Ponchos Recipes

SIMPLE PUERTO RICAN PINCHOS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the marinade ingredients.
• Add the pork and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate, at least 6 hours or overnight.
• Shake off excess marinade and thread the meat onto skewers, leaving a 2-inch space at the end of each skewer.
• Heat the grill to about 450º. Quickly grill the bread slices about 1 minute each side and set aside.
• Cook the skewers, rotating every 3 minutes until just done, about 10-12 minutes.
• Carefully baste the meat with barbecue sauce, and cook for 1 minute, then flip and baste with more sauce. Finish cooking for an additional minute (alternately, cook until pork registers 145º degrees on an instant read thermometer).
• Baste with more barbecue sauce, and garnish with cilantro before serving with a slice of toasted bread. (Elie likes to thread hers right onto the end of the skewer.)

PIGS IN A PONCHO

Steps:

• Heat hot dogs according to package directions. Spread beans over the center of each tortilla; layer with green chiles, olives and cheese. Place hot dog down center of tortilla. Fold bottom and sides of tortilla over filling and roll up; secure with a toothpick., In a deep skillet or electric skillet, heat 1 in. of oil to 375°. Fry wraps in batches, seam side down, until golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Discard toothpicks before serving. Serve with sour cream and salsa if desired.

COPYCAT PANCHO'S DRESSING RECIPE

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a blender (or use immersion hand blender) and liquefy.
• Enjoy.

PANCHOS

Steps:

• Cut corn tortillas in triangles (as you would cut a pie), fry tortilla chips in cooking oil until crispy.
• Remove from oil and set on paper towels to drain. Lay out tortilla chips on a cookie sheet.
• Heat refried beans in skillet for about 6-8 minutes, stirring so they do not stick to skillet.
• Remove skin and seed from Avacado and mash well, adding salt to taste.
• Then take 1 cheese quarter, and place on each tortilla chip. Place cookie sheet in 350 degree oven about 1-2 minutes until cheese has slightly melted but not completely.
• Remove chips from cookie sheet and place on a platter.
• Then take 1/2 teaspoon of refried beans and 1/2 teaspoon of mashed avacado, top each one with 1 slice of jalapeno.
• Enjoy!

PANCHO'S CHEESE DIP

Steps:

• Measure first 4 ingredients into a small bowl, stirring well to mix.
• (Note: As tastes have changed over the years, I have gradually decreased the Accent slightly, measuring a scant tablespoon so it won't be too salty.) Pour 1 can of tomatoes, including juice, into the bowl of a food processor.
• Add 2 tablespoons of spice mixture and 5- 6 slices of pickled jalapenos.
• Pulse on and off briefly several times until ingredients are well-mixed and tomatoes are broken into small pieces but still retain some texture.
• (It should look like a thick salsa.) Pour tomato mixture into a medium saucepan.
• Repeat with remaining can of tomatoes, remaining spices, and additional slices of jalapenos, adding mixture to the saucepan after processing.
• If your food processor can handle it, grate cheese and then put in a large pot or Dutch oven; if not, chop cheese coarsely by hand.
• (A Cuisinart makes it easier, but it doesn't affect the final outcome.) Cook tomato mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently; bring just to the boiling point, BUT DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL!
• The instant the first bubble breaks the surface, remove from heat and pour over cheese.
• Stir well, until cheese seems to have melted as much as it's going to (which won't be much-- it will still be extremely lumpy).
• Using a ladle (or a coffee mug), pour approximately 3 cups of the mixture into the food processor bowl.
• Process approximately 20-30 seconds, until mixture is smooth.
• Remove lid from processor bowl and taste for'heat' and consistency.
• If it is not as hot as you'd like, add a few more jalapeno slices.
• It will be waaaay too thick, so add water (several tablespoons at a time), processing briefly after each addition, until it is the proper consistency.
• Each batch will require a different amount of water, depending on the ratio of cheese to tomato sauce, but you'll quickly get the hang of about how much to add.
• If you accidentally get one batch too thin, you can easily compensate by making the next one extra-thick and stirring them together.
• Although this makes a huge amount, it will disappear more quickly than you ever thought possible, so stock up on lots of chips!
• Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for days on end.