Tequila Spiked Pasta Recipes

TEQUILA-SPIKED QUESO FUNDIDO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chorizo and cook, crumbling it as you go, until browned. Remove from the skillet and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Pour off any excess fat from the skillet.
• Add the onion and bell peppers to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat until the veggies begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and stir in 1/4 cup of the tequila. Turn the heat back on and cook until the vegetables are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, stir the tomatoes and remaining 1 tablespoon tequila together in a small bowl and set aside to marinate for a few minutes.
• To build, cover the bottom of a medium ovenproof skillet with a third of the Monterey Jack and Cheddar. Add half of the chorizo, then another third of the cheese. Next, add as much of the veggie mixture as you'd like (you may have a little left over). Add almost all of the remaining cheese, the rest of the chorizo and then whatever cheese you have left. Sprinkle the top very lightly with chili powder.
• Bake, starting to watch it 4 to 5 minutes in, until the cheese is totally melted, hot and slightly bubbling...but before the cheese starts to firm up/harden. (In other words, you still want the cheese to be extra gooey.)
• Drain the tomatoes.
• Remove the skillet from the oven and top with the spiked tomatoes and cilantro. Serve immediately with tortilla chips. It's best when piping hot! Wrap a cloth around the skillet handle so guests won't burn themselves.

TEQUILA SPIKED WATERMELON SOUP

Steps:

• Make tequila syrup: Combine all syrup ingredients. Place on medium heat until sugar dissolves. Chill until cold.
• Make triple sec whipped cream garnish: Combine whipped cream ingredients and beat to stiff peaks. Pipe rosettes on waxed paper-lined pan. Freeze.
• Make soup: In a food processor place 3 cups of watermelon. Pour out excess juice and reserve. Puree watermelon until smooth. In a bowl combine the melon puree, the reserved juice, 1 1/2 cups tequila syrup, 1/4 cup tequila, juice of two limes and chill. In another small bowl combine 4 tablespoons diced melons for garnish, 1 tablespoon triple sec, and lime zest and chill. To serve, place whipped cream garnish in the bottom of a Kosher salt-rimmed bowl or glass. Pour 6 ounces of soup into the bowl or glass. Garnish with 1 tablespoon of the diced melons and sprinkle with salt.