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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Cheesy Vegetarian Puff Pastries & Crystal Farms® Giveaway

** This post is sponsored by Crystal Farms Cheese® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I recently have been craving empanadas, but I have never made them! So instead I decided to make a cheese vegetarian puff pastry filled with mozzarella, my favorite beefless crumbles and chopped sweet peppers. It’s super easy to make and can feed six people of all ages with one large pastry each that can be a meal on-the-go!

Moving to the Midwest has opened my eyes to the delicious cheese products from Crystal Farms® Cheese, based in Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Crystal Farms® Whole MIlk Mozzarella Cheese is made by cheese lovers, for cheese lovers with few preservatives. Their cheese products are rich in calcium and gluten-free.

Crystal Farms® Cheese Puff Pastries

You will need:

  • 8-10 small sweet peppers
  • Salt and pepper
  • Garlic powder
  • 2 cups beefless crumbles (your favorite brand or use ground beef for non-vegetarian version)
  • Two packages of your favorite brand of puff pastry dough
  • One package of Crystal Farms® Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese (2 cups)
  • 1 egg, beaten
Crystal Farms® Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese is available in the refrigerated dairy section.

Time: 25 minutes

Chop the sweet peppers and saute them until soft. Season them as desired with salt and pepper and garlic powder. Add crumbles and continue cooking on medium heat for about 8 minutes or as directed on the package. Stir occassionally and set aside when thoroughly cooked.

Unroll two packages of puff pastry, which usually comes with eight perforated sections. Seal the edges and roll with a rolling pin to be as thin as possible. Then use a knife to cut six-inch by six-inch squares (Size doesn’t need to be exact.). Then cut each of the six squares into two triangles.

 

Pour the Crystal Farms® cheese into a large mixing bowl. Add the beefless crumbles and peppers and stir. Scoop at least a quarter cup (more if it will fit) of the mixture onto a triangle and top with the opposing triangle piece of puff pastry. Seal the edges with a fork or your fingers. Poke two mini holes on top of each puff pastry with a toothpick or a fork. Repeat with the five other puff pastries. Brush each pastry with egg.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 10-13 minutes until golden brown on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Enjoy!

Connect with Crystal Farms® Cheese:

Visit Crystal Farms® Cheese website for more recipes!

Crystal Farms Giveaway!

Enter for a chance to win three free Crystal Farms product coupons by commenting below! Simply answer the question: What’s your favorite cheese?
Rules: Valid only in the U.S. for ages 18 and older.

Phoenix Eats: Farm and Craft

We squeezed in our first family brunch while visiting Phoenix this month and we weren’t disappointed in our choice of spot. We like to try new restaurants every time we visit our old neighborhood, which is constantly changing and becoming home to more hip eateries. This time we went to Farm & Craft, located in the space vacated by the Herb Box.

We chose the best seat in the house underneath this 100 percent accurate neon sign. I loved the decor inside Farm & Craft, especially the chairs!

Farm and Craft, Phoenix

We visited on a weekday, so we ordered at the hostess station. (Or you can order at the bar.) You also pour your own drink at the coffee/beverage station.

 

Victoria ordered the cheese pizza from the kids menu while I picked the salmon bowl with veggies and mac and cheese. Graham ate the protein blueberry pancakes (not pictured). I loved it all, especially the perfectly cooked salmon.

Farm and Craft, Phoenix

Farm and Craft, Phoenix

If it’s a nice non-summer day, consider the patio, which had palm-leaf print seating I was obsessed with. (Although there were misters to keep you cool.)

Connect With Farm & Craft:

Farm & Craft, Phoenix

Related post:

Pure Sushi

Trying Blue Apron

** Blue Apron provided complimentary meals for this post. This post also contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting Floradise!

Just about a week before giving birth to Adelina I decided to give Blue Apron a try. I was looking for easy meals for me to make in my final three to four weeks of pregnancy, and I just didn’t have the energy or desire to meal plan. Little did I know that the day my meals were delivered was the day I would be in labor and delivery. In our first week home from the hospital I did manage to make a couple of the meals, though!

Spicy Fusilli Pasta & Broccoli

I really liked this pasta. I didn’t use all the chili paste because I thought it might be too much, but I probably could have.

Spicy Fusilli Pasta & Broccoli Blue Apron

Spicy Fusilli Pasta & Broccoli Blue Apron

Spicy Fusilli Pasta & Broccoli Blue Apron

Spicy Fusilli Pasta & Broccoli Blue Apron

 

Apple & Cheddar Grilled Cheese With Pickled Pepper Salad

I am typically not a Dijon mustard and sourdough person, but I really enjoyed this grilled cheese. I would never think to put apple slices in it, but it was delicious! I also really like the pickled pepper salad on the side.

Apple & Cheddar Grilled Cheese With Pickled Pepper Salad

Apple & Cheddar Grilled Cheese With Pickled Pepper Salad

Thoughts on Blue Apron:

Pros 

  • Meals are relatively quick to make.
  • You can select vegetarian meal plans.
  • The meals were tasty and I wouldn’t have thought to make the second recipe.

Cons

Have you tried Blue Apron? What did you think?

Try Blue Apron:

Blue Apron: 5 Meals Free With Your First 2 Orders! (April Only)

Blue Apron: $50 Off! ($25 Off Each Week)

Hawaii Eats: Restaurants on the Big Island

Probably my favorite thing to do on vacation is try local restaurants. I’m excited to share the delicious food we had at Hawaii restaurants! We try to mix it up between more casual dining and restaurants that a bit pricier. In Hawaii, we found that most places were more expensive than the mainland, which is to be expected. Here are most of my meals (with some of G’s also pictured), plus where the restaurants are on the Big Island of Hawaii. Note: Most of these are pescatarian rather than vegetarian because when in a place with good seafood, I tend to go for it. In my daily life I am mostly veggie, though.

Island Lava Java, Kailua-Kona

We stopped at Island Lava Java for breakfast and were not disappointed. I devoured every bite of this Waipio Stack Breakfast ($14), plus some of V’s chocolate pancakes. It contained two eggs, which I ordered over hard, wheat toast, fresh avocado, tomato, arugula and chipotle aioli. (It typically comes with bacon, but I don’t eat that.) Served with fresh fruit I paired it with a vanilla frappe. SO good.

Island Lava Java, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Island Lava Java, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Basik Cafe, Kailua-Kona

Basik Cafe was mostly an acai bowl restaurant. I enjoyed the Islander ($11, small), which was acai, hemp milk, granola, banana, strawberries, goji berries, coco shavings and honey. Yum!

 

Basik Cafe, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Basik Cafe, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Kona Coffee & Tea Company, Kailua-Kona

We visited Kona Coffee  & Tea Co. twice to pick up a quick breakfast before doing other activities. The first time we all got bagels ($2.59) and yogurt and granola. The second time I ordered a spinach tart ($6.49), which was OK. I really liked the vanilla cold brew though!

Kona Coffee & Tea Company, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Kona Coffee & Tea Company, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Volcano House, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

We were starving when we arrived at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, so we decided to try one of the restaurants. Volcano House was the closest option. I ordered the fish and chips ($14) while G had Asian barbecue prawns ($16). They weren’t the best fish and chips I’ve had but they did the trick. This place is more about the view! You can see the crater from your table.

Volcano House, Hawaii

Volcano House, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Volcano House, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

 

Boat Landing Cantina, Waikoloa

While staying at the Hilton Waikola Village, we dined at Boat Landing Cantina, which was just underneath our tower. We also ordered some to-go on another night when we were too tired to actually dine there. I wasn’t disappointed with the nachos ($14) or the fish tacos ($19). The prices are high for what you get, but the resort is so large that it’s super inconvenient to leave to grab food, especially when you’re an exhausted pregnant person.

Boat Landing Cantina, Waikoloa, Hawaii

 

Boat Landing Cantina, Waikoloa, Hawaii

Cafe Pesto, Hilo

After working up an appetite on a helicopter tour, we explored downtown Hilo looking for a lunch option. We stumbled across Cafe Pesto. I loved every bite of the crab cakes ($16), which came with salad. V enjoyed her pasta with veggies and G had a pizza luau pizza ($14).

Cafe Pesto, Hilo, Hawaii

Cafe Pesto, Hilo, Hawaii

Cafe Pesto, Hilo, Hawaii

Kope Lani, Kailua-Kona

We couldn’t go without ice cream for dessert, especially on a warm Hawaii afternoon. I loved the Kona coffee flavored cone I had at Kope Lani!

