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Monday's Leftovers: Sweet Onion Pizza

partysugar — Mon, 26 May 2008 09:00:04 -0700

If you think nothing can be made with leftover ribs, think again! Although it takes time to remove the meat from the ribs, it's worth it. The meat can be used in a salad, sandwich, or as in this recipe, a pizza. The dough is topped with a quick tomato barbecue sauce, the rib meat, pepper jack cheese, red onions, and green peppers.

The final dish is smoky, scrumptious, and finger licking good! To check out the recipe, read more.

Sweet Onion Pork Pizza
From Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for brushing
1 red onion, thinly sliced
Salt and pepper
One 16-ounce package frozen pizza dough, thawed
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1/2 cup canned tomato sauce with Italian herbs
8 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded (2 cups)
6 to 8 leftover ribs, meat shredded and bones discarded (about 1 cup meat)
2 green bell peppers, seeded and cut into thin rings

Directions

In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat.
Invert a large baking sheet and place it on a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat the oven to 500°.
Place a second inverted baking sheet on a work surface and cover with parchment paper. Stretch the pizza dough to fit the parchment, then brush with oil.
In a small bowl, combine the barbecue and tomato sauces.
Spread the sauce over the dough, leaving a 3/4-inch border. Top with the cheese, shredded meat, bell peppers and caramelized onions.
Slide the pizza and parchment paper onto the preheated baking sheet and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbly, about 20 minutes.

Makes 1 pizza.

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Not Your Regular Nachos: Spicy Shrimp Nachos

partysugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:15:15 -0700

If you're looking for a lighter variation on the classic nacho recipe, I highly recommend these spicy shrimp nachos. They may not be super Fit friendly, but they are less heavy than the meat-laden, overly cheesy nachos I normally make.
The shrimp is tossed with a sweet-hot blend of sugar and spices before being grilled. A fresh, colorful salsa that combines mango, jalapeño, and red pepper tops the shrimp and chips. A generous sprinkling of pepper jack cheese finishes off this scrumptious dish. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Spicy Shrimp Nachos
From Better Homes and Garden magazine

Ingredients

1 cup mango, seeded, peeled, and chopped
1 medium red sweet pepper, chopped
2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion
1 fresh jalapeño chile pepper, seeded and finely chopped*
2 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp. Jamaican jerk seasoning
1 lb. peeled, deveined uncooked shrimp
Nonstick cooking spray
8 cups tortilla chips (8 oz.)
4 oz. Monterey Jack cheese with jalapeño peppers or Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

Directions

Preheat broiler.
For salsa, in a bowl stir together mango, sweet pepper, onion, and chile pepper; set aside.

In a large bowl stir together brown sugar and jerk seasoning. Add shrimp and toss to coat.

Coat a grill pan or large skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add half the shrimp at a time to the pan. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes each side or until shrimp are opaque. Remove and set aside. If desired, coarsely chop shrimp.

Spread tortilla chips on a broiler-safe platter or baking sheet. Top with shrimp and salsa. Sprinkle with cheese.
Broil 4 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

Makes 8 servings.

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Not Your Regular Nachos: Crab Nachos

partysugar — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:41:19 -0700

What do you get when you combine crispy, salty chips with spicy, melty cheese and fresh, flaky crab? Some amazingly delicious nachos! Between the newly-picked crab, the homemade pico de gallo, and the pepper-jack béchamel, these nachos are more gourmet than ghetto - who said Mexican food can't be high end?

The recipe calls for blue corn tortilla chips, but any tortilla chip would work. I used frozen corn - make sure it's thawed, you don't want soggy nachos - because fresh isn't in season. These nachos were incredibly tasty and I'm definitely making them again. To look at the recipe, read more.

Crab Nachos
From Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 small can chopped green chiles, drained
1 1/2 cups grated Pepper Jack
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (9-ounce) bag blue corn tortilla chips (8 to 10 cups)
1 pound lump crabmeat
1 cup cooked fresh corn kernels, from about 2 small ears of corn
2 cups grated cheddar
1/4 cup green onions, finely sliced
3/4 cup sour cream, for garnishing
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnishing
Pico de gallo, for serving, recipe follows

Directions

In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat and whisk in the flour. Cook, stirring constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes. Do not allow the flour to color.

