Tres Leches

Posted on August 15, 2019 by ssalazarblogs

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Tres Leches by Kimberly Salazar
Story and Photos by Samantha Salazar

A grandmother’s kitchen has the ability to culminate and build a sense of love for food and cooking that would last a lifetime.

Kimberly Salazar, sophomore psychology major, fell victim to this phenomenon as she developed an infatuation with cooking in her grandmother’s kitchen in Laredo, Texas.

“Some of my first memories involve me and my grandma assembling the Christmas tamales while the football game played in the background,” she describes.

Not only did her grandmother influence her passions to cook, but the culture of Laredo had a big impact on the type of food Salazar was most interested in eating and most importantly, cooking.

“Mexican food. I love eating, making, thinking about, and dreaming about Mexican food,” she says. “It’s basically in my veins.”

Since coming to St. Mary’s, cooking has become an even more substantial part of her life. Salazar connects with other St. Mary’s students and likes to do what she does best.

“I love being a student at St. Mary’s because I’m surrounded by so many cultures, especially the Mexican culture and that has only escalated my love for the food,” she says.

Specifically, Salazar loves tamales, menudo, and anything that is covered in mole. However, her favorite dishes are the ones that are the sweetest.

“My favorite part of any meal is dessert,” she says.

Salazar’s overwhelming sweet-tooth is one of the many reasons she chose her favorite dessert of all time, tres leches.

“I chose tres leches because it is not only one of my favorite desserts to make, it reminds me of special times when I was younger.”

Not only is it delicious, Salazar chose the dessert because it represented a specific memory she has of her and her grandmother that she cherishes dearly.

“Tres leches was actually the first dessert I ever made with my grandma,” Salazar describes. “I didn’t get to do much because I was so young, but I remember feeling so important doing all the mixing.”

Salazar advises that future chefs remember to let the cake cool before adding the milks. “Do not forget to let the cake cool before adding the milks,” she says. “It won’t absorb correctly unless it’s room temperature.”

Although Salazar’s grandmother is no longer around, she still finds time to do what they loved to do together.

“She isn’t around anymore, but I feel as if memories will always live on through her recipes and that’s what’s important to me.”

 

Ingredients

• 1 stick of butter

• 6 large eggs

• ¼ tsp baking soda

• ¼ tsp salt

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 ½ cups milk

• 1 twelve oz. can evaporated milk

• 1 fourteen oz. can sweetened condensed milk

• 5 strawberries

 

Directions

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, combine egg whites, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Then, beat mixture on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add egg yolks to the whites and beat until completely combined. With the mixer running on slow, add sugar until combined completely. Using a rubber spatula, fold in butter. Sift ¼ cup flour on top of the mixture and fold to combine. Repeat with the remaining flour, folding in ¼ at a time. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cake bake until golden brown, remove from oven and let cool. Whisk together the milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk. Finally, Pour the mixture over the cake and let absorb for 3 to 5 minutes. Makes 12 servings.

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Cream Cheese Muffin Puffs

Posted on April 15, 2019 by jacquelinebracero

 

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Cream Cheese Muffin Puffs by David Culbreth
Story and Photos by Jacqueline Bracero

If you ever wanted to try a piece of cinnamon sugar heaven, David Culbreth, senior computer engineering and math major, shares a recipe that hits the spot. His Cream Cheese Muffin Puffs are cinnamon sugar coated biscuits filled with a gooey cream cheese center.
Despite Culbreth’s busy schedule, he tries to bake when he has the time. His baking preference includes treats such as cheesecake, his favorite, and cream cheese muffin puffs.
Culbreth explains how he learned this recipe from his mother, who makes it for their annual Easter Gathering.
According to Culbreth, the recipe as been a family tradition “for as long as [he] can remember.” He claims that these puffs are always a crowd pleaser.
As the community coordinator for the Honors Program, Culbreth let his coworkers try his puffs. The staff members of The Village Residence Halls at St. Mary’s confirmed that the cream cheese muffin puffs were a crowd pleaser.
Culbreth has some tips to make sure the cream cheese muffin puffs are perfect. His first tip is to make sure to completely wrap the cheese cube with the biscuit by pinching the opposite sides of the dough together and then flattening the sides. Once the sides are flattened, fold the sides to the opposite sides.
Also, Culbreth recommends placing the flaps down when placing them on the muffin tin.
“It’ll prevent them from opening up in the oven, keeping the cheese inside,” he says.
The cream cheese muffins puffs are an easy way to impress your friends with a warm sweet treat. Just to make sure to have it with a cup of milk.