Kope Lani ice cream, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Big Island Burritos, Waikoloa

On our last night we wanted something casual again, so we opted for takeout from Big Island Burritos. Shown below is a burrito bowl for G ($12) and more tacos for me ($12).

Big Island Burritos, Waikoloa

Big Island Burritos, Waikoloa

 

Waikoloa Coffee, Waikoloa

Breakfast came from Waikoloa Coffee a couple times because it was conveniently located under our hotel tower. It was pricey for what it was ($40 for two coffees, a juice and breakfast sandwiches), but it was tasty coffee.

Waikoloa Coffee, Hawaii

 

Do you see anything you’d like to try on this list? What are some of your favorite recent restaurant meals? Let me know in the comments!

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau | Kid- and Vegetarian-Friendly Option in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

 

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

When choosing a family-friendly activity to do on the Big Island, a luau was an easy option. Why? It can keep a toddler entertained! We selected the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau at the Royal Kona Resort in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

A bonus is that you don’t need to pay for a separate ticket for children who are 5 and younger! (Tickets for adults were $72 each for us.)

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

To be honest, I don’t really think I need to go to another luau in Hawaii every time I visit, but it’s good for first-timers and kids. We didn’t upgrade our seats to the front tables, but I found that it wasn’t necessary. We could see just fine. My only complaint: We were the last table to grab our food. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem but I’m pregnant, so I am constantly hungry! Actually, I would probably still be hungry even if not pregnant, who am I kidding?

Tip: Arrive early to check into the luau. People were in line by 4:15, even though the confirmation tells you to arrive by 4:45. General seating is first come, first served.

Another bonus is that a luau experience can cater to meat and veggie eaters alike.

What to eat as a pescatarian/vegetarian at Voyagers of the Pacific Luau:

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

You might not think a luau is the place to go if you’re a vegan or vegetarian, but it’s possible to eat well at one. This is what I ate as a pescatarian/mostly vegetarian at the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau:

  • Garden salad
  • Potato mac salad
  • Hawaiian sweet roll
  • Three-bean salad
  • Island fish (for pescatarians)
  • Hawaii sweet potato
  • Pineapple chunks
  • Coconut cake
  • Pineapple upside-down cake

Note: The website says they can prepare a gluten-free or vegan option if notified 24 hours in advance.

After the show, which lasts until 8 p.m., you can purchase your souvenir arrival photo for $20 if you want, but we skipped that. You can also take photos with the dancers. V really wanted to see two of them, and we were happy to do so.

Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Have you been to a luau in Hawaii? What did you think?

Watch our video of the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau:

 

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Related posts:

Royal Lahaina Luau, Maui
Exploring Hilo, Hawaii

 

D.C./Virginia Eats | Vegetarian and Pescatarian Options

 

After more than a year of not seeing my best friend Charlsy, I visited her in Alexandria, Va., for a short girls weekend with lots of D.C. and Virginia eats and catching up. I try to frequent only local eateries when I travel and we did plenty of that! Today I’m sharing my favorite D.C. and Alexandria area restaurants and what I ordered at each. Most of these restaurants are vegetarian friendly!

Duck Donuts, Alexandria

Duck Donuts was my favorite local discovery. It’s a doughnut place where you can order custom doughnuts! You pick which frosting, topping and drizzle you’d like and you get it just minutes later hot out of the oven/doughnut maker. I immediately daydreamed about opening up my own franchise! haha We liked our doughnuts so much that we came back every day of my trip and I brought one back to Chicago for Graham. (Shoutout to the TSA for not making me throw it out or eat it right there in line!) You could buy single doughnuts, a couple, or get a half or full dozen.

We chose chocolate frosting and sprinkles and vanilla frosting and coconut flakes on our second visit to Duck Donuts.

Jinya Ramen Bar, Fairfax

I was in the mood for ramen and my friend recommended a perfect place in Fairfax, Va. Jinya Ramen Bar lets you order just about any type of ramen you could crave. I went with the spicy vegan ramen and wasn’t disappointed. I only wish I would have skipped the spinach, which becomes a bit too mushy for my taste. The broth was creamy, spicy and delicious! You can also order a noodle refill for $2! This particular ramen comes with thick noodles but you can order some with thin noodles as well. In addition to ramen you can order small plates, rice bowls, salads and appetizers.

The Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen from Jinya Ramen Bar was a filling lunch.

Busboys and Poets, Arlington

I also really enjoyed Busboys and Poets, where we went for dinner one night. (They have various locations; we visited the Shirlington restaurant.) You can find plenty of vegan and vegetarian options here, but I was craving a crab cake sandwich with spicy mayo instead of the tartar sauce it normally comes with. It also is served with fries, but I was content with my sandwich. I also enjoyed the hummus and pita appetizer we shared. I highly recommend this restaurant! It’s more than just an eatery; various events are also held here. According to its website, “Busboys and Poets is a community gathering place. First established in 2005, Busboys and Poets was created by owner Anas ‘Andy’ Shallal, an Iraqi-American artist, activist and restaurateur.” My friend mentioned that campaign events are sometimes held here.

I asked for spicy mayo instead of tartar sauce for my crab cake sandwich at Busboys and Poets.

 

Epic Smokehouse, Arlington

Epic Smokehouse, as the name implies, is all about the meats and was probably the least vegetarian-friendly restaurant we visited, but they adjusted a popular dish for me and it was mouthwatering! I ordered the Mr. H, which typically has two fried corn tortillas with chorizo sausage, scrambled eggs and home fries topped with creamy cheese sauce and fire roasted EPIC sauce. I obviously ordered mine without the chorizo sausage and I added avocado. So good! They also have bottomless mimosas for brunch, in case you’re not pregnant like me and can partake! The restaurant has a Kentucky vibe and would be the perfect place to order a bourbon with your meal.

The Mr. H. was adjusted to take out the sausage and add avocado. It comes with potatoes.

 

What have been you favorite recent local eats? Share them with me in the comments!

Related post:

Chicago Eats

 

 

Saying Yes to My Well-Being

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WellYesMoment #CollectiveBias

 

I’ve always considered myself to be a motivated and driven person. I am always saying yes to new classes, activities and opportunities, sometimes to my own detriment. I say this because in trying to do too much, I have sometimes neglected my own physical and emotional well-being. I came to this realization recently in my Moment of Yes.

This summer I woke up in the middle of the night in a panic about all the things I had to do. I had a never-ending list because I was taking on too much and trying to put on a one-woman show. I was trying to put out content almost every day of the week, I was trying to be a present mom who also works from home full time, I was trying to train for a half-marathon, and I was trying to explore and do as much as I could in Chicago. I was also trying to make plans with friends, go to yoga, take care of my plants — the list goes on.

I tend to set many, many goals for myself to the point where it becomes overwhelming. This moment of panic and the feeling of being constantly exhausted taught me that there’s a certain Yes I need to be saying: yes to my well-being.

This yes means more time without worrying about my to-do list. Yes to canceling plans if needed. Yes to giving my body time to rest without forcing myself to go out and do something, or to do another workout simply because I feel guilty about not doing it. Yes to really listening when my husband and daughter speak to me without thinking about something I should post on social media, something I need to finish at work, or something I need to get done that day.

Yes to the following ways to take care of myself:

  • Eat well.
  • Simplify.
  • Practice self-care.
  • Prioritize.
  • Be present.
  • And most important: Do less, relax more.

The moment I experienced reminded me that I need to feel nourished in all ways, including what I put into my body and how I spend my time.

So what changes have I made? Well, I am saying yes to things that are good for me and make me happy.

Yes to hiring a sitter when we need a date day/night or I need a break.

 
 

Yes to more yoga and taking care of my body.

 
 

Yes to more journaling.

 
 

Yes to eating delicious meals.
Enjoying a Well Yes!® Minestrone and Kale Soup

As part of my effort to be more mindful in all aspects of my life, I have been loving Well Yes!® Soups.

I’ve been making more of an effort to log off the computer to give myself time to enjoy my mealtime. The soups I’ve been loving include Well Yes! Minestrone and Kale, Tomato Carrot Bisque, Black Bean with Red Quinoa and Cajun Red Bean and Vegetable. Well Yes! Soups are flavorful and delicious and they’re made from real, non-GMO and nutritious ingredients. The soups are crafted with care so that they contain no artificial flavors or colors. The can packaging is made with a non-BPA lining, too!

