Cinco de Mayo!

Time to get your celebration on because it's almost Cinco de Mayo!

According to History.com: Cinco de Mayo—or the Fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States.

So let's celebrate! Pick your favorite festive Rick Bayless party dish from any of his cookbooks or online and post it on May 5th or anytime by Sunday, May 6th to join in the Cinco de Mayo fun!

Don't forget to link up with Mr. Linky below so that we can all see your fabulous creation. Please remember to leave a comment after linking up so that we're sure to see your post as soon as it goes up.

If you're new to IHCC, please see our WELCOME post for all of the details to join in the fun!

And, if you happened to miss last week's From the Earth roundup, take a minute to check out all of the fabulous earth-inspired dishes everyone made. 

How will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?!? 

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Cinco de Mayo with Rick* Participants

1. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Salsa and Cheese Sopes 2. Michelle - bacon & tomato guacamole 3. Karen (Karen Cooks) - Queso Fundido 4. Pork Tinga 5. Natashya - Bacon-Flavoured Gorditas with Roasted Poblano Guacamole

6. Leslie - Sopa Azteca (Tortilla Soup) 7. Deb in Hawaii--Agua Fresca Veraniega & Roasted Garlic Guacamole 8. Simple-Baking 9. Heather - Blood Orange Margaritas 10. Julie ~ Tequila Infused Queso Fundido

11. Kim-Tropical Margaritas 12. Debbie@The Friday Friends--Mexican Eggs 13. JamieK - Crispy Chicken Tacos

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From the Earth

Just because Earth Day was "officially" yesterday doesn't mean we can't carry it on into this week and have an extended celebration in our kitchens.  So with that in mind, head into the kitchen to create a dish with Rick that includes something grown in the earth such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, or berries (to start...).

Or maybe you'd like to choose something that is fed from the earth.  Or combine both.  The possibilities are endless.

How do you feel like honoring this amazing Earth that we live on this week?  Make your choice of Rick Bayless dish that includes food grown in or fed from the earth and bring it back here to share with everyone this week.  Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Make and post your From the Earth post by Sunday, April 29th. Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

If you missed the Sauces and Salsas theme last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the delicious dishes everyone brought!  Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Rick Bayless right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of his recipes for your post!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *From the Earth* Participants

1. Deb in Hawaii--Avocado Soup w/ Tomatillo & Orange 2. Natashya - Roasted New Potato Salad with Poblano Mayo 3. Michelle - Quick Fried Zucchini w/ Toasted Garlic and Lime 4. Kitchen Flavours - Garlicky Mashed Potatoes

5. Chaya - Salsa Mac and Cheese 6. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas with Tomatillo Sauce 7. Karen (Karen Cooks) - Chicken with Capers 8. Heather - Creamy Chicken & Spinach w/ Roasted Poblanos

9. Kim-Pollo Pulquero 10. JamieK-Mexican Scalloped Potatoes 11. Leslie: Lime-Cilantro Vinagreta 12. Yvette - Horchata; Almond-rice cooler

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Sauces and Salsas!

Everyone knows that the condiments are the dash of exciting every spread needs, and Rick Bayless is the king of sauces and salsas - los condimentos!

Whether you are adding the heat or the sweet, sauces and salsas add life to your meals.

So whip up your Sauces and Salsas from one of Rick Bayless's recipes, post on or by Sunday April 22nd, and link up with Mr. Linky, below to share with the rest of us!

If you're new to IHCC, please see our WELCOME post for all of the details to join in the fun!

And while you're thinking about what to make this week, check out the sweet treats we made last week! 

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Sauces and Salsas* Participants

1. Heather - Mac & Cheese w/ Roasted Jalapeño-Tomato Salsa 2. Vianney ~Salsa Roja de Chile de Arbol 3. Kim-Jalapeno-Baked Fish with Roasted Tomatoes and Potatoes 4. Kitchen Flavours - Hot Sauce

5. Natashya - Huaraches with Black Beans and Salsa 6. Karen - Grilled Garlic & Pineapple Guacamole 7. Deb In Hawaii--Tangy Green Guacamole w/Tomatillo Salsa 8. Michelle - Pickled Jalapeno Dressing

9. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Guacamole 10. Debbie@The Friday Friends, Lime Cilantro Dressing 11. Leslie - Tangy Peanut-Avocado Salsa

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Sweet Tooth

 Does your sweet tooth speak to you morning, noon, and night... tempting 

you with thoughts of sugary goodness?  Well, it's time to give in.

