Monday, December 29, 2008

Taquito New Year's Party

When I was nineteen, Santa gave me some cash for Christmas, instead of the usual mall gift certificates he'd been accustomed to bringing in my teenage years. I got on the phone the next day and booked a flight to visit my friend Holly in San Francisco for New Year's. No way was that cash going to sit in my pocket! Holly was my gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer look alike friend with the sweetest laugh, like a bird and a Disney princess and a sunshiney birthday party, exactly the opposite of my goose-honking guffaws. Although we jetted around San Francisco all week long in our Cavaricci jeans, the thing I remember best about my New Year's visit was the taquitos. Taquitos. Oh, mama. Holly's family had the tradition of eating them on New Year's Eve. She told me how to make them and sent me on my way, and you better believe we've had them every New Year's since. (Holly's family -which now includes her five children and husband in NYC-even had them for Christmas Eve this year, too.) And the trend is spreading, I'll tell you. Once you've been to a New Year's taquito party, you just see if anything else will suffice for ringing in the New Year. (Pictured are baked (instead of fried) chicken taquitos with grapefruit salsa.)
First of all you'll need a filling. Begining in November, I make extra pot roasts, shreded chicken, etc knowing that these babies will be waiting in the freezer until the last night of the year. But don't worry if you didn't start in November, it's still not too late. I'm making some today too, since I make approximately 300 for my giant Italian family. My favorite fillings are green chili chicken, and a red chili beef, but I also do a vegetarian filling with black beans, mushrooms, jalapeno, etc. You'll need about 2 scant tablespoons of filling for each taquito. Heat corn tortillas on a dry hot griddle, or in the microwave between damp paper towels. Wrap the tortillas in a dish towel to keep them hot. Then place the filling inside the tortilla and roll it up and place it on a cookie sheet. Place the finished taquitos in the freezer. After a couple of hours, separate them and place them in zip top baggies back in the freezer, where they will patiently wait until needed. On New Year's night, you fry them in hot oil (or you can brush them with oil and bake them like the ones above) until golden brown and crispy and serve them with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream. And then you wake up on New Year's Day and repeat. And repeat. Indefinitely. And you'll think you're starting the New Year in paradise.
Trust me; you'll love them. Leave a comment with a taquito testimonial if you've had them before!
And as for Christmas...
Here's a mural that the two charges painted, just in case Santa lost his way in a snow storm....
And my little boy, fast asleep, dreaming about the zero gravity car that he was sure he was getting....
And walking over for Christmas breakfast at Grandma's house
And checking out the loot with their cousin A
And in costume for our annual sincere and scrappy Nativity.
Did I tell you what I got from the man in red? A Latin primer. Ergo, I'd better get started conjugating. I got the Quiet Man the complete collection of Sherlock Holmes. Elementary, my dear Watson. I can't wait to get my hands on that, too. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and continue to enjoy it all week, month, and year long.
See you tomorrow with Mile High Cheesecake!

42 comments:

Mary Ann said...

Prudy, I think you must read my mind every day. I have been wanting to make homemade taquitos for some time because my Hubby loves, loves this certain kind from the store. I am going to have to do it.
I am making your Fresh Corn Tamales for New YEARS. I can't wait!

Mary Ann said...

oh, and how cute is that sign for Santa? Your kids are so cute.

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Sooo lovely that you used that cash to visit your friend in SF!! Can't go wrong with great company :-)

Lovely photos from THIS Christmas as well; and hooray for Taquitos for the new year!!

JJ said...

We went to El CHolo's for dinner Saturday night..YUMMY! Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas with a verde sauce, guac and chips, warm tortillas with butter and salt (old-school, like they used to serve when you sat at the table)...it was lovely and I thought of you! Will have to make taquitos on New Years Day as I sacrificed my New Years Eve for a cheaper airfare!

gigi said...

Oh yum! Wish I was in Utah, I'd stop by for a taquito! Fun Christmas pictures and family story. Happy New Year!

Katie and Mark said...

Aunt Prudie-

Mark and I are going to be joining Grandma and Grandpa for New Years Eve. Does that mean I will be priveldged wnough to try yours beofre attempting my own? : )

They look delicious!

Aggie said...

I love taquitos! However, I have only had them from the freezer section of Costco and maybe once in a restaurant. Not anymore!! And I can bake them too! Thanks for the delicious recipe!

Your kids are so adorable leaving that large note for Santa!!

Aggie said...

Ok...and I forgot to mention...300 taqitos?!?! Holy...

Deb in Hawaii said...

I love Taquitos but have never made my own. I can't believe you make 300 of them--hope you get some help with it! These look delicious. It looks like you had a great Christmas--cute pictures! Have a wonderful New Years too.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Ummmmm.... I LOVE taquitos!

Your babies are just precious! I'll bet they had a fantastic Christmas.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Happy New Year! The children are still beautiful. Enjoy the rest of the holiday.

Cathy said...

These taquitos look amazing, Prudy! In fact, just SAYING taquitos makes me feel like I'm at a party! I can't wait to try these.

Looks like your family had a great Christmas -- sweet, sweet pictures of your little ones! I love the note they left for Santa!

Ali said...

Can I get that beef recipe? My husband would love the red meat version (alas, no chicken for me) but I can't seem to find it in the recipe logs.

We'll be in Cedar City...maybe I can just drive by for some to go!!!

Prudy said...