 
 
 

As a vegetarian, I am a big fan of soups with beans and lots of vegetables. I love easy-to-prepare meals even more, so Well Yes! Soups have been a win for me.
Cajun Red Bean and Vegetable Soup

Sometimes I enjoy my Well Yes! Soup on the patio for a nice change of scenery.
Black Bean and Red Quinoa

With plenty of Well Yes! varieties, you can switch up your favorite flavors and never get bored.
Tomato Carrot Bisque

Have you experienced a similar feeling of needing to find more balance? Also, have you tasted Well Yes! Soups yet?

 

Don’t forget to enter the #WellYesMoment Sweepstakes in the widget below for a chance to win up to a $500 Visa gift card! It’s as easy as clicking, logging in, and sharing your Moment of Yes story! If you win, think of all the ways you can use the prizing to achieve your Moment of Yes!

#WellYesMoment #Sweepstakes (10/14 to 11/17)

Connect with Well Yes!

 

Chicago Eats: Oyster Bah, The Hampton Social and Firecakes Donuts

It’s been too long since I shared some of the delicious meals I’ve had lately in Chicago. My friend’s visit for the Lady Gaga concert at Wrigley Field gave me the opportunity to try a couple of new (to me) places, and I recently met up with Jessie (of Just Jessie blog) to catch up at another great place.

Oyster Bah, Lincoln Park

I was drawn to Oyster Bah by an Instagram photo. Yep. While the restaurant is known for oysters, hence the name, I chose the Maryland crab cake sandwich (blue crab, romaine, roma tomato, avocado, old bay mayonnaise) with one tweak: I asked for chipotle mayo instead of the old bay mayonnaise. (It came with fries.) Amazing! I ate every single bite. I was completely satisfied and I have craved it several times since then. We sipped Rosé with our entrees.

 

The Hampton Social, River North

Hampton Social is one of the most Instagrammed restaurants in Chicago. The Hamptons/East Coast-themed restaurant is adorable, often known for its “Rosé all day” sign in one of the dining rooms. It featured a live band that was actually pretty decent when we visited for an afternoon brunch recently. While the restaurant was packed, it was easy to get a reservation for the same day (for two people). We, of course, tried the Frosé, which had a peachy flavor. Peach isn’t my favorite so I thought it was just OK. I drank it all, though! My friend enjoyed the mojito as well, while I also had a mimosa. For my entree I almost picked the lobster roll, but for some reason the fish tacos were calling my name (again that weekend). I went with the beer batter fish vs. the grilled, and they had chipotle mayo. Can you see a pattern here? I will order anything with chipotle mayo/aioli on it. The fish tacos don’t come with a side, but I found them to be filling on their own.

 

 

 

 

 

Firecakes Donuts, River North

We stumbled across Firecakes while walking to brunch, so we picked up a couple of doughnuts to try as appetizers. haha Firecakes is home to the giant birthday cake doughnut that I’m dying to purchase for someone’s birthday. I tried the peanut butter cup doughnut, which I loved, and my friend chose another (that I can’t remember now). I really want to go back and try more!

 

 

 

What awesome restaurants have you tried recently? Have you been to any of these?

 

Chicago Eats: Midnight Mac and Cheeserie, XO Marshmallow and Hutch

It’s been a minute since I’ve shared some of the meals I’ve had recently in Chicago. I like to write these posts regularly for those of you who appreciate a good meal as much as I do. Whether you live in Chicago or you plan to visit, you might consider browsing these posts to see if you want to add any of these restaurants to your Chicago dining list.

Midnight Mac and Cheeserie, Rogers Park

This restaurant took the place of Growling Rabbit, one of my favorite places for a vegan breakfast in my neighborhood. (I’m not vegan but I like to eat like one sometimes.) By the way, Growling Rabbit has the best Chai in the area that I’ve tried. Anyway, Midnight Mac and Cheeserie caught my eye because they offer so many varieties of mac and cheese, and you can build your own, too. The portions are quite large for one person, even with a small. I liked the veggie option, and the lobster was delicious, though they both become too much after a while. After so many bites I just couldn’t keep going. Bring a large appetite! As the name implies, the restaurant stays open late. When it first opened they kept having to close early because they ran out of food, but I believe they make it to midnight or later now. At first you could only order the food (like I did), but now you can dine in as well.

