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Fasy & Easy Dinner: Fresh Corn-Rice Salad

partysugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:50:44 -0700

During the Summer, it's hard not to take advantage of the plethora of farm stand produce that's available. This recipe utilizes the season's bounty of corn and tomatoes. There's no fancy ingredients or exotic spices, thus the pure and colorful freshness of the veggies is highlighted. By mixing in cooked rice, the salad becomes substantial enough to make up a whole meal. To learn the uncomplicated technique, read more.

Fresh Corn-Rice Salad
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

4 ears fresh corn
1-1/2 cups cooked rice, cooled
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup fresh arugula
1 small red onion, cut in thin wedges
1 jalapeño pepper, thinly sliced
Tbsp. rice vinegar or red wine vinegar
Tbsp. olive oil

Directions

Husk corn and remove silk with a stiff brush; rinse. Cook corn in boiling, lightly salted water for 3 minutes. Remove corn; let cool. Cut corn off the cob in planks. To cut planks, place an ear on its side on a cutting board. Holding the corn firmly with fingers away from the blade, cut off a side of the corn. Rotate and repeat until all sides are removed. Use a spatula to gently move planks to salad.
Combine cooked rice, tomatoes, arugula, onion and jalapeño pepper. Transfer to serving bowl; top with corn.
Drizzle with vinegar and olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves 10 to 12.

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Make Your Own Salsa

partysugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:41 -0700

For the first 23 years of my life, I thought salsa was something purchased at the grocery store or enjoyed at a Mexican restaurant. Then one day, I realized I could make it at home using fresh ingredients and everything changed.

The entire experience of eating salsa (with tortilla chips, of course) was enhanced. The juicy sweetness of tomatoes, the spicy heat of jalapeños, the subtle smokiness of chili powder, the crunchy bite of raw onion - it was like tasting salsa for the first time.

Don't be intimidated if you've never made salsa before, it's wildly easy and domestically rewarding. While having a food processor allows you to make salsa in mere minutes, it can also be done the old-fashioned way by finely chopping the ingredients. To check out my favorite salsa recipe read more.

Tomato Salsa
Original Recipe

Ingredients

4 large ripe tomatoes
juice of one lime
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 jalapeño, seeded (optional) roughly chopped
1/2 small white onion, roughly chopped
1/4 cup cilantro
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Fill a large pot with water. Bring to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice and water. Place next to the stove.
With a small knife, slice an X into the bottom of each tomato, being careful not to cut all the way through. Drop each tomato into the boiling water and boil until the skin starts to peel off, about 45 seconds to a minute. Remove immediately and place in the ice water bath.
When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off the skins and discard. Slice the tomatoes into large wedges.
Squeeze the lime juice into a food processor. Add the garlic, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, spices, and tomatoes.
Process until the vegetables are finely chopped and the mixture is chunky. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. If you prefer more heat, add another jalapeño or more chili powder. Enjoy with tortilla chips or however you desire!

Makes about 2 cups.

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Taste Test: Jalapeño Kettle Chips

partysugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:50:30 -0700

The other day when I went to purchase chips for a barbecue, I was surprised to see a new flavor on the supermarket shelves. Dubbed "a fiesta in a bag," jalapeño is the latest addition to the Kettle Brand family. Since I'm a huge fan of Kettle Chips, I grabbed one of the green bags - the fiery red jalapeño looked so enticing! To find out how these chips taste, read more.

With a thick crispness and satisfying crunch, the texture of the chips is signature Kettle. A slightly sweet onion flavor hits the tongue first, and it's followed by the unmistakable punch of fresh green jalapeño. In each bite there is a nice heat that's not too spicy or overpowering. There's nothing artificial about these all-natural chips, and they're incredibly addictive. While the chips are delicious on their own and a nice accompaniment to a sandwich, I wasn't too crazy about them with dip. When I dipped a chip into pico de gallo, the flavors clashed and did not complement each other. Still these chips are good; if you enjoy jalapeños, give them a chance.

Have you tried jalapeño Kettle Chips? What did you think of them?

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The Basics: Pico de Gallo

partysugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:00:34 -0700

During the Spring and Summer, you can almost always find the ingredients for pico de gallo in my fridge. This delightful Mexican condiment has a fresh tomato base and is flecked with raw onions and minced jalapeno. Just-squeezed lime juice adds a refreshing tartness. If I have cilantro, sometimes I'll stir that in, too.

