The Chefs Black Book

EL TORITO CHICKEN AND LIME SOUP

Categories: Soups, Mexican
Yield: 4 servings
1 qt Chicken stock 1 c Julienne-cut tomatoes
2 Limes; (just the juice) 1/2 c Julienne-cut red onion
1 t Dried Mexican oregano 1 T Minced cilantro
1 t Dried basil 4 oz Jalapeno Jack cheese; cubed
1 t Pureed chipotle chile 2 Corn tortillas;cut in strips

1 Bay leaf 1 Avocado*
Salt & White pepper 4 Lime slices
2 Chicken breast halves* 4 Cilantro sprigs
*Note- Chicken breasts should be cooked and shredded. Avocado, peeled,
pitted and sliced. Combine stock, lime juice, oregano, basil, pureed
chipotle and bay leaf in stockpot. Season to taste with salt and white
pepper. Bring to boil. Simmer 15 minutes.
Add shredded chicken, tomatoes, red onion and cilantro. Bring to boil.
Simmer 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste. Ladle very hot soup into
warm soup bowls. Drop in cheese cubes. Garnish each serving with a few
tortilla strips, avocado slices, lime slice and cilantro sprig. Makes
about 1 quart.

El Torito's Sweet Corn Cake

Yield: 10 servings
1/4 c Butter, unsalted
2 tb Shortening
1/2 c Masa harina
3 tb Cold water
1 10 Ounce Pkg frozen corn

Kernels

3 tb Cornmeal
1/4 c Sugar
2 tb Whipping cream
1/4 ts Baking powder
1/4 ts Salt

1) Whip butter and shortening in mixing bowl until fluffy and
creamy.
Add masa harina gradually and mix thoroughly. Add water gradually,
mixing thoroughly. 2) Blend corn kernels until coarsley chopped.
Stir
into masa mixture. 3) Mix cornmeal, sugar, whipping cream, baking
powder and salt in large bowl. Add butter-masa mixture; mix until
blended. 4) Pour masa mixture into 8" greased baking pan. Cover
with
foil and bake at 350 degrees until corn cake is firm, 40 to 50
minutes. Allow to stand at room temperature 15 minutes before
cutting
into squares. Or use ice cream scoop to serve. Each serving
contains
about: 147 calories; 76 mg sodium; 16 mg cholesterol; 9 grams
fat; 17
grams carbohydrates; 2 grams protein; 0.21 grams fiber.

El Torito Sweet Corn Cake

Recipe By : El Torito Restaurant, California
Serving Size : 12 Preparation Time :0:30

1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup masa harina
3 tablespoons cold water
10 ounces corn kernels
3 tablespoons cornmeal
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
My favorite, and well worth the effort. Masa harina comes in a bag like
flour and can be found with the flour in most supermarkets. It's the flour
to use for corn tortillas. The recipe doubles easily and turns out well with
either of the two methods provided. -- Ann Weeks, Corona Method two is the
moist scoop we usually get at the restaurant. -- patH

Place butter and shortening in mixer bowl and whip until soft; continue
whipping until fluffy and creamy. Add masa gradually while mixing; add water
gradually and mix thoroughly.
Place corn kernels in blender or food processor fitted with metal blade;
coarsely chop. Stir into the masa harina. Place (regular) cornmeal, sugar,
whipping cream, baking powder and salt in large mixing bowl; mix quickly.
Add masa mixture and mix lightly, just until blended. Pour into greased
8-inch-square baking pan. Cover with foil.

Method 1: Bake in 350-degree oven 40 to 50 minutes or until corn cake has a
firm texture.
Method 2: Place pan in a larger pan and pour boiling water half way up corn
cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees 40 to 50 minutes, checking water level and
adding more boiling water, if necessary. When cooked through, remove corn
cake pan from water.
Let cooked cake stand at room temperature for few minutes before cutting
into squares or using a small ice cream scoop to serve.
Makes 10 to 12 small servings. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.