XO Marshmallow, Rogers Park

XO is also a new business in my neighborhood, and it’s located right next door to Midnight Mac and Cheeserie. (It’s owned by someone in the same family, too.) It basically sells marshmallow desserts, such as gourmet marshmallows in a bunch of flavors. We tried a chocolate one, as well as a classic s’more. I also order the Chai-cago, an iced Chai with marshmallow whipped cream. My total was about $14 for the three. You can also get s’more tacos and doughnut s’mores and enjoy them in the cute, pink-themed cafe. It’s quite small, with only two tables and some other seating, but it’s adorable. Besides that you can shop for mugs, T-shirts, marshmallows (including champagne!) and other goods. The s’mores were just what you’d expect in a s’more. My only suggestion would be to not serve them in plastic containers if you are eating them in the cafe. I’ve only visited once so far and I plan to return to try the other desserts.

 

 

Hutch, Lakeview

It’s been a while since I dined here with Jessie, but I liked the fish tacos ($12.99) and that they came with black beans. The sriracha aioli was delicious. I also added avocado to mine, obviously. The restaurant was nearly empty when we went, and I wondered why. The decor was so quaint; it has multiple hutch pieces, given the name.

 

More Chicago eats posts:

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A Savory Breakfast Taco Recipe | Fueling My Inspiration


This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #RediscoverLaMorena #VivaLaMorena #CollectiveBias



As I’ve gotten older, I have realized more and more the importance of remembering who I am and where I came from. I was always eager to move out of Phoenix and experience something new besides the same Mexican food, trips to California, and camping across my home state of Arizona. When I finally moved away, though, I discovered that I miss home and those things I sometimes took for granted. Now that I live in Chicago, far away from my family in Mexico, Arizona and California, I find that eating traditional or Mexican-inspired foods reminds me of home and makes me feel more inspired to explore the world. It’s not just about food; it’s rediscovering the inspiration to keep exploring new places, foods, and experiences.

One way I do that is revisiting the simple but delicious foods I ate growing up and that were staples at our dinner table. These include tortillas, beans and pickled jalapeños. These simple ingredients were a constant for me. For you it might be something else, but for me, these three items signify home and comfort. While I struggle to make the exact (and amazing) dishes my mom cooks at home, I use them as inspiration for my meals now. I try to make easy and healthier versions of the foods of my childhood in my everyday life to fuel me as I continue to explore and mold my purpose in this world. I plan to continue that so my daughter grows up knowing and loving the same flavors I did and has a connection to our culture through her dinner plate.

While I have always been known to put jalapeños on everything because I prefer savory over sweet any day, I have recently rediscovered LA MORENA®, which has been around for longer than I’ve been alive and is a trusted brand of authentic Mexican products. I have since been challenging myself to find new ways to use this kitchen staple in my meals. Cooking Mexican food has been slightly out of my comfort zone only because my mom set the bar pretty high with her cooking, and I sadly did not study it enough before moving away from home two and a half years ago. It has since become one of my missions to not only learn to cook those dishes I grew up with but to improve my Spanish speaking.

I always have a glass container with jalapeños ready to go on top of anything. But now I want to use it more as an ingredient rather than a flavor enhancer. Lately, a favorite breakfast of mine has been savory and filling breakfast tacos incorporating LA MORENA® Whole Jalapeños (13 oz). (These are also available in 7 oz and 28 oz cans, as well as sliced.) They are super easy and quick to make, and they leave me satisfied and with enough energy to take on the day, whether it’s trying something new (like a new fitness class), checking out a new part of Chicago (to me) or revisiting favorite places in our city.

Before I share this recipe, be sure to enter LA MORENA®’s sweepstakes to rediscover your own passions!

Now I’ll share the yummy breakfast tacos I love to make before a busy Chicago summer day. I like to top them a Chipotle sour cream using LA MORENA® Chipotle Sauce that I’ll share as well. Over the weekend I fueled up with three of these before heading out on a 5-mile half-marathon training run on the Chicago Lakefront Path. (I later ate the leftovers before kayaking on the Chicago River.)

