Category Archives: Mexican

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Review of MSG and artificial colour free Coles Products PLUS giveaways

Coles has just announced that 100% of Coles brand food and drink products are now free from MSG (Monosodium Glutamate) and artificial colours. Products include confectionery, bakery, dairy, savoury snacks, marinades as well as many other food groups.

Having a young family, I am careful with what my children and husband eat. Like most Australian families, I try to give my family food that is not only free of additives and MSG but food that is cheap and most importantly tasty. Having young children, colour additives is one I really look out for. There has been studies that there are links between children and artifical colours in drinks and food. Colour additives can lead to hyperactivity. Having a 2 and a 5 year old, I don’t need help in that respect.

I was given the chance to taste test a few of their MSG and artificial colour free products. I was given to try out the Coles brand Mexican range.

Chicken burrito with corn. I used the Burrito kit with this meal. The seasoning I used on the chicken was full of flavour and the tortilla was flaky.

Pork, mushroom and spinach quesadilla. I used a packet of the tortillas. I found the size of the tortillas a perfect size to make these quesadillas. I served this with Mexican Grilled Corn inpsired by @IronChefShellie

Fish tacos with mango salsa. I used the taco kit which came with tacos, seasoning and salsa sauce. I don’t usually have fish tacos but I wanted to try it with the seasoning. I was expecting the seasoning to be too strong for the delicate fish but I found that it was a right balance.

Nachos. I used the corn chips and the Mild Mexican sauce. Hubby cooked his famous ChilliCon Carne with the can of tomatoes and Coles Mexican beans. The corn chips were full of flavour and crunch. The Mexican sauce was tangy and freshened up the chilli con carne.

All up, the family enjoyed our Mexican week of dinners. I would definitely use the Coles brand Mexican range again. I won’t be reaching out for that “yellow box” again.

For more information, you can go to the Coles website

As a reader of Sweet Cherrie Pie, you are able to win 1 of 3 packages of the MSG and artificial colour free Coles brand Mexican range.

The package is worth $25 and includes:

Coles Beans Mexican chilli
Coles Burrito Dinner Kit
Coles Burrito Tortilla 10 pack
Coles Mexican sauce
Coles Mexcian seasoning
Coles Taco Dinner Kit
Coles Corn chips
Coles Salsa

To enter:
1. Leave a comment below and answer this simple question. What is your ultimate Mexican meal?
2. Either “like” this page or tweet this post.
3. Competition ends AEDT midnight Saturday 31st March.
I will pick the 3 winners and will be notified by email and the package will be sent out by post.

Unfortunately, only Australian readers can enter.

Good luck!

Coles MSG and artificial colour free Mexcian range packages courtesy of Coles and Thrive PR.

Bon Appetite,
Cherrie

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Breakfast Taco – An International Incident

This month Penny from Jeroxie – Addictive and Consuming Blog is hosting another International Incident Party.  This time it’s a Tacos Party.  I was excited to hear what this month’s theme was.  I love tacos but I have never made the tortilla from scratch.

 
I decided  to go for a breakfast taco (though we had it for dinner).  Naturally, egg and bacon went into it.  Hubby made his chilli con carne to go inside the taco.  He makes a large batch and freezes in separate containers.  I’ve included his recipe below.  Hubby also suggested to add Potato Gems in the breakfast taco for the potato element.    I was a bit apprehensive about adding it but I think it works.  It mellows out the spiciness of the chilli.  You can leave this out if you like.  For  freshness, I added a salsa of diced tomato, red capsicum, red onion and cucumber.

I did a bit of research on the web and was surprised how easy it is to make.  Or so I thought…  If you don’t have the right tools, it can be hard work to try to get the dough nice and thin.  I had to use a lot of muscle to get the tortillas thin.

1 cup of masa flour
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 to 1 cup water
In a bowl, add all the ingredients and mix together until the dough turns into a ball.  Divide into 6 equal size balls, then form into a slightly flat ball
Using a clean plastic bag, place the dough inside and using a rolling pin, flatten as thin as possible.  When it’s as thin as you can get it, carefully remove from the plastic and place in a dry skillet until it bubbles and colours a little on both sides.  Set aside until needed.
When ready to assemble the taco, you need to soft fry the tortilla.  In a pan, add about 2 cups of oil and heat on a medium heat.  Quickly pan fry for 5 seconds on each side.   

Ingredients
·         Onions – 2 chopped into large chunks
·         Garlic – 4 cloves chopped finely
·         Beef mince – 500 – 1000g
·         Salt & Pepper
·         Celery – 4 sticks chopped into large chunks
·         Pepper – 1 chopped into large chunks
·         Carrots – 1 chopped into large chunks
·         Beef Stock – 2 cups
·         Bay Leaves – 4
·         Tomatoes – 1 can
·         Guinness – 1 can
·         HP Sauce – large dollop
·         Tomato Paste – 2 tablespoons
·         Hot Sauce – large dollop
·         Worcestershire Sauce – large dollop
·         Mixed beans – 1 can
·         Mustard Powder – 1 heaped teaspoon
·         Tomatoes – 2 fresh chopped into large chunks
·         Bacon – 2 rashers chopped into large chunks
·         Sausages – chorizo, pork, and/or frankfurters or all, chopped into large chunks
·         Mixed herbs – fresh & dry
·         Brown Sugar – 2 heaped table spoons
·         Paprika – big shake
·         Ground cumin -  big shake
·         Chilli flakes – big shake
·         Fresh Chilli – as much as you can take



Recipe
1.       Cook bacon & sausages in oven, Whilst cooking…
2.       Fry onions & garlic in a little oil in large pot.
3.       Add mince & cook until brown. Add S&P whilst browning.
4.       Add carrots, celery & pepper. Cook for few mins.
5.       Add liquids: beef stock, Worcestershire, Guinness, tomato paste, hot sauce, HP sauce & canned tomatoes. Add beans & bring to boil then simmer for 10 mins stirring occasionally.
6.       Add mustard powder, fresh tomatoes & cooked sausages & bacon. Stir.
7.       Add herbs, chilli flakes, paprika, cumin seeds, fresh chilli & brown sugar. Stir.
8.       Cook for around 2 hours stirring every 10 minutes or so. Aiming for mixture where only little bit of liquid left.
9.       Can freeze and reheat. Add little more of the liquids & spices when reheating.

To assemble the breakfast taco, spread some of the chilli onto the taco.  Add a runny egg, crispy bacon, potato gems, grated cheese and salsa.
Enjoy!
Other Party People who joined us this month…