Trader Joe’s Rants & Raves (mostly raves, a few rants)

Recipes

RECIPE: Vegatarian Tacos made with Roasted Corn, Soy Chorizo, and potato with Homemade Flour Tortillas

Taco Filling
2 ears, fresh corn, taken off the cob
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 “tube” of Trader Joe’s Soy Chorizo (ie, about 3 oz?)
1 med. potato, diced
1 med. onion, diced
Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

Carefully take the corn off the cob using a sharp knife. Get it all and be sure to scrape the cob with back of your knife to get the good healthy germ. Heat a skillet with 1 tbs of olive or veg. oil. Toss in the corn, minced garlic, 1/2 the diced onion.
Cook on high heat till corn browns a little bit; five to ten mins. Remove from pan and set aside
Add diced potatoes, another tsp. oil, lower heat, cover the pan and cook 10 mins, turning occasionally; Cook, stirring occasionally another 5-8 mins till evenly golden brown; Add the Soy Chorizo. Add the roasted corn in and stir gently to combine all. Taste for seasonings,turn off heat, keep warm.

Quick Salsa
(Easy but you can also just buy your favorite TJ salsa)
1 ripe tomato, diced
clove garlic, minced
1/2 onion, diced
fresh or pickled green chili, or a can or TJ’ Roasted Hatch Chilis (
Mix all above, add little salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, pinch cayenne

Flour Tortillas

This would be a little complicated to document in full. The easiest way is to learn the way I did, via YouTube. Heres one video that should show you how to ‘roll your own’ . Personally I use oil not shortening and much less than the amount in the many recipes to cut down on the fat, and find it still works pretty well. I did as you see use TJ flour (and baking soda! and Olive Oil!) Not too mention the Soy Chorizo =Trader Joe recipe!

Now of course if you don’t feel like doing all the “work” you could accomplish something close by picking up at TJ’s, tortillas (flour or corn, the Chili Lime ones would be good!) and salsa, and use the soy chorizo on its own (or with thier frozen corn?) and whip a similar dinner together in no time.

I got my little assembly line to roll out the flour tortillas; Did about 6 for two people. Below, cooking on the griddle. If the griddle or pan is hot, they do not take long. About 1-2 mins on the first side and less than 1 min on the second side. Keep them warm in a cloth covered basket while you finish cooking all of them.

RICE STICKS WITH SAUTEED THAI FISH & VEGETABLES

3 pieces of fish (I used Tilapia); rub filets with some Thai red curry paste; let marinate 20 mins.
3 sticks Celery, sliced
1 medium Onion, sliced
3 Dried Shitake Mushrooms, soaked in 1/2 cup boiling water for 30 minutes, sliced (save liquid!)
2 cloves Garlic, chopped
1/4” slice Ginger, chopped

2/3 package Trader Joe’s Rice Sticks

Sauce:
Thai Fish Sauce (Nam Pla), 3 tbs
Juice of one lemon or lime
Sugar, 1 tsp
Soy Sauce, 1 tbs
Water, 2 tbs
Red Pepper flakes, to taste
Dash of Sesame Oil

Boil large pot of water with a little salt. Sauté fish in a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a non stick pan. Flip fish after 2 mins to other side. Remove and keep warm. Sauté onions, celery, ginger and garlic 5 mins. Add sliced mushrooms and their soaking water. Meanwhile, throw the Rice Stick noodles into boiling water. Cook for 6-8 minutes (taste for doneness, do not overcook). Add the fish to the stir fried vegetables. Cook 5 mins more on low heat.Drain noodles; Plate and top noodles with the fish and vegetables; Serve with sauce on side to drizzle on liberally.