 

First, I find all the ingredients I need for this hearty breakfast at my neighborhood Jewel-Osco. You can spot the bright LA MORENA® packaging in the Hispanic foods aisle. My local Jewel-Osco store also carries LA MORENA® Chipotle Sauce for the Chipotle sour cream sauce in the salsa aisle. Most of the other ingredients you need for this recipe are typically found in the Hispanic foods section.

To make the breakfast tacos, you’ll need:

 
LA MORENA® Whole Jalapeños (28 oz) are often thought of as a garnish, but they add more flavor when they are actually prepared in the dish.

Makes about six tacos.

  • Cooking spray (or oil)
  • 1/2-3/4 cup chopped spinach or mixed greens (about 1 ounce)
  • 1/4 cup of black beans (drained and rinsed)
  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion
  • 2-4 chopped LA MORENA® Whole Jalapeños (amount of jalapenos depends on your preference) You can also use LA MORENA® Sliced Jalapeños (7, 13 or 28 oz cans).
  • 4 eggs
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 6 corn (or flour) tortillas
  • 1 tablespoon of Mexican cheese (either shredded cheese or Cotija cheese)

Heat sprayed cooking pan on medium-low heat. Add chopped spinach, black beans, chopped red onion, and chopped LA MORENA® Whole Jalapeños and sauté them for a couple of minutes. Whisk eggs, season them with salt and pepper, add them to the pan and stir. Cook for a few minutes to desired consistency. Heat tortillas on separate burner or pan (or warm them in the microwave) for about 30 seconds to a minute. Wrap cooked eggs in the tortillas and add your desired toppings.

Suggested toppings: Sliced avocado, pickled carrots from the can of LA MORENA® Whole Jalapeños or Chipotle sour cream sauce (recipe below). Add as much cheese as you’d like!

NOTE: You might find that LA MORENA® Sliced Jalapeños are easier to chop, which cuts back on prep time. I buy both Sliced and Whole Jalapeños for various uses. Be sure to transfer unused jalapeños to a glass storage container for later use. LA MORENA® has lots of recipes for traditional dishes to use them in.

My preference is to cook the eggs and veggies a little longer, but cook them how you like them.

 

I like to use the pickled carrots from the can of LA MORENA® Whole Jalapeños or Sliced Jalapeños (7, 13 or 28 oz) to top my tacos, along with sliced avocado and Cotija cheese. (Use shredded Mexican cheese if you prefer.)

Cooking LA MORENA® Whole Jalapeños (13 oz) in the actual eggs rather than as a topping distributes the flavor more evenly and makes the dish more savory and delicious.

For the Chipotle sour cream sauce you will need:

  • 1/3 cup of sour cream (or crema Mexicana)
  • 4 teaspoons of LA MORENA® Chipotle Sauce
  • Juice of quarter to half a lime
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garlic salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper

Mix all ingredients in small bowl. Add more LA MORENA® Chipotle Sauce as preferred in 1-2 teaspoon increments. Drizzle some of the sour cream sauce on top of the tacos for added flavor. You can make more than you’ll need and save it for later. It goes on just about anything!

Note: Be sure to transfer the leftover LA MORENA® Chipotle Sauce to another container and store it in the fridge for later use in your favorite dishes.

Before mixing LA MORENA® Chipotle Sauce and sour cream. 
I added some lime juice, pepper and garlic salt based on my preference.
My completed tacos with avocado, Cotija cheese, pickled carrots and Chipotle sour cream.

These are perfect to enjoy on a weekend morning before heading out on the day’s adventures. If it is just me eating the tacos, I save the rest of the eggs and sauce for breakfast on the following day. It saves time that I can instead use to explore.

Orange juice and breakfast tacos to keep me energized.

Let me know if you make these super simple and tasty tacos and what you thought of them. Also, be sure to enter LA MORENA®‘s sweepstakes (top of this post) and let me know where it takes you! Have you tried LA MORENA® products? 

Connect with LA MORENA®:

Rediscover more flavors and recipes for this summer with LA MORENA®. It has provided the products you need for traditional recipes for more than 35 years!
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Coming soon on my Instagram: Watch out for a post on where LA MORENA® is taking me this summer!

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