| My ex reminded me last week that the holiday | | | | don't want the mixture to be too wet.Too wet. |
| that "my people" celebrate was coming up.My | | | | I just made that term up.Get out two frying |
| people. He was, of course, being facetious, | | | | pans. Get them out of where? That's rather up |
| but I smacked him anyway. Well, he's a | | | | to you. Depends on where you keep yours. Put |
| thousand miles away, so I virtually smacked | | | | a nice half inch layer or so of oil in one, |
| him. Same effect.My people. Like I even speak | | | | and just heat the other. (Almost had a typo |
| Spanish. My father wouldn't teach us when we | | | | there. Almost said eat the other, which would |
| were growing up because he didn't want us to | | | | be wrong. That is no way to get more iron in |
| be stigmatized. Only the last name gave us | | | | your diet.) Heat the oil now or later, |
| away as it was.Still, I do like to celebrate | | | | depending on if you're going to cook them now |
| Cinco de Mayo. The Fifth of Mayonnaise. I | | | | or later. I usually fry them as I go.Heat the |
| love mayonnaise.For this Cinco de Condiment, | | | | tortillas one at a time in the hot skillet. |
| my love wanted to make turkey taquitos for | | | | When hot and pliable, and therefore easily |
| his office party. So I am, even now, roasting | | | | bendable, take out of the pan, put a good |
| turkey parts for said taquitos. Have you ever | | | | heaping tablespoon of turkey mixture on the |
| had turkey taquitos? Around here we have them | | | | tortilla, and roll it tightly. Secure with a |
| after major holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving | | | | toothpick. (Did you think we bought the |
| . . . because that's usually when there's | | | | toothpicks just for fun?) Sometimes tortillas |
| leftover turkey. Turkey is a primary | | | | aren't as bendable as we might wish. This is |
| ingredient in turkey taquitos, as you may, or | | | | too bad. Heat them longer.Put the secured |
| may not, have gathered from the name. I | | | | taquito in the hot oil. Let it sit there and |
| dunno. Some of you are probably quicker than | | | | brown. Of course, while it's doing this, roll |
| others about these things.There is no | | | | up another one and stick that in there too. |
| mayonnaise in turkey taquitos. A recipe | | | | Watch taquitos carefully. We want them crispy |
| featuring mayonnaise will be arriving | | | | but not lethal. Turn them over while they |
| shortly, but this isn't it.This is a recipe | | | | cook. We're not deep frying them after all, |
| for turkey taquitos. Keep in mind that I can | | | | it just seems that way. The oil should not |
| barely read directions, much less give them, | | | | cover the taquitos fully, only about halfway. |
| so this may be a bit haphazard.First step: Go | | | | That's why you turn them over.When the first |
| to the store. Any store. Well, not just any | | | | taquito is crispy but not overdone (and this |
| store. A store that sells what you need. We | | | | is rather subjective - mine are at times a |
| went to Central Market because I wanted to | | | | bit chewy just because I like 'em that way), |
| show Bruno (my boyfriend's alias) what a fun | | | | remove it gently and put it on a plate with a |
| place it is. He stuck his finger in one of | | | | paper towel to soak up the oil. Do not use |
| the crab tanks and irritated a crab, who | | | | your fingers for this procedure, except to |
| tried to grab his finger and run off with it. | | | | handle the tongs. This is hot oil, after all. |
| The crab, fortunately, was unsuccessful in | | | | Repeat this procedure for the several dozen |
| this endeavor. Whew. Close call. Anyway, | | | | taquitos to follow. You can make a whole |
| Central Market has lots of cool stuff. Live | | | | buncha taquitos before you know it.Growing |
| food. Dead food. The mess of octopus on ice | | | | up, I was often the victim of burnt fingers |
| was something I could have done without. | | | | because my stepmother would make me stand |
| Organic food. Free range chicken. Bulk herbs. | | | | over the stove for hours heating tortillas to |
| Skullsplitter ale, which I wanted just | | | | her specifications. For years I suffered from |
| because of the name. A deli section where one | | | | post-taquito stress syndrome. Just the |
| could just do all their shopping, thereby | | | | thought of making taquitos was enough to make |
| making the rest of the store | | | | my fingertips itch. Do not overdo it. You can |
| redundant.Anyway. Go to the store. We looked | | | | cook them in batches. You can cook some now |
| at turkeys. Then we looked at the turkey | | | | and some later. This is not a marathon to see |
| breasts next to the turkey. And we went for | | | | how much damage one can do to oneself. Once, |
| the turkey breasts. Three of 'em. Saves me | | | | when my hand was sprained, she made me take |
| the trouble of wrestling with a turkey. I am | | | | off the wrap that was holding it together so |
| nothing if not lazy. Also buy tortillas, and | | | | I could bake cookies for her, the kind you |
| bend them to make sure they're fresh and | | | | had to roll in your hand. She was mean. |
| pliable. And either fresh salsa, or make your | | | | Besides, she always overcooked hers. Both |
| own. And vegetable oil. And toothpicks. Some | | | | taquitos and cookies.Serve the taquitos with |
| dark sweet beverage, if you're feeling like | | | | guacamole and sour cream. Okay, some of you |
| it.Method of cooking turkey: See, this all | | | | don't like sour cream. That's why I only |
| depends on what one plans on doing with the | | | | bought a small sour cream - I can eat the |
| turkey. For enchiladas, stewed chicken works | | | | stuff straight, but other people have a |
| best. For taquitos, roasted turkey works | | | | problem with it. I don't know why.These can |
| best. Something about the dryness or lack | | | | be eaten either hot or cold. Technically, |
| thereof of the meat. I roast my turkey in a | | | | everyone thinks they're supposed to be hot, |
| turkey roaster, but I suppose you could also | | | | but it ain't so. If made properly, and |
| use an oven. The recipe for how to roast a | | | | drained properly, they're quite good any time |
| turkey will be out later this year, when it's | | | | at all.Enjoy the holiday. I hear it won't |
| time to take those things seriously. For now, | | | | come around again until next year.Monique |
| I'm sure you can stumble through it.Roast the | | | | Young is adept at certain things, but cooking |
| turkey.Chop the turkey into chunks and | | | | is not one of them. She can be reached at |
| shreds. Add the fresh salsa or the salsa you | | | | most days of the week. |
| made yourself using the fresh ingredients. We | | | | |