To simply enjoy the pure flavor of pico de gallo, serve as a dip with crunchy tortilla chips. Or use the versatile mix in a number of creative ways. Place on top of grilled fish or steak. Stir into a salad of mixed greens or fold with cooked couscous. Toss with shredded chicken and you've got a quick filling for tacos or enchiladas frescos. Place in between soft tortillas with cheese and make quesadillas. Puree in the food processor for salsa.

See? The possibilities are endless. Get this recipe that you'll be making well into next Fall when you read more.

Pico de Gallo
From Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, cored, halved, and seeded (about 2 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup finely chopped white onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons minced, seeded jalapeno or serrano chiles (about 2 medium)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cut the tomatoes into 1/4-inch dice and place in a bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature for 1 hour for the flavors to blend.

Makes about 3 cups.

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Get Your Grill On With Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeños

partysugar — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:00:01 -0700

Recently my friend Jeffrey bragged about an amazing appetizer - cream-cheese-stuffed, bacon-wrapped grilled jalapeños - he had made for a party. Never one to be outdone, I decided immediately to make bacon-wrapped cheese-filled jalapeños that were better than his. After scouring the Internet for the perfect recipe, I chose one from Food Network because it incorporates sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil in the cream cheese mixture.

The resulting appetizer is wildly delicious, intensely spicy, and downright addictive. The most difficult part is removing the seeds from the jalapeños without cutting the entire pepper in half. For best results I recommend using a sharp paring knife and small spoon. To look at the recipe, read more.

Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeños
Modified from Food Network

Ingredients

12 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
2 cloves chopped garlic
3/4 cup grated Monterey jack cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
Pinch salt, fresh cracked pepper
16 jalapeño peppers (larger than average size will make them easier to stuff)
8-16 slices of bacon* (depends on the size of your peppers)
Skewers, soaked in cold water for at least 30 minutes

Directions

Preheat the grill.
Mix the cream cheese with chopped garlic, Monterey jack, sun-dried tomatoes, and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Mix until mixture is soft and manageable.
Slice each jalapeno lengthwise on one side, being careful not to cut the jalapeno in half. Remove the seeds if you don't think your friends can handle the heat, otherwise leave them if desired. Depending on your pepper, you may have to slice around the stem of the pepper to create a manageable opening to squeeze the filling in.
With a small spoon, scoop a liberal amount of the cream cheese mixture into each jalapeño. Be careful not to overfill as the filling may spurt out during cooking.
Wrap each pepper with a strip of bacon, securing the opening in the pepper. Secure the bacon with a skewer.
Barbecue the peppers until they're lightly roasted, or until the bacon is fully cooked. Enjoy!

Makes 16.

*For a vegetarian variation, wrap the jalapeños in a basil leaf.

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Ocho Alternative Uses For Jalapeños

YumSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 03:30:27 -0700

No matter what you're making for Cinco de Mayo - guacamole, nachos, or some other festive food - chances are, you'll be tossing in some jalapeños. At least, I know I will be. This highly versatile hot pepper pleases in all sorts of recipes, from sweet treats to cheesy breads. Check out eight unexpected uses for jalapeños.

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Hoping to Heat Up Sales, Chains Turn to Jalapeno Burgers

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:00:01 -0800

Last month, we got acquainted with Burger King's Angry Whopper, a spicy take on the chain's bestselling burger. But as it turns out, the highly anticipated, spicy-hot sandwich available for a limited time only isn't quite as unique as it might seem. Restaurant chains across the country have enhanced their menus with jalapeno-laden specials, hoping consumers' fiery appetites will lead to sizzling sales at the cash register.

In addition to the Angry Whopper, which is available in stores through the end of March, casual chain Red Robin recently unveiled its new Burnin' Love Burger, which includes, among other things, pepper-jack cheese, salsa, and fried jalapenos. Because good things can't last forever, the spicy creation is only around through April 5. Fast-food spicy burgers are nothing new, last year Wendy's aimed for something similar with its Spicy Baconator, a twist on its highly successful Baconator sandwich that included pepper-jack cheese, chipotle ranch sauce, and - what else? - jalapenos. The Spicy Baconator was available across all Wendy's locations in the US, but only for about a month.

Have you noticed any other restaurant chains with peppery new sandwich offerings? Do you think the fact that they're all seemingly limited-edition items makes them more coveted?