While whisking constantly, add the milk in a steady stream. Add the green chiles and bring the sauce to a boil. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce is thickened and bubbly.
Add the pepper jack, salt, and cayenne pepper and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Cover and remove from the heat.
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a large, ovenproof shallow casserole or on a large baking sheet, spread half of the tortilla chips in an even layer. Top with half of the crabmeat, half of the corn, and half of the cheddar cheese.

Top with the remaining tortilla chips, crabmeat, and corn.
Pour the hot cheese sauce over the crab and corn, then evenly spread the remaining grated cheddar over the top.
Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the nachos are heated through, 8 to 10 minutes. Garnish with the sliced green onions, sour cream, and cilantro. Serve with the pico de gallo alongside.

Serves 6.

Pico de Gallo:

3 ripe plum tomatoes (about 3/4 pound) or 1(14-ounce) can whole tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoons minced cilantro leaves
1 jalapeno pepper, stem and seeds removed, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon red hot sauce (recommended: Emeril's Hot Sauce)
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced

In the bowl of a food processor, combine all ingredients and pulse until the salsa is of uniform consistency but still slightly chunky, about 7 pulses.
Transfer to a bowl and set aside until ready to serve the nachos.

Makes about 1 cup.

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Soup's On: Smoky Chicken Chowder

partysugar — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:43:29 -0700

While chicken noodle soup is always comforting, it's nice to experiment with exciting variations of the classic recipe. This week I decided to make a spicy, chicken chowder chock full of chunky vegetables. To enhance the creamy texture, I used fresh corn and pepper jack cheese in this one pot meal. This soup takes about an hour and half to make, so it's not one for when you are hungry and need food fast. To take a look at the steps it took to make this delicious soup, just read more

Smoky Chicken Chowder
From Gourmet magazine

3 medium onions, chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 large russet (baking) potato
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 fresh jalapeño chili, seeded and minced fine (wear rubber gloves)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream
3 plum tomatoes, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch dice (about 1 cup)
2 cups fresh or frozen corn
1 cup shredded Monterey or pepper Jack cheese (about 4 ounces)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaved parsley leaves
1/2 canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce*, minced fine (about 1 teaspoon)
1 1/2 whole boneless cooked chicken breasts(about 1 pound), skin and fat removed and meat cut into 1/2-inch dice

In a 6-quart heavy kettle cook the onions in oil over moderate heat stirring, until softened.
Peel and cut potato into 1/4-inch dice. To kettle add potato, garlic, and jalapeño and cook stirring, 1 minute.
Stir in flour, and cook over moderately low heat, stirring 2 minutes.
Whisk in 2 cups broth and heavy cream and bring to a boil stirring.
Add tomatoes, corn, Monterey Jack, parsley, chipotle, and chicken and simmer, stirring occasionally and adding enough of remaining cup broth to thin soup to desired consistency, 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender. Season soup with salt and pepper.

Makes 8 cups.

*available at Hispanic markets and some specialty foods shops

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What Would You Make?

partysugar — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:19:31 -0800

Here's the scenario: you are at home and hungry for food. You have to cook up something scrumptious for you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/child/friend, but the ingredients you have on hand are limited.

You have a couple of tortillas, fresh cilantro, and pepper jack cheese. Using these products, along with whatever you currently have on hand in your cupboard and refrigerator, what would you make?

To see what I would whip up, read more

I would start by slicing the tortillas into triangles.
Next I would heat frying oil in a pan until hot. I would fry the tortilla wedges in batches until crisp and then salt lightly.
I would cover a baking sheet with foil and top with the crisp tortillas, grated cheese, and canned black beans and canned corn.
I would bake in the oven until the cheese is melted, about ten minutes.
I would then top the nachos with cilantro and sour cream.
Finally, I would serve with an ice cold brewsky. Yum-O!

Source, Source, and Source

Come Party With Me: Tailgate - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:00:25 -0700

Hey football fans, get excited: this week I'm putting together a tailgate! Cal's my alma mater, and while Stanford is their biggest rival, on Saturday they face USC. It's the homecoming game, and a bunch of friends and I will be in attendance, so a pregame fiesta is in order. To kick things off, I'll throw an artichoke shrimp dip on the grill. Since this takes 20 minutes to heat up, I'll keep the crowd satisfied with store bought chips and guacamole. Then I'll make a round of grilled quesadillas with jack and spicy sauteed peppers. Finally, for the main course, I'll offer everyone a grilled sausage sandwich with caramelized red onions. To serve these tantalizing recipes at your next tailgate, read more.

Shrimp-and-Artichoke Dip
From Everyday With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 large red bell pepper, finely chopped
One 8-ounce package cream cheese
1 cup grated pecorino-romano cheese
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Two 8.5-ounce cans artichoke hearts, finely chopped and squeezed dry
10 ounces precooked shrimp, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
Pita chips or bagel chips, for serving

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375°.
In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 7 minutes; remove from the heat.
Stir in the cream cheese, 1/2 cup pecorino-romano, the paprika and mustard. Stir in the artichoke hearts and shrimp; season with salt and pepper.
Transfer the mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and top with the remaining 1/2 cup pecorino-romano. Bake until warmed through, about 18 minutes.
Preheat the broiler. Broil the dip until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve hot with the pita chips.

Serves 6.

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Quesadillas With Jack and Spicy Saute
From Aida Mollenkamp

Ingredients

1 tablespoons peanut oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
3 medium cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 medium jalapenos, halved lengthwise, seeded, and thinly sliced crosswise
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 medium poblano peppers, quartered lengthwise, seeded, and sliced crosswise into 1/2-inch strips
1 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
12 (6-inch) flour tortillas
3 cups shredded jack cheese

Directions

Heat oven to 500 degrees F and arrange 1 rack in top and a second rack in middle.
Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add onions, garlic, and jalapenos, season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add poblanos and stir to coat. Add broth and cook until the liquid reduces enough to just coat the vegetables, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
When pepper mixture is cool enough to handle, top 1 tortilla with 1/2 cup cheese and 1/6 of the pepper mixture, close with a second tortilla. Repeat to make 6 quesadillas.
Arrange quesadillas on 2 baking sheets and place 1 sheet on top rack and another on middle rack. Bake until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Switch baking sheets and continue to cook until tortillas are golden-brown and crisp, about 5 more minutes.

Makes 6 quesadillas.

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Grilled Merguez Sandwiches With Caramelized Red Onions
From Food & Wine

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 medium red onions, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Salt
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Freshly ground pepper
Four 6-ounce merguez or fresh chorizo sausages, pricked all over with a fork
Four 6-inch pieces of baguette, split and toasted
12 large cilantro sprigs
4 lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to moderate and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 10 minutes.
Stir in the honey and balsamic vinegar and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until richly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Light a grill. Grill the sausages over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until nicely charred and cooked through, about 15 minutes.
Set a sausage in each piece of baguette. Top with the caramelized onions and a few cilantro sprigs and close the sandwiches. Transfer to plates and serve. Garnish with the lemon wedges.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Jerk Burgers With Mango Salsa

partysugar — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:45:10 -0700

Bored by the basic all-American burger? Take a trip to the Caribbean with this innovative recipe.

The beef patty is seasoned with jerk sauce and bread crumbs. Instead of the typical tomato, lettuce, and pickle condiments, the burger is topped with a quick mango, pepper, and ginger salsa. A ciabatta roll replaces the bun and Monterey Jack cheese finishes off the scrumptious burger.

Throw in plantain chips and a daiquiri and you've got a meal that's ideal for impromptu entertaining. To kick-start your weekend with this dish, read more.

