2012: The Year of the Entomatada

I mentioned yesterday in my post regarding my health goals for 2012 that I also have some cooking goals for 2012. There is so much about cooking that I have yet to discover so without further ado, here are my 2012 cooking aspirations:

1. Numero Uno on my list- The Entomatada. This not a mainstream Mexican item in the United States. When I was a child, back in Oregon, my family's favorite Mexican restaurant was "Los Garzas". It was a tiny, family owned restaurant located in the not-so-nice part of town. Their food was to die for though. I know it was good because as an adult, I can still vividly remember the food. I've also never had Mexican food that good again (sad!). I used to order the entomatadas every time I went, they were that good. Their entomatadas were tortillas smothered in tomato sauce, filled with shredded beef, topped with more sauce, and garnished with tomatoes, lettuce, and Cotjia cheese. What really made this dish was their sauce! Oh, that sauce! I've never had another sauce like it. This is going to be my challenge this year, replicating that sauce. If I can accomplish this, I will be one HAPPY girl!

An entomatada interpretation (not my interpretation). From my memory, the entomatada sauce was more brown suggesting something more than tomatoes in the sauce. We'll see what I can come up with!

2. Roasting a chicken. I made one attempt at roasting a chicken last month. It was... undesirable, to be kind. I picked a crock pot recipe for the chicken and wow, was that bird overdone. The only good thing that came out of it was the homemade stock I made out of the carcass. By the way, homemade stock? Only way to go for me from now on! I am planning on trying my hand at the roasted chicken again next week. Good luck to me!

3. Try something new. My something-new for the year is French cooking. I have never tried my hand at anything French and I think it's time. I am going to start simple, I found a recipe for Coq Au Vin that I think I can handle. If that turns out good, then on to a more difficult French recipe. Here is the recipe I am going to try: Coq Au Vin.

I have found a renewed interest in cooking and I am thankful. I love being in the kitchen, so I am excited for a year of new possibilities in food. Here's to "The Year of the Entomatada!"