Give in to smooth and creamy melted chocolate.

Churros anyone?

 Give in to silky smooth caramel delights.

So many flans.  So little time.

 Give in to spice.

Cinnamon Frosted Brownies and Spicy Chocolate Sauce will do just fine.

Give in to fruity banana sundaes topped with dulce de leche.

What are you waiting for?

Stop fighting your sweet tooth!

This week is the time to let your sweet tooth be your guide. Make and post your Sweet Tooth recipe on or before April 15th. Don't forget to link up your post with Mr. Linky below so we don't miss your fabulous creation.  If you're new to IHCC, please see our Welcome page for more details.  Also, please leave a comment after linking.  

We welcomed Rick with a bang last week, cooking up all kinds of wonderful recipes.  If you happened to miss out, please follow this link to be redirected to our Bienvenido Rick theme.

I Heart Cooking Clubs aims to be an easy-going cooking club.  The only rule is that we cook along with our featured chef, which at the moment happens to be Rick Bayless.  Other than that, feel free to join in when you can.  When time doesn't permit, no worries.  As always, if you have a question please feel free to leave it in the comments section of this post.  A special welcome to all our new members.  It's great cooking along with you! 

images from google search and www.rickbayless.com

I Heart Cooking Club *Sweet Tooth* Participants

1. Heather - Lime Zest Ice Cream 2. Kim-Creamy Mango Ice 3. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Mexican Rosettes 4. Kitchen Flavours - Paletas 5. Simple-Baking

6. Karen - Grilled Cornmeal Pound Cake 7. Deb in Hawaii--Classic Mexican (Brown) Rice Pudding 8. Donna-Impossible cake with homemade Cajeta 9. Natashya - Churros! 10. Debbie@ The Friday Friends

11. Yvette - Grilled bananas with homemade cajeta and cream 12. Leslie - Sweet Quince Tamales w/ Cheese 13. JamieK - Mango-Lime Ice

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¡Bienvenido Rick! (Welcome to IHCC Rick Bayless!)

You might know Rick Bayless from his PBS series, or as the first Top Chef Masters winner, or maybe you have tried one of his Frontera Foods products, or seen one of his countless magazine or newspaper articles, or drooled over one of his seven cookbooks...

Well now it is time to get to know him even better as we cook along with Rick Bayless for the next six months!

¡Bienvenido Rick!

Let's fiesta and welcome Rick in style this week! Make any Rick Bayless recipe you like from one of his cookbooks, his website or online recipe links.

Just make and post your Bayless dish by Sunday, April 8th.


Don't forget to link up with Mr. Linky below so that we can all see your fabulous creation. Please remember to leave a comment after linking up so that we're sure to see your post as soon as it goes up.

If you're new to IHCC, please see our WELCOME post for all of the details to join in the fun!

And, if you happened to miss our very last week with Tessa Kiros (We will miss you Tessa!), just click HERE to check out the Goodbye Tessa dishes.

What dish will you say ¡Bienvenido Rick! with?

I Heart Cooking Clubs *¡Bienvenido Rick!* Participants

1. Michelle - Queso Fundido con Hongos y Chile Chipotle 2. Leslie: Micheladas 3. Heather- Chilied Tortilla Soup w/ Kale 4. Natashya - Flour Tortillas 5. Kitchen Flavours - Chillied Peanuts and Pumpkin Seeds

6. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Zucchini Mushroom Tacos with Flour Tortillas 7. Donna-Queso Fresco 8. Debbie@The Friday Friends - Cowboy Beans 9. Karen - Garlicky Black Pepper Tortilla Chips 10. Kim- Chipotle Shrimp

11. JamieK 12. Yvette - Flour Tortillas 13. Deb in Hawaii--Creamy Corn Soup w/ Vegetables & Poblano Chile 14. Vianney ~ Creamy Chicken and Greens with Roasted Poblano and Caramelized Onion

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