Ironically, today also happens to be the first football Sunday of the season and, consequently, one of my favorite days of they year. To me, the kickoff to football has always signified the start of my favorite time of year. Cooler weather, Pumpkin Spice Lattes, changing leaves, football weekends, Pumpkin Beer (pretty much all things pumpkin...) and a new season of cooking. Gone are the hot summer days when standing over a hot stove was torture. Fall welcomes back comfort food- pots of chili, warm, bubbly casseroles, chicken and dumplings, soups and stews...I could go on forever. Fall also welcomes back my blog. I know I took a bit of a vacation over the summer months but I am ready to get cooking again. Today, I decided to kick things off with a game day brunch menu that is sure to wow even the pickiest tailgater.
Huevos Rancheros and Bloody Marys
Huevos Rancheros, literally translating to "Rancher's Eggs" is essentially and open faced breakfast burrito and a perfectly filling Sunday brunch. I began by making a quick, fresh salsa of chopped tomato, cilantro, jalapeno, avocado, salt and pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Green onion would also be good in here if you have it. Next, I heated about 1/2 cup of refried beans (1/4 cup per serving). Once you get these things prepped, you can start your eggs. Melt about a tablespoon of butter in a large nonstick skillet. Once it's bubbly, add your eggs one at a time. Helpful hint- crack your eggs individually into a small bowl, then pour the egg gently from the bowl to the skillet. This way, you can prevent broken yolks and bad eggs. Let the eggs fry, sunny side up, for a couple minutes, then flip so they're sunny side down for about 30 seconds. Meanwhile, heat your tortillas in the microwave for 20 seconds or over an open flame for the same amount of time. I like to use whole wheat tortillas for the added health benefit, and I think they taste just as good as white flour tortillas. Once the tortilla is warm, spread the refried beans over the tortilla then top the refried beans with two fried eggs. Top the eggs with your homemade salsa, sour cream, and cheese. I like Cojita cheese, which is like the Parmesan of Mexican cheeses. On top of the eggs, you can really use whatever Mexican toppings you prefer or whatever you have on hand, but the fresh ingredients in homemade salsa really make these huevos special and healthier.
In my mind, no brunch is complete without a Bloody Mary. For all you Bloody Mary haters out there- I myself had never been a fan of tomato juice and had steered clear of Bloody Marys for that reason. I tried one a couple years back (likely because of a wicked hangover) and it was love at first sip. As far as alcoholic beverages go, this one is pretty good for you, too. I make my own Bloody Mary mix with Hot and Spicy V8 and a mix of other add ins- celery salt, black pepper, pickle juice, horseradish, tabasco. Once you get the tomato juice mixture to your liking, pour over ice with a couple shots of vodka. I like Absolute brand Pepper vodka for an added kick, but plain vodka is just fine too. And if you're anything like me and enjoy tequila, you can really keep with the Mexican brunch menu and make a Bloody Maria by substituting tequila for vodka. Keep in mind- tomato juice kills the taste of alcohol so please drink responsibly, and don't forget to raise your glass in a toast to the memory of 9/11, ten years ago and today.
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