Cream Cheese Muffin Puffs

Ingredients
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1⁄8 teaspoon almond extract
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1⁄4 cup butter
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
• 1 (7 1/2 ounce) can refrigerated biscuits (Buttermilk or Country)

Makes 10 muffin puffs.

Directions
First, Heat oven to 375°. Then, melt margarine in a bowl.  Cut cream cheese into 10 cubes. In a second small bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon and extract. Dip cheese cube in sugar mixture, then place in the center of a biscuit. Then, fold dough over cheese, pinching to seal. Roll dough into ball; dip the dough ball into margarine and then the sugar mixture again. Place seam side down in an ungreased muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining 9 biscuits and cheese cubes. Bake for 12-18 minutes at 375° or until golden brown.

 

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Camarones a la Diabla

Posted on February 15, 2019 by jpcoronado

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Camarones a la Diabla by Karina Tobias
Story and Photos by John Paul Coronado

Karina Tobias, junior international business and international relations double major, enjoys all types of food from different cultures, but she cannot take any of her food plain—only spicy! Mexican food is her favorite because of her Mexican culture. Tobias’s taste for spicy food matches her spicy and upbeat personality. Tobias is from McAllen, Texas, where her taste for spicy food comes from.
“If I had to choose any food besides Mexican food, it would have to be Italian. Pasta can be combined with the proper ingredients that can create a party in your mouth,” Tobias says.
Tobias does not get to go home very often because of work and school. When she feels homesick, she brings home to her residence hall. She creates Camarones a la Diabla to excite not only her taste buds, but also her spirit.
“I love Camarones a la Diabla because it reminds me of home and it is a dish that I grew up with. It’s a dish that makes my tastebuds and myself dance,” Tobias says.
When Tobias decides to eat Mexican food, her top three favorites are Camarones a la Diabla, tacos and Discada, which consists of many proteins like beef and pork. When it comes to tacos, she has no type of taco!
“Tacos are my go-to food item. It’s so universal, for example, they can be eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner! Why not just have tacos everyday,” Tobias explains.
“I like making Camarones a la Diabla because it’s simple to make because of the mixing of the ingredients on top of a bed of rice,” Tobias says.
When Tobias makes Camarones a la Diabla, she says that you can decide how spicy you desire.
“Many people cannot eat my version of Camarones a la Diabla because I love mine so spicy that it wakes you up, but I make it less spicy for my friends with a low tolerance of spiciness,” Tobias says.
Ingredients
• one pound of shrimp (any size)
• three Chile de arbol chilies
• two cups of water
• three tomatoes, halved
• half of an white onion, diced
• two tablespoons olive oil
• two green peppers
• one clove of garlic
• salt and pepper
Directions
1. Rinse the chile de arbol.
2. Seed and devein the chile de arbol.
3. In a blender, add tomatoes, one-fourth of onion, garlic, salt, and Chile de arbol.
4. Blend until smooth and set aside.
5. Peel shrimp
6. Add salt and pepper to the shrimp
7. In a large pan, heat olive oil.
8. Add the remaining onion and add the green peppers. Stir for one minute.
9. Add the shrimp. Stir constantly and cook for two to three minutes. (Do not overcook the shrimp or they will be rubbery.)
10. Set heat to low and add the sauce. Still and cook for an additional two to three minutes.
11. Service with bread or any tortilla.

 

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A Cheesecake Inspired by The Big Apple

Posted on December 15, 2018 by claudiajeanette

 

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Blueberry Raspberry Cheesecake by Megan Barnett
Story and Photos by Claudia Arredondo

Megan Barnett, freshman computer science major, enjoys riding her bike around the St. Mary’s campus.

When she’s not writing code or riding her bike, Barnett likes to make dessert.

Although she loves all kinds of desserts, brownies and cheesecake are her top two, with cheesecake taking the place for No. 1.
“Making cheesecake has always been one of my favorite things to do because in 2012, my family and I went to New York City and they had amazing cheesecake there. Now, whenever I make cheesecake I’m transported back to my adventure in the Big Apple,” Barnett says as she laughs.
“A hefty slice of cheesecake in New York was like $11, but it was worth it. Now I can make my own for less than that.”
Since Barnett enjoys both spending time with her friends and baking, she decided to combine the two and bake with her friend.
“It’s funny how this particular cheesecake was made. It happened because my friend and I really wanted to bake a cheesecake but instead of going to the store for one ingredient, we combined two recipes,” Barnett shares.
“Essentially, this cheesecake is a hybrid of two recipes we found online, so a Raspberry Blueberry Cheesecake.”
Barnett’s bubbly personality shows through her baking, she is precise with everything that she does and laughs throughout the whole process.

