Gourmet Caterers Orange County

May 1, 2011

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Gourmet Caterers wishes you a Happy Cinco de Mayo!  What are you going to do to celebrate?  How about some fresh chips and salsa?  A refreshing Margarita? or treat your family and friends to Gourmet Caterers Taco/Tostada Bar or our Sizzling Steak or Chicken Fajitas?  It all sounds good to me!

Cinco de Mayo is literally the fith of May.  It is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.  It commemorates the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862,  under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. It is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla and in the United States.    ”Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican holiday—it is an American Civil War holiday, created spontaneously by Mexicans and Latinos living in California who supported the fragile cause of defending freedom and democracy during the first years of that bloody war between the states.” Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day,  the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.

Like most holidays the United States celebrates, Cinco de Mayo is an occasion to enjoy eating and drinking.  Gourmet Caterers would like to help you celebrate.  When you place your order, mention this blog and you will receive a complimentary appetizer of chips and salsa  to enjoy with your guests.

Gourmet Caterers say Happy Cinco de Mayo to you and yours!

April 26, 2011

Mahi Fish Tacos

While surfing today, I came upon this recipe.  It sounded good to me so I thought I’d see if anybody else thinks it tastes good.

The ultimate taco recipe: a double-decker taco with a soft flour tortilla wrapped around a crispy corn taco shell, giving them a crazy texture.

My Oh Maui Fish Tacos

1/4 cup vegetable oil

  • 1 jalapeño chile, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 small red onion, one-quarter finely chopped, the remainder thinly sliced
  • 1 clove garlic, grated or finely chopped
  • One 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt and pepper
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
  • Juice of 2 limes, plus 2 teaspoons grated peel
  • 1/2 head red cabbage, shredded
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro (a generous handful)
  • Four 6-ounce mahi mahi fillets
  • 8 corn taco shells
  • 1 cup crème fraîche or sour cream
  •  

    Directions:

    1. In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add the jalapeño, chopped red onion and garlic and cook for 4 minutes. In a small bowl, mash the black beans with the cumin and season with salt and pepper; cover.
    2. In a large bowl, combine 2 tablespoons oil with the honey, hot sauce and lime juice; season with salt and pepper. Add the sliced onion, cabbage and cilantro; toss.
    3. Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium. Coat the fish with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the lime peel. Cover and grill the fish, turning once, for 8 minutes.
    4. Warm the taco shells and tortillas on the grill. Spread a few spoonfuls of mashed beans (stir 1 to 2 tablespoons hot water into the beans if too thick) on the outside of the tacos, and wrap a tortilla around each one, pressing to adhere.
    5. Flake half a piece of fish into each taco shell and top with some cabbage slaw. Serve 2 tacos per person, with the crème fraîche and extra slaw on the side.

    Gourmet Caterers would love for you to submit your favorite recipe to share with our readers.  Do you have anything?

    April 18, 2011

    Easy Do Ahead Brunch Dish

    Are you like me?  Always trying to come up with something new to feed your family?  I found this recipe online and think I’ll give it a try at our next family brunch.  I’d love you to offer me any other suggestions you can share.  Send them to me at nancy@gourmetcaterers.net.  Also, let me know what you think about this recipe?
    Hash Brown Potato and Egg Bake
    1/2 lb bacon, chopped
    1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
    1 bag (30 oz) frozen country-style shredded hash brown potatoes, thawed, patted dry
    2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese (8 oz)
    1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    9 large eggs
    1 1/4 cups milk
    1 container (8 oz) sour cream
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 teaspoon ground mustard
    1/4 teaspoon pepper
    1/2 cup cornflake crumbs or panko bread crumbs
    2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
    1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13×9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
    2. In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon and onion over medium-high heat about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until bacon is crisp and onion is tender; drain on paper towels.
    3. In large bowl, toss bacon mixture, potatoes and cheeses. Spoon into baking dish. In same bowl, beat eggs, milk, sour cream, salt, mustard and pepper with fork or wire whisk until well blended. Pour over potato mixture.
    4. Bake uncovered 35 minutes. In small bowl, toss cornflake crumbs and butter. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake 10 to 15 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
    Makes                        12 servings

    April 7, 2011

    Exciting Event Venues!

    Yesterday, Ruth and I took a trip around Orange County, looking at venues for events.  Gourmet Caterers enjoys assisting our clients in finding the perfect venue for their event whether it be a Wedding or a Corporate Event.  We have many possible venues to host your event.  Call us and we’ll give you some ideas of perfect spots to host the perfect event.

    One of the locations we loved was Giracci Winery.  They are located in Silverado Canyon.  This is such a romantic spot to get married.  The venue features a Wine Tasting Room and Oak Tree Court which is located outside the tasting room, and is nestled under oak trees.  This area is large enough for 200 guests.

    This venue also would be perfect for a Corporate event such as a picnic or team building event.  The event could start with team building events and finish up with wine Tasting.  Doesn’t that sound like the perfect way to spend the day away from the office?

      

    Next we visited the White House Event Center.  It is located in Anaheim and is the perfect venue for large scale events.  They can host up to 800 guests at this venue which also includes the West Wing Room.  The West Wing Room has a more intimate Night Club feel.  

    As a bride can you imagine being dropped off in the limo in front of the White House?  What great pictures and memories this would create.  The interiors of both sections of the venue lend themselves to both weddings and corporate events. 

    Call us to discuss your next event and Gourmet Caterers will help you find the perfect venue

    Do you have a favorite recipe to share? Send it to nancy@gourmetcaterers.net and we’ll feature it on our blog. Have you made one of our suggested recipes? Let us know what you thought!

    June 24, 2008

    My Favorite recipes

    Gourmet caterers has some all time favorite recipes - Brunch being our favorite meal. On a brunch we can go all out on egg dishes, cheese dishes and speciality stuffed french toast dishes. Our very favorite and sought after being cheese blintzes, and an exciting french toast, here are the recipes……

    Cheese blintz Recipe

    Batter – 8 eggs and two cups of water – beat up till frothy,add one and a half cups flour and half a teaspoon salt, and 2 teaspoons bking powder, beat till smooth

    Filling – 2 pounds cream cheese , half a pound cottage cheese, 1 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour,1 tespoon vanilla, mix all together until smooth

    Method – make sure to use teflon coated small frying pans, spray pan with butter spray, make sure pan is hot, add batter and swirl around till coated, tip remaining mixture out of pan. When cooked batter will come away from sides of pan, remove from pan, allow to cool for a minute, fold over top of pancake, put a tablespoon of mixture on top of fold, fold over one time over cheese mixture, then fold sides in, and continue rolling batter with mixture down until all gone, make sure that mixture is all sealed in pancake. I freeze the blintz before frying. You can fry in hot vegetable oil, halfway up blintz, or just a little margarine or butter until browned. Serve with cinnamon and sugar mixture, or cream or applesauce…enjoy

    BAKED ORANGE WALNUT FRENCH TOAST

    Ingredients – 4 eggs, 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup milk, quarter cup sugar, quarter teaspoon vanilla, 1 loaf french or italian bread cut into 1″ slices, one third cup butter or margarine melted, half a cup chopped walnuts, grated orange peel

    Method – whisk together eggs, orange juice, milk, sugar, nutmeg and vanilla, place bread in a single layer in large, flat dish.  Pour mixture over bread, turn once, cover and refrigerate overnight.  Preheat oven to 400, pour melted butter over pan evenely, arrange soaked bread slices in a single layer in pan.  Sprinkle with walnuts, bake until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.  Sprinkle fresh orange zest on top and serve with maple syrup, garnish with orange peel- serves 4 – 8 guests

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