I've been working very hard on this month's Foodbuzz 24x24, and it's finally here! Finding low-budget and pantry items to use for this meal was challenging, but the results were anything but cheap!
First off, the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival is right around the corner, and Foodbuzz wanted to give 24 lucky featured bloggers the opportunity to receive a little extra help with the costs of plane tickets, hotels, etc. San Francisco, here I come! Thank you Foodbuzz!
The catch: not to use any money in preparation for this month's 24x24, but to look into your very own pantry for low-budget staples and use them to make one fantastic creative meal. This "Fiesta In A Can" uses not only canned but boxed, packaged, and fresh items with a long shelf-life, making them perfect for stocking up on.
Shopping list for Fiesta In A Can menu:
block cheese
cheaper than pre-grated and with a longer use-by date, grate it yourself
chicken breasts
or any meat on sale that you will use, buy extra and freeze some for use whenever
masa harina
in the mexican/spanish section or at spanish grocery stores, it's NOT cornmeal
onions and garlic
canned goods: - evaporated milk - plum tomatoes - corn - fire roasted chilies - chicken stock - coconut milk - pineapple slices -
get unsalted vegetables and check the expiration dates just to be sure
dried goods: - pinto beans - black beans - flour - sugar
plan ahead when using dried beans, set them in a bowl of water the night before to reconstitute
vegetable oil
dried spices: - cumin - chili powder - coriander - crushed red pepper - garlic powder - cinnamon -
great to keep around for mexican/spanish food
The Menu
Appetizers
Homemade Corn Tortillas
-masa harina
Homemade Salsa and Con Queso Dip
-canned plum tomatoes
-onions
-canned fire-roasted chilies
-garlic
-dried spices
-block cheese
Main Dishes
Spicy Mexican Corn Bisque
-canned corn kernels
-canned fire-roasted chilies
-canned evaporated milk
-dried spices
Homemade Refried Beans and Spanish Rice
-dried pinto beans
-rice
-canned plum tomatoes
-dried spices
Shredded Chicken Enchiladas with White Sauce
-frozen chicken breasts
-onions
-garlic
-masa harina/homemade corn tortillas
-dried spices
-block cheese
Spicy Black Bean Enchiladas with Red Sauce
-masa harina/homemade corn tortillas
-dried black beans
-onions
-garlic
-block cheese
-tomato paste
-chicken stock
-dried spices
Dessert
Churros
-canned coconut milk
-flour and sugar
-vegetable oil
Drinks
Pineapple and Coconut Margaritas
-canned pineapple juice
-canned coconut milk
-tequila
Coconut Water and Pineapple Soda
Corona
All of the foods were very well-received! Overall, the favorites were definitly the spanish rice, con queso dip, chicken enchiladas, and churros. The tortillas were fun and easy to make, but a little less successful as tortilla chips than as enchilada wrappers. Surprisingly everyone loved the canned corn bisque! The enchiladas were delicious, and everyone had fun experimenting to make different margaritas. I can't wait to have another dinner party soon!
How easy is it to buy a few extra canned goods when you're shopping so that when there's no fresh produce in the house you can still have a great meal? I really have all (well, almost) of these ingredients in my house on a regular basis. Recipes will be up soon, for now here are some pics. :)
First off, the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival is right around the corner, and Foodbuzz wanted to give 24 lucky featured bloggers the opportunity to receive a little extra help with the costs of plane tickets, hotels, etc. San Francisco, here I come! Thank you Foodbuzz!
The catch: not to use any money in preparation for this month's 24x24, but to look into your very own pantry for low-budget staples and use them to make one fantastic creative meal. This "Fiesta In A Can" uses not only canned but boxed, packaged, and fresh items with a long shelf-life, making them perfect for stocking up on.
Shopping list for Fiesta In A Can menu:
block cheese
cheaper than pre-grated and with a longer use-by date, grate it yourself
chicken breasts
or any meat on sale that you will use, buy extra and freeze some for use whenever
masa harina
in the mexican/spanish section or at spanish grocery stores, it's NOT cornmeal
onions and garlic
canned goods: - evaporated milk - plum tomatoes - corn - fire roasted chilies - chicken stock - coconut milk - pineapple slices -
get unsalted vegetables and check the expiration dates just to be sure
dried goods: - pinto beans - black beans - flour - sugar
plan ahead when using dried beans, set them in a bowl of water the night before to reconstitute
vegetable oil
dried spices: - cumin - chili powder - coriander - crushed red pepper - garlic powder - cinnamon -
great to keep around for mexican/spanish food
The Menu
Appetizers
Homemade Corn Tortillas
-masa harina
Homemade Salsa and Con Queso Dip
-canned plum tomatoes
-onions
-canned fire-roasted chilies
-garlic
-dried spices
-block cheese
Main Dishes
Spicy Mexican Corn Bisque
-canned corn kernels
-canned fire-roasted chilies
-canned evaporated milk
-dried spices
Homemade Refried Beans and Spanish Rice
-dried pinto beans
-rice
-canned plum tomatoes
-dried spices
Shredded Chicken Enchiladas with White Sauce
-frozen chicken breasts
-onions
-garlic
-masa harina/homemade corn tortillas
-dried spices
-block cheese
Spicy Black Bean Enchiladas with Red Sauce
-masa harina/homemade corn tortillas
-dried black beans
-onions
-garlic
-block cheese
-tomato paste
-chicken stock
-dried spices
Dessert
Churros
-canned coconut milk
-flour and sugar
-vegetable oil
Drinks
Pineapple and Coconut Margaritas
-canned pineapple juice
-canned coconut milk
-tequila
Coconut Water and Pineapple Soda
Corona
All of the foods were very well-received! Overall, the favorites were definitly the spanish rice, con queso dip, chicken enchiladas, and churros. The tortillas were fun and easy to make, but a little less successful as tortilla chips than as enchilada wrappers. Surprisingly everyone loved the canned corn bisque! The enchiladas were delicious, and everyone had fun experimenting to make different margaritas. I can't wait to have another dinner party soon!
How easy is it to buy a few extra canned goods when you're shopping so that when there's no fresh produce in the house you can still have a great meal? I really have all (well, almost) of these ingredients in my house on a regular basis. Recipes will be up soon, for now here are some pics. :)
5 Response to Foodbuzz 24x24: Fiesta In A Can!
Wow everything looks amazing! Now you've got me hungry!! :)
Congrats on the 24x24! Those churros look awesome!
See you at Foodbuzz!
Congrats on 24x24.
Everything was super good!!! I get the benefit of Sarah Cupcake being my beautiful, creative sister-in-law!
Looks wonderful!! Congrats on your 24x24!!:)
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