Barnett demonstrates the proper way to measure ingredients.

She emphasizes the importance of getting the measurements right before getting them near the bowl.

That way extra ingredients don’t accidentally make it into the mixing bowl.
“Sometimes if I have other berries I add those to the cheesecake as well. It’s great to have some extra color, it makes things pretty,” she says.

 

Blueberry Raspberry Cheesecake:

Ingredients

For the crust
• 2 ⅓ cups Graham Crackers
• ½ cup melted butter
• ¼ cup sugar

For the cheesecake:
• 4 (8oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 16 ounce container sour cream
• 1 ½ cups sugar
• 5 large eggs
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• ¼ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

For the topping:

• ⅓ cup all-fruit blueberry spread
• 2 6 ounce baskets fresh blueberries

Directions

Make crust:
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Wrap outside of 10-inch-diameter spring form pan with heavy-duty foil. Mix until all the crumbs are moistened. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and 2 inches up sides of prepared pan. Bake until crust begins to brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer crust to rack and cool. Maintain oven temperature.

Make filling:
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until will blended. Beat in flour. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating just until combined. Beat in sour cream, milk and vanilla. Pour filling into crust. Place spring form pan in large roasting pan, or bigger pan. Pour enough hot water into roasting pan to come 1 inch up sides of pan. Bake cheesecake until just set in center and top is slightly puffed and golden brown, about 1 hour. Turn off oven; keep door closed. Let cheesecake stand in oven 1 hour. Remove cheesecake from roasting pan with water. Refrigerate until cold, at least 6 hours. Cover; refrigerate overnight.

Make topping:
Run small sharp knife around sides of cake to loosen. Release pan sides. Transfer cake to platter. Stir blueberry spread in pan over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Spoon spread over top of cake, spreading evenly. Add blueberries to decorate, then add raspberries. Additional berries may be added for more color.

Makes 10-12 servings.

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Salmon Carpaccio

Posted on October 15, 2018 by jalvarezbibian

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Salmon Carpaccio by Gabriela Santos
Story and photos by Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian

Inspiration can come from everywhere, and certainly it can come from food as well. Not only one can get inspired from food, but one can also be transported to special places and moments in time. As a seafood lover, Gabriela Santos, sophomore engineering management major, thought about the dish she was going to prepare, her immediate response was salmon carpaccio.

“Sea food is my favorite kind of food because of the variety, the richness of flavors, [and the fact that] it is not too heavy for the stomach,” Santos admits. As part of the St. Mary’s community, Santos recognizes that “the community is very welcoming and friendly.” As a student, Santos’ career plans have not always been to become an engineer.

“My first choice of major was culinary arts, but when I graduated [from high school], my interest changed from culinary arts to engineering. I decided to leave cooking as a hobby. Now, my career plans are to become an engineer and work on either finance or production, or both,” Santos says. Santos decided to prepare not only her favorite kind of food, but also one of the dishes she used to enjoy back home at El Salvador.

“This dish was always prepared for special occasions or [for] celebrations in my family,” Santos says. “I chose this particular dish because it is one of my favorite and it is very easy to make.” From beginning to end, Santos enjoyed the process of preparing the carpaccio. She was even more delighted when the time came to let her friends try it and watch them enjoy the dish. The different ingredients in the carpaccio present an explosion of flavor, an intense combination of flavors one would not expect. The combination of the smoked salmon, the leek, capers and cream cheese is like no other.

“I have had good experiences most of the time; people like it when they try it. Bad experiences not so much because the flavor can be adjusted with the ingredients, easy fix,” Santos says.

Although the dish represents an excellent entrée, not everyone may enjoy it the same way. “You have to love raw sea food,” Santos says, “and to use the ingredients based on your preferences and taste of palate.”

Regardless of the particular preferences in seafood, this is a dish everyone should try and judge for themselves the unquestionable richness of flavor from beginning to end.

Ingredients

  • 4 oz of smoked salmon
  • Capers
  • 1 Leek
  • 1 tbs of olive oil
  • Juice from 1 lime
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Cream cheese (optional)
  • Ciabatta bread (optional)

Makes two servings.

Directions

First, cut the salmon as preferred (chopped or thin slices) and place on serving plate. Then, cut the leek in slices, separate each layer as much as possible, and place the slices on top of the salmon. Spread the capers over the salmon. Next, add a tablespoon of olive oil over the salmon. Do the same with the lime juice, salt, and pepper. As an option, spread cream cheese on a piece of ciabatta bread and place salmon on top.