Jalapeno Biscuits Are Scrumptious and Spicy

YumSugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:15:47 -0800

On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I had brunch at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. While my entire meal was delicious, I especially enjoyed the variety of breads that accompanied the breakfast. There was crunchy coffee cake, dried fruit-tequila scone, and my absolute favorite: bite-sized jalapeno biscuits. The flaky biscuits were spicy without being overpowering; a perfect balance of heat. I loved them so much I decided to experiment with a homemade re-creation. These scrumptious and easy-to-make biscuits were similar to the ones I ate at the restaurant. They would be a perfect accompaniment to a big bowl of chili or a hearty black bean soup. If you are sensitive to spiciness, be sure to remove all of the seeds and white membrane from the jalapeno. To get started on your own spicy buttermilk biscuits, read more.

Jalapeno Buttermilk Biscuits
Adapted from Bobby Flay Black Pepper Biscuits

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces, plus 2 tablespoons, melted
3/4 cups cold buttermilk
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 jalapeno diced, remove seeds and white membrane

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Using a dough cutter, combine until ingredients are incorporated.
Scatter the cold butter pieces over the top of the flour mixture and continue to combine until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the jalapeno and buttermilk and pulse until the mixture just begins to come together.
Scrape the dough onto a lightly flour counter. Pat the dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle about 3/4-inch thick. Use a round cutter or glass with the rim dipped in flour to cut out biscuits. Press together the scraps of dough, and repeat process.
Place the biscuits on baking sheets lined with parchment paper; brush the tops with cream. Bake the biscuits for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and brush the tops with melted butter.

Makes 20 biscuits.

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The Amazing Rice: Rice, Chorizo, Shrimp Stuffed Poblanos

partysugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:15:06 -0700

My rice journey continues with these scrumptious stuffed poblanos. I had chorizo in my fridge, so when I stumbled across this recipe I knew I had to make it. The chorizo is cooked with spicy and sweet peppers making for a flavorful rice base. Shrimp is stirred in at the last minute adding a surf-and-turf layer to the dish. Although the recipe doesn't call for it, I mixed a couple of tablespoons of cheese in with the rice before stuffing the peppers. The final stuffed pepper is a meal in itself that would be delicious at a Mexican fiesta. To see how I made it, read more.

Rice, Chorizo, Shrimp Stuffed Poblanos
From From Guy Fieri

Ingredients

1 tablespoon oil
1/2 pound Mexican-style chorizo
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno, minced
1 red onion, diced
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
1 cup short-grain rice
1 cup low-sodium chicken stock
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup water
6 large, fresh poblano chiles (also known as pasilla peppers)
1 pound shrimp, shelled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup Cheddar, shredded
3/4 cup Jack cheese, shredded

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat oil and chorizo, cook for 3 minutes.
Add peppers, jalapeno, onions and garlic. Cook until translucent about 8-10 minutes.

Add the rice and Stir, cooking until all the grains of the rice are coated with oil.
Add all liquids and stir over high heat for 3 minutes, cover and reduce heat to low. Check rice for doneness after 20 minutes.

Meanwhile preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place poblano chiles on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Once cool, cut top 1/4 of chile off and remove ribs and seeds.

When rice is finished cooking, fluff with fork and stir in shrimp.
Stuff chiles with 1/6 of the rice mixture.

Place all the chiles on baking sheet and place into oven for 10 minutes.
Remove from oven, mix cheeses together and cover pepper with cheese. Broil for 3 minutes to melt and brown the cheese.

Makes 6 stuffed peppers.*

*Since I was cooking for myself, I halved the recipe. However there was enough rice mixture to stuff 4 peppers.

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Icy, Spicy Cantaloupe and Cucumber Paletas

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:15:56 -0700

With the end of Summer fast approaching, I made a Popsicle inspired by Mexican paletas, a mostly pureed frozen fruit dessert that's either ice- or cream-based. After chopping up a cantaloupe last week, I wanted to combine it with a crisp cucumber and spicy jalapeño to create a refreshing yet snappy paleta.Zealous with my jalapeño, I chopped up an entire thing, seeds and all, and threw it in the blender. The result was too spicy for my taste, so I balanced the heat by adding a touch of sugar. Depending on your personal taste, I would recommend removing the seeds and the white flesh, the spiciest part of a jalapeño, before blending. These peppery paletas are perfect for a scorching hot day, so to learn how to make them, read more.

Spicy Cantaloupe and Cucumber Paletas
Original Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 medium cantaloupe, peeled and roughly chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled and roughly chopped
1 jalapeño, seeded and cleaned, roughly chopped
1/2 cup sugar (optional)
1 lime sliced (optional)

Directions

Puree cantaloupe, cucumber, and jalapeño in a blender. Add sugar to the liquid if it is too spicy or not sweet enough.
Fill up Popsicle molds. Place in freezer and wait patiently for 6 hours to freeze. Serve with a slice of lime.

Makes 6 Popsicles

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