Macho Salad and Chili Cornbread

When I travel home, I love going to Bandera. The restaurant, the people, the food - just a great overall experience. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Cherry Creek Grill in Denver is actually Bandera - or a Hillstone restaurant. I normally try to avoid any sort of 'chain' restaurant, but if it's good, why fight it! I am still dying to get my hands on their jalapeno cheese dip recipe, but I have a feeling, I don't want to know what's in it. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. My sister-in-law Patti and I always order this hearty salad - it makes a great luncheon or dinner - just YUM. I will say, cut the dressing recipe in half. It makes enough for 32 dinner parties!

From my table, Cherry Creek Grill and Bandera's table to yours....


Macho Salad

Dressing:

• 1/2 cup spicy brown mustard
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup champagne vinegar
• 2 tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh garlic
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 quart + 1 cup olive oil
• Place all ingredients except oil in a bowl. Whisk in oil to emulsify by hand. Keep Chilled.

The Macho...Salad:

• 5-6 cornbread croutons
• 3 cups baby lettuces
• 1/2 cup rotisserie chicken
• 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
• 8 medjool dates, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup fresh corn kernels, raw
• 1/2 cup almonds, roasted and chopped
• goat cheese
• green onions, sliced
• dressing (recipe above)
• Directions....Toss everything together.

Cornbread like Bandera or Cherry Creek Grill

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 (15 oz) can cream style corn
• 1/2 (4 oz) can chopped green chili peppers, drained
• 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup yellow cornmeal
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Lightly grease a 12-inch cast iron skillet (use 6 inch cast iron skillets).
• In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time. Blend in cream corn, chiles, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese.
• In a separate bowl, stir together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to corn mixture; stir until smooth. Pour batter into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted into center of the pan comes out clean.
• If using the skillet - watch carefully as edges may brown too much and time should be under an hour.
  

Banana-Chocolate Chip Cake

Ever go to the store and load up on more produce than you know what to do with? Of course the intent is to mark the start of your picture perfect health...however at the end of the week you are left with a ton of overly ripe fruit and vegetables? Yeah, I know, never happened to me either! Well as they say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or in this case, when your good intentions turn into overripe bananas, make banana-chocolate chip cake.

This cake is great served with almost anything. It's not too sweet, with just enough salt. Great after spicy food or even a light fish dish. Although, it doesn't have to be just for dinner. When you are looking for that sweet treat to accompany your steaming cup of coffee, go for it, I mean...it is from that huge produce shop you did!
From my table to yours...

Banana-Chocolate Chip Cake
Ingredients:

• 2 C sugar
• 1 C butter, room temp
• 4 large eggs
• 2 C mashed bananas (well-ripened of course)
• 2 1/1 C self-rising flour
• 2 C (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Butter and flour bundt pan (tap out excess flour)
• Beat the sugar and butter together in a large bowl until well mixed.
• Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
• Reduce speed to low and beat in the bananas.
• Gradually add and beat the dry ingredients, until just blended.
• Mix in the chocolate chips.
• Spread evenly in pan
• Bake about an hour - until brown and starts to pull away from the edges of the pan.
• Place on wire rack for 10-15 min
• Flip onto the rack and cool completely

The aroma coming from your house will make every neighbor wish they were your guest!