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on August 15, 2018 by tawnydavisblog

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Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies by Lauren Cook
Story and Photos by Tawny Davis

When thinking about her favorite foods, Lauren Cook, sophomore criminal justice major, wants to curb her sweet tooth with a chocolate chip cookie. Not wanting the extra sugar and aiming to make a healthier option, she decides to make oatmeal chocolate chip cookies which are dairy free, gluten free and vegan.
Her dream job is to become a professor—a desire that helped her choose this dish because she wants to create something that is sharable, but also healthy to eat.
“I actually love all types of food out there, but I love healthier options because there are just some days where I don’t want to feel like I’m eating just pure sugar,” Cook says.
“However, there are days where I just want pure chocolate.”
Cook decided on her cookies to share with her friends because St. Mary’s “homey and small vibe” makes her feel like everyone can come together and share.
“I chose this dish because they are easy to make and you can share with all your friends and family,” Cook says.
“Anyone can make them and add whatever they want to it to make it their own dish.”
Cook says that this is an easy dish to make because it is made up of a few ingredients and any topping or other ingredient of choice can be added easily.
“You can make it your own and it just involves mixing and making them into balls,” she says.
Cook’s secret is to use dark chocolate on top of regular semi-sweet chocolate because it is the healthier better option.
“The end result should be amazing because it is awarding to know that you created this dish for you and your friends,” she concludes.
Ingredients
• 1 cup of oats
• 2 bananas
• 3 tbsp of chocolate chips (or more if desired)
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl combine mashed bananas, oats and chocolate chips
3. Spoon tablespoons of mixture onto cookie sheet
4. Bake 14 minutes until edges are brown
Makes 12 cookies.

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Rum Cake

Posted on June 15, 2018 by blogsaraj

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Rum Cake by Alexis Zepeda
Story and Photos by Sara Jauregui

This delicious Rum Cake manages to create a home away from home for the amazing chef, Alexis Zepeda, senior English major at St. Mary’s University. Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Alexis manages to bring some flavors from her family’s traditional recipes to San Antonio, where she now resides for school.

As she prepares for her future career as a graphic designer, her hobbies include art-making, photography, design, and just like any other talented foodie – eating!

“My favorite thing about attending St. Mary’s is that I am able to live in San Antonio, a city full of different flavors.” Cupcakes and ice cream are some of Alexis’s favorite sweets to try around town.

As a result, she spends a lot of time experimenting with traditional recipes by adding her favorite flavors to create new modern desserts. Alexis chooses to share this recipe because it holds a special place in her heart. This delicious Rum cake is a staple in every family function and is traditionally gifted to loved ones during the holidays from her mother.

She gives some tips on how to perfect the Zepeda family’s signature Rum cake such as pouring the glaze over the cake immediately after baking. “The warmth coming from the cake allows the glaze to seep into the cake which adds much more flavor”.

Another tip is to bake the cake for less time than the instructions from the box recommends. “Instead of baking the cake for an hour, I prefer to bake the cake for 45 minutes because it keeps the bread from losing its moisture.”

Finally, she suggests placing the finished cake on a decorative plate for visual appeal. “My family and I always gift Rum cakes to loved ones during the holidays, so every time I make one it’s like a celebration is waiting to happen!”

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 1 box of yellow cake mix (~18 oz.)
  • 1 package instant vanilla pudding mix (3.5 oz.)
  • 4 whole eggs
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 cup Rum
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Glaze:

  • 1 1/2 stick of butter
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 3/4 cup of Rum

Makes 12 servings.

Directions

Begin by preheating your oven to 325 F. Grease a bundt cake pan with cooking spray or butter. Sprinkle crushed up pecans on the bottom of the pan. Follow instructions on the box on how to prepare your yellow cake batter. Pour the batter over the pecans and smooth out. Bake for about 45 minutes, until the bread is light golden in color. For the glaze, begin by melting the butter in a saucepan. Add in water and sugar and stir until boiling. Lower the heat and stir the rum into the glaze. After letting the cake cool for a couple of minutes, and while your glaze is still warm, invert onto a serving plate and drizzle part of the glaze on top. With the help of a fork, prick the surface of the cake and continue drizzling with the rest of the glaze. Cool to room temperature and serve.

 

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Chicken and Broccoli Stuffed Pasta Shells

Posted on April 23, 2018 by nayelicervantesblog

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Joey Acevedo is an aspiring coffee shop owner who hopes to attend St. Mary’s University for his bachelor’s degree in business management.

During the week, he found himself wanting a home-cooked meal rather than a smoke-cooked meal.

This dish means a lot to Acevedo because “of the love my girlfriend put into the dish and how much of that love seeped into it.”

“She thinks I’m helpless in the kitchen but she’s about to eat her words,” Acevedo says smugly.

“This dish definitely takes a few tries to get right,” he says as he stirred the concoction of chicken, broccoli and Alfredo sauce together.

A few tips he gave was to put extra Alfredo sauce onto the pan to prevent the shells from sticking on to the pan.

He also advises anyone trying this recipe to “not forget the garlic bread!” One thing is for sure, the garlic bread and the dish is one that is going to be memorable for anyone who tries it.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of shredded chicken
  • 1 (12 oz.) bag of broccoli florets
  • 1 box of (12 oz.) of jumbo pasta shells
  • 1 (16 oz.) jar of Alfredo Sauce
  • ½ cup of grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup of mozzarella cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions: 

Cook pasta shells so that they are al dente. Drain the water from the shells and let them cool. Next, cook and shred the chicken and add to a large bowl. Add salt and pepper and other seasonings to taste. Steam the broccoli florets, drain them and then chop them up and add them to the bowl of shredded chicken. Toss the ingredients together and add 1 cup of Alfredo sauce to the mix. Prepare a greased baking pan and add about 1 spoonful of Alfredo sauce to the bottom of the pan to prevent dry or stuck on pasta shells. Arrange the shells onto the pan where they do not overlap. Add a tablespoon full of the shredded chicken, broccoli and Alfredo sauce mixture into each pasta shell.Pour the remaining Alfredo Sauce on top of the shells along with the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.

Makes 8 servings.

 

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Pizza Rolls

Posted on January 15, 2018 by alexisisabelzepeda

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Pizza Rolls by Sara Jauregui
Story and photos by Alexis Zepeda

Many college students grow tired of eating the same foods in the school cafeteria and often try and find recipes that are easy enough to cook in the kitchens located in the residence halls.
Sara Jauregui, a Sophomore art education major at St. Mary’s University, has found a quick and tasty recipe that many students may have the ability to replicate – pizza rolls. Jauregui has always loved Italian food, and anything that involves tomatoes, pasta, bread or cheese. Though these pizza rolls do not include pasta in the recipe, the other three ingredients make up for it!
Jauregui is from Alton, Texas, so she doesn’t have the privilege of eating home cooked food often. She began cooking in middle school when her mom started working. She says she isn’t the best cook, but does enjoy baking, so these pizza rolls are perfect.
Though she isn’t a professional chef, one thing Jauregui misses about cooking at home is the endless amount of supplies. Living in a dorm and figuring out what to cook with and where to cook the food is a difficult task. “Cooking is a privilege when living in a dorm. Most residence halls have ovens in the student lounges, but it’s hard to cook without a stovetop. Our ‘kitchens’ are definitely not equipped for everyday cooking,” she says.

Jauregui recommends purchasing a disposable baking sheet to bake the rolls on rather than spending money on an expensive baking sheet. As a college student, there is minimal space to store it, and it makes cleanup much easier!
This dish is one of Jauregui’s favorites to make because they only require a few ingredients, she loves pizza, and they are fun to make with the company of friends. They are the perfect snack to make either for a movie night, or even a study date because they are small, filling, and not too messy.

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Sweet Potato Hash

Posted on November 8, 2017 by nayelicervantesblog

Sweet Potato Hash by Gilbert DeHoyos

Videography and production by Nayeli Cervantes

Gilbert DeHoyos is a local San Antonio man who owns and operates Barrio Barista, a coffee shop in the west side of San Antonio, TX. DeHoyos shows us how much love he puts in his food through his words and way of cooking.

Ingredients: 

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 slice of Grain Bread
  • 1 sweet potato
  • 1/2 cup of chopped white onions
  • 16 oz. of Kiolbassa Chorizo
  • 1/2 cup of canola oil

Directions: 

Begin by heating up two frying pans with canola oil on medium heat. Chop up onions and feel free to cook with sweet potatoes  and season to taste. Cook the chorizo separately until it has browned. Once the potatoes and chorizo are thoroughly cooked, mix them together in one pan and set them aside. Lastly, fry the egg sunny side up and toast some bread. Once the egg is ready, serve on top of potatoes and chorizo and prepare to enjoy!

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