Best of 2011 and “Hero of the Year”
We’ve filmed and featured so many incredibly delicious dishes, fascinating farm field trips and creative techniques this year. It’s almost impossible to pick favorites, but there are a few that have stuck with us throughout the year. Below is the list of Staff Picks for 2011 we hope you’ll enjoy. But before we unveil our favorite videos, we wanted to announce our HERO OF THE YEAR.
Each year, we chose a hero who has inspired us and our audience in and out of the kitchen. And of course someone who has done a bang-up job on the videos we created with them. The recipe for success on shoots is: 1) timely & accurate recipe delivery – check; 2) mise en place and swapouts ready to go – check; 3) dish incredibly delicious – check; and 4) hero incredibly easy to work with and overall “good people” – check! While they are many that fit the bill, there is a clear stand-out this year we all here at how2heroes agree on: AMANDA ESCAMILLA!
How do we love Amanda? Let us count the ways. She comes to life in the kitchen creating truly authentic Tex Mex food made from scratch and with deep love and affection for Mexican cuisine and local Massachusetts ingredients. Everything she makes we want to go home and make the next day and we talk about it for weeks. Fans have come to know and love Amanda as well and are always asking what she’ll do next. From Tortillas to Fajitas, to a fresh Ham w/ Citrus Glaze, thanks to Amanda, you can learn how to make genuine Tex Mex fare by watching all her videos on this very site. Last but not least, Amanda is probably THE nicest person you will ever meet. She’s ALWAYS in a good mood, eternally optimistic and positive even at the crack of dawn on her daily runs (follow her on Facebook and you’ll see her daily photo postings). And in true Amanda spirit, she’s always willing to jump in and help whenever she can. We are thankful to have met her and for all of you to get the chance to get to know her and her recipes. Check out Amanda’s 17(!) how-to videos. And next time you want a bright and lively catered dinner or hands-on cooking class, contact Tex Mex Eats! Keep an eye on Amanda in 2012. We think she’s onto something big!
how2heroes 2011 Staff Video Picks
Kate’s Pick
Video: Chicken Tortilla Salad with Cilantro-Lime Dressing
Hero: Cathy Walthers, author of “Raising the Salad Bar”
“I love this salad all year round! It’s so easy and delicious. A perfect mix of bright tangy flavors and an incredible crunchy texture that you’ll have trouble saying no to for second and even third helpings!”
Kelsey’s Pick
Video: Gingerbread Pancakes with Vanilla Cream
Hero: Eli Dunn, Beehive Cafe
Kelsey is on vacation but she came back from this shoot raving about these pancakes and saying they were the best thing she ate all year. Considering the hundreds of shoots she went on and the amount of things she’s tried, her seal of approval on this recipe is good enough for me.
Dave’s Pick
Video: How to Cook with Pie Irons
Hero: Carolyn Waldron-Parr, how2heroes
“How did I not know what a pie iron is? I’m always looking for easy meals to make while camping and ways to avoid doing dishes. The pie iron seems to meet both criteria pretty well! I’m looking forward to experimenting with different ingredients now that I’ve got the basics down.”
Andrew’s Pick
Video: Tequila-BBQ Chicken Tacos with Peach Salsa
Hero: Brian Poe, Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake
“What’s better than barbecue, tequila, and tacos? Not much, so luckily this dish has it all! It’s spicy, it’s sweet and so savory! Trust me. It’s impossible to have just one!“
Renata’s PickVideo: Sweet Potato Pancakes
Hero: Eric Palilunas, Trident Booksellers & Cafe
“Lynne brought sweet potato pancakes to the office early this year. It became my favorite immediately. I make it for a weekend breakfast, especially now — Christmastime.”
Carla’s Pick
Video: South Texas Pork Tamales
Hero: Amanda Escamilla, Tex Mex Eats
“I absolutely love tamales! It reminds me a lot of the taste of an arepa (Venezuelan corn ‘breads’.) This video is very thorough and you can tell Amanda totally knows her stuff. It’s a fun recipe to make with friends and family and you can get creative with the fillings.”
Carolyn’s Pick
Video: Maque Choux
Hero: Heather Tolmie, Culinary Underground
“I think I like this dish so much because of its depth of flavor. First you experience the light crunch & pop of freshly sautéed corn, onions & bell pepper that have been simmering in heavy cream. Then the heat & spice of the dish cleanses your pallet preparing you for another bite.”
Jeff’s Pick
Video: Corned Beef
Hero: Tony Maws, Craigie on Main
“I’ve always wanted to make a killer corned beef – and this is a super simple and delicious recipe. Plus, once it’s done I have lunch for a week!”
Lynne’s Pick
Video: Growing & Harvesting Hops
Hero: Gene L’Etoile, Four Star Farms
“I am a big fan of the Farm Field trips that open our minds to the source of ingredients. We’ve all enjoyed a frosty beer but how many of us have seen how hops are grown & harvested? It’s incredible to see how the hops climb up to the sky in such a short period of time. The passion and commitment of the Four Star Farms folks to produce a quality product comes through in Gene L’Etoile’s knowledgeable and sincere delivery. And I have to give full props to our crew for their dedication as they needed to make 2 long trips out to western Massachusetts to capture the beginning and end of the growing season to give you the full story.”
Amber’s Pick
Video: Grapefruit Vodka
Hero: Dave Anastasi, Rival Marketing
“Anyone can buy flavored vodka off the store shelves, but making your own is much tastier – not to mention more fun! This recipe took the intimidation out of infusing vodka and was a hit with the many friends I gifted it to.”
Khalilah’s Pick
Video: Buttermilk Pie
Hero: Tie Lewis, Glutenus Minimus “Dessert has to be more than a sugary treat for me. It has to come with a good story. Tie’s Buttermilk Pie is an homage to her grandmother, who she credits for her love of baking. With only a handful of ingredients, this is a minimalist pie, and it’s got me covered on tangy and sweet. I like it warm out the oven with a big dollop of lemon curd.”
Jason’s Pick
Video: Vegetable Minestrone
Hero: Marjorie Druker (former Hero of the Year!)
“This soup is so packed with vegetables. It’s like a full meal but also pairs great with a perfect grilled cheese sandwich. Everything Marjorie makes is made with love, but you can really feel her love and passion come through in this delicious soup!”
We’d love to know what your favorite videos are and what you’d like to see in 2012. Please let us know and thanks for tuning in!



