Ali:
I cook a pot roast on the stove with a can of dice mexican style tomatoes, an onion, a couple of cloves of garlic, and a heaping tablespoon of chili powder (or dried red chilies). When the meat is fork tender, I boil the juices down and remove any fat. I shred the beef and remove any fat again and then let it get cold. That's all! Good luck!

Tracy said...

I have never made taquitos! I've got to move somewhere where there's more of a Latin population so I can eat more of that kind of food.

Love the Christmas banner!

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

I love these. I am glad you reminded me to make some. Love all your holiday photos. Merry Christmas and Happy New year!

Anonymous said...

The taquitos look wonderful (and the beef version sounds good, too). But...what happened to Christmas in Italy? I was looking forward to that!

Clumbsy Cookie said...

So cute to see the kids with their jammies going for breakfast! The taquitos look and sound delicious! I also want them for my New's Year!

Prudy said...

Anonymous:
It's still coming, promise! The Italian children get presents on January sixth from La Befana, so I've still got a little time. Thanks so much for reading and for being interested! It'll keep me on my toes!

Shelby said...

I really love how these look and especially love how they are baked!

Your children are so beautiful!!

vanillasugarblog said...

I love taquitos! And thank the heavens above even hubby likes them. I make mine with chicken or ground sirloin, and for those times I wanted us to eat healthier I've used the tofu crumbles (seasoned well) and hubby never knew the difference!
Happy New Year if I don't see you again!

Anonymous said...

Yum, yum, and yum!

I have leftover turkey and some cans of green chiles . . . hmmm . . .

Oh, and I added a link to your blog on my website.

Emily said...

It looks like you had a wonderful Christmas! I am sure that your New Years will be amazing to wit htaquitos to enjoy! (I love them!) Happy New Year!

Fantastic Mr. R said...

New Year's just would not be as wonderful without salty taquitos and lots and lots of guacamole. I look forward to this meal ALL YEAR long. I promise.
Your veggie version are the best I have ever had in my life, and I can't wait to have them.
If anyone out there has never made them, try them! Make the works to go with them and it will be a night to never forget.
Wish we were there to fry (taquitos, of course) all night with you. Happy 2009!
ps...the kids look so sweet.

Deanna said...

Yummy! I am having a ton of people over on the 2nd for a huge football party. This should satisfy the crowds very well.

Michal said...

i remember back in our college days you taught me how to make these one day between christmas and new years. we had ours on new year's eve at your suggestion and it was my favorite ny eve food ever. alas, my husband prefers to ring in the new year with my family's old tradition of monte cristo sandwiches and homemade applesauce. don't get me wrong, that's all well and good and takes me back to my childhood, but every year and wheedle and beg for him to let me do taquitos instead. and then every year i give in because he wants the monte cristos and he rarely cares.
maybe this year i'll make them for new year's day. we'll have the deep fryer out anyway . . . hmm

Anonymous said...

ahaha SO awesomely cool Erin.... you have the Archie's playing on your blog.. my fav...fav!

And Taquitos.... oh I loved getting them on the corner in Mexico and fondly remember all the green taxi bugs.. YUM.. What a fab way to enjoy some holiday eats, and the pictures of the kiddies, SWEET... and did you say mile high cheesecake?

Di said...

Great holiday pictures! The taquitos sound yummy.

Allison said...

"Prudy" How fun to find you! I am so excited to get more of your recipes! I make the pizza one I got from Jaye all the time. Happy Holidays to you and your family, we miss you all.

The Blonde Duck said...

Note to self: make taquitos. Slurp. I made a new enchilada recipe tonight. I think SA is turning me Texican! :)

MK and Co. said...

It would not be New Years without Taquitos! I love this meal and still remember the first time my talented sister introduced our family to this wonderful tradition for New Years. You kept making taquitos and your family kept right on eating them!
I love this meal! It really is ideal for this long night Holiday. It keeps it casual and promotes fun conversations in the kitchen while those lovely taquitos are being fried. I wish I was there to eat a few with you. Do we have a taquito record yet Prudy? I wonder if we could beat our taco one?
Happy New Years to you and your beautiful kids!

Esi said...

Taquitos are one of my favorite foods! Such a good idea to make different kinds of fillings in advance. Happy New Year!

Navita (Gupta) Hakim said...

thanks for appreciating the malpua so much..wish could share them with you :)


he he he zero gravity..tell ur son, thts on my wish list too :p

Marie Rayner said...

Ohhh Taquitos!! I must try these. I love anything Mexican. Your Christmas photos are wonderful. You have such a lovely family. Happy New Year!

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grace said...

how glorious! if i had taquitos within my reach every day, i'd eat them every day. great way to ring in the new year.
and the kiddos are adorable. :)

Cynthia's Blog said...

I do taquitos for New Years too! Eat and be well! Prospero Ano!

Patsyk said...

We love taquitos! I will have to make them now that I have seen your recipe! My kids will be thrilled.

Anonymous said...

I have been wide awake since three a.m. and am ravenous after catching up on my blog reading. If I had all of the ingredients, I would be in the kitchen right now whipping them up.

Your children are beautiful. I love the picture of your sleeping son!

Anonymous said...

I love the Nativity! That's the sweetest thing ever. It looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas! Happy New Year too (see... I'm catching up!)

~Cat

American Homemaker said...

I've never had homemade taquitos... I totally wanna try them now :)