Jerk Burgers With Mango Salsa
From The Nest

Ingredients

1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 medium mango, seeded, peeled, and chopped
1/4 cup apple jelly
1 tablespoon lime juice
Dash salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup bottled jerk sauce
1/4 fine dry bread crumbs
1 pound lean ground beef
4 ciabatta rolls or hamburger buns, split
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (4 ounces)

Directions

For salsa, in a medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add peppers, onion, and ginger; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add mango, jelly, lime juice, and salt; cook and stir until jelly melts. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine egg, 1/4 cup of the jerk sauce, and the bread crumbs. Add ground beef; mix well. Using hands, shape mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
For a charcoal grill, place patties on the grill rack directly over medium coals. Grill, uncovered, for 10 to 13 minutes or until done (160°F), turning and brushing once with the remaining jerk sauce halfway through grilling. If desired, toast ciabatta rolls on the grill. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place patties, then ciabatta rolls, if desired, on gas grill over heat. Cover and grill as above.)
Divide cheese among bottoms of rolls. Serve burgers in rolls with some of the salsa. Serve remaining salsa on the side.

Makes 4 burgers.

Per Burger: 808 cal., 50 g fat (20 sat. fat), 167 mg chol., 740 mg sodium, 60 g carbo., 3 g fiber, 31 g pro.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas

partysugar — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:50:48 -0700

If you've never made quesadillas on the grill, I highly recommend you do so this evening. When charred over an open fire, the tortillas get a nice smoky flavor and delightful crispy texture.

Take some help from the store by using a rotisserie chicken and pre-washed spinach.

The ingredient list calls for Monterey Jack cheese, but one could spice things up and substitute pepper Jack. For the recipe - these quesadillas are also a scrumptious 4th of July starter! - read more.

Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 2- to 2 1/2-pound rotisserie chicken, meat shredded
4 cups baby spinach (about 3 ounces)
1 1/2 cups grated Monterey Jack (6 ounces)
4 large flour tortillas
1 avocado, diced
1/2 cup store-bought fresh salsa
1/4 cup sour cream

Directions

Heat grill to medium. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, spinach, and cheese.
Dividing evenly, place the mixture on one half of each tortilla. Fold the other half over to cover.
Grill the quesadillas until the cheese has melted and the tortillas are crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Serve with the avocado, salsa, and sour cream.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Barbecue Portobello Quesadillas

partysugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:50:28 -0700

With their meaty texture and wide availability, mushrooms are often a go-to ingredient in vegetarian cooking. However, as with chicken, it can be easy to get stuck in a rut cooking the same boring mushroom dishes.

Not true with this recipe: it takes chunks of portobello mushrooms and sautes them with onions until soft and tender. These veggies are mixed with a spicy chipotle barbecue sauce before being folded into a tortilla. For extra heat, use pepper jack cheese instead of Monterey jack. Get the recipe when you read more.

Barbecue Portobello Quesadillas
From Eating Well

Ingredients

1/2 cup prepared barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced, or 1/4 teaspoon ground chipotle pepper
1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
1 pound portobello mushroom caps (about 5 medium), gills removed, diced
1 medium onion, finely diced
4 8- to 10-inch whole-wheat tortillas
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Directions

Combine barbecue sauce, tomato paste, vinegar and chipotle in a medium bowl.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
Add onion and cook, stirring, until the onion and mushrooms are beginning to brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to the bowl with the barbecue sauce; stir to combine. Wipe out the pan.
Place tortillas on a work surface. Spread 3 tablespoons cheese on half of each tortilla and top with one-fourth (about 1/2 cup) of the filling. Fold tortillas in half, pressing gently to flatten.
Heat 1 teaspoon oil in the pan over medium heat. Add 2 quesadillas and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes total. Transfer to a cutting board and tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve.

Serves 4.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 311 calories; 13 g fat (5 g sat, 6 g mono); 19 mg cholesterol; 43 g carbohydrate; 11 g protein; 5 g fiber; 710 mg sodium; 771 mg potassium. Potassium (22% daily value), Calcium (19% dv). 2 1/2 Carbohydrate Servings

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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?