)

Spanish rice is pretty flippin easy and holds well.

[LaLa]

some type of gauc for sure