Recipe: Jalapeño Harissa

July 31, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

Photo: Paul Stephen /San Antonio Express-News Jalapeño harissa is a perfect partner to grilled meats.

Makes 1 pint, 1 tablespoon per serving

Instructions: Blacken the skins of the dulce mediterraneo chiles over a flame or under a broiler. A large, ripe red bell pepper may be substituted. Place the roasted chiles in a plastic bag, twist the top and let peppers sweat for about 20 minutes.

Cut the tops off the jalapeños and add to a blender. Heat a small nonstick skillet over a medium flame. Add cumin, caraway and coriander seeds and toast until fragrant, about 5 minutes. Coarsely grind seeds in a coffee grinder or mortar and pestle and add spices to blender. Add whole garlic cloves to hot pan and cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes, and add to blender. Remove dulce mediterraneo peppers from bag, peel charred skin away and remove seeds. Add roasted peppers, tomato paste, salt and olive oil to blender.

Blend until sauce is fairly thick with just a bit of texture remaining. Transfer to a pint jar and pour a thin layer of olive oil on top. Will keep refrigerated for months if thin oil layer is reapplied after each use.

Per serving: 18 calories, 2 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 0 mg cholesterol, 59 mg sodium, 1 g carbohydrates, 0 g dietary fiber, 0 g sugar, 0 g protein

QUINOA STUFFED PEPPERS WITH JAPALEÑO CREAM SAUCE [VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE]

July 24, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

By Rene Barker – One Green Planet

Stuffed Peppers with Jalapeno Cream Sauce

If you enjoy recipes like this, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App, it’s available for bothAndroid and iPhone and has free and paid versions. The app is loaded with thousands of allergy-friendly & vegan recipes/cooking tips, has hundreds of search filters and features like bookmarking, meal plans and more! The app shows you how having diet/health/food preferences can be full of delicious abundance rather than restrictions!

Get ready for some meal prep heaven with these stuffed peppers. Not only are these healthy, they are packed full of flavor and spice – there’s nothing boring about these. The star of the show is the jalapeño cream sauce. Creamy and spicy, what more could you want from the world? Aside from the tasty sauce, they’re packed with beans, corn, spicy tomatoes, and of course, quinoa. A healthy and filling combo.

THIS RECIPE IS :

Dairy Free High Fiber No Refined Sugar Sugar Free / Low Sugar Vegan

SERVES

6

COOK TIME

50

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE JALAPEÑO CREAM SAUCE:

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 red onion, roughly chopped
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 jalapeño, roughly chopped
8 ounces vegan cream cheese
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/4-1/2 cup water

FOR THE STUFFED PEPPERS:

3 large bell peppers, cut in half and deseeded
1/2 cup jalapeño cream sauce and more for topping
1 14.5-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup quinoa, cooked
1/2 cup frozen corn
1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes and green chilis

PREPARATION

TO MAKE THE JALAPEÑO CREAM SAUCE:

Place a pan on the stove over medium heat. Add olive oil, onion, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Sauté until onions begins to soften (approximately 5-7 minutes), stirring regularly.
Add jalapeño and cream cheese to the pan and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until cream cheese is softened and everything is combined.
Add the contents of the pan to a blender with cilantro and 1/4 cup of water. Pulse until combined. Add additional water if needed and taste to adjust seasoning.
Pour into a bowl and place in the refrigerator until ready to use.

TO MAKE THE PEPPERS:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Pour a couple tablespoons of water into the bottom of a baking dish.
Add all of the ingredients (except for the peppers) into a large bowl and stir to combine. Taste filling and adjust seasoning as needed.
Fill each pepper with filling mixture and place in the baking dish. Cover with foil and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until peppers are tender.
Remove from the oven and top with jalapeño cream sauce and cilantro.

AUTHOR & RECIPE DETAILS

Simple ingredients, maximum flavor. My name is Rene and I am the one woman show behind the vegan goodness at This Savory Vegan. My recipes focus on combining simple ingredients to make delicious meals that even meat eaters would drool over. My goal is to show people that eating vegan can be easy, creative and tasty!

News 4 Cooks: Jalapeno Popper Roll

July 20, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

Written By Abby Friedemann – KVOA.com

Jalapeno Popper Roll with Tuna

UME at Casino Del Sol Resort: Jalapeno Popper Roll

Jalapenos Each 2 Large

Cream Cheese Oz 0.5

Fresh Tuna Oz 1

Sushi Shrimp Oz 0.5

Nori Each 1

Eel Sauce Oz 1

Tempura Mix Cup ½

Soda Water Cup 1/3

Sriracha To Taste

Cut off the stem of the jalapenos and make a slice from top to bottom lengthwise.

Empty out the interior of the jalapenos.

Chop up the tuna and add sriracha to taste.

Stuff the jalapeno with the tuna, cream cheese and shrimp.

Cut the nori into a long strip, wet one side and wrap it around the jalapeno, keeping the sliced side closed.

Mix the tempura mix with the soda water and dip your prepared jalapeno in the mixture, covering completely.

Immediately drop into the fryer at 350 degrees and cook for about 1 minute and 30 seconds or until crispy.

Slice into 8 pieces, put on plate and drizzle eel sauce on top.

Cook this: Pepperoncini lentil crunch salad will make you reconsider pickle juice

July 19, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

Make extra pepperoncini dressing to pep up any other vegetable dishes you might be eating

By Laura Brehaut – National Post

Laura Wright recommends making extra pepperoncini dressing to pep up any other vegetable dishes you might be eating.Laura Wright

Our cookbook of the week is The First Mess Cookbook: Vibrant Plant-Based Recipes to Eat Well Through the Seasons, by Southern Ontario-based writer and photographer Laura Wright. Throughout the week, we’ll feature recipes from the book and an interview with its author.

To try another recipe from the book, check out vanilla corn cake with roasted strawberries and farro and pine nut chard rolls.

You’ll never look at a jar of pickles the same way after trying this recipe. Often overlooked, pickle juice has a lot to offer — just a splash offers acidity and spice. Author Laura Wright employs both pepperoncini peppers and their pickling liquid in the dressing for this fresh, crunchy salad.

“I make that dressing all the time, separate from the salad, to put on whatever I’m eating. It’s really good,” Wright says of the cumin-spiced vinaigrette. Once you’ve made the dressing, the salad comes together with minimal effort: cooked lentils; sliced bell pepper, onion and celery; and chopped flat-leaf parsley.

While you’ve got that jar of pepperoncini peppers open, add a touch of the brine to your Caesar or michelada. Try a splash in potato salad, use it instead of vinegar in gazpacho or add a shot to marinades and store-bought sauces.

PEPPERONCINI LENTIL CRUNCH SALAD
Serves: 6 to 8 | Gluten-free, nut-free and cane sugar-free

Dressing:
4 pepperoncini peppers, stems removed (plus extra for serving)
2 tbsp (30 mL) pepperoncini pickling liquid
1 tbsp (15 mL) white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, chopped
½ tsp (2 mL) ground cumin
½ tsp (2 mL) pure maple syrup
¼ cup (50 mL) virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Salad:
2 cups (500 mL) French or black beluga lentils, rinsed
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
½ cup (125 mL) roughly chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Step 1

Make the dressing: Combine the pepperoncini peppers, pepperoncini pickling liquid, white wine vinegar, garlic, ground cumin, maple syrup, olive oil, salt and pepper in a blender and whiz on high until you have a creamy and smooth mixture. Set aside.

Step 2

Make the salad: Fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Drop the lentils into the water with a big pinch of salt, and cook until just tender, about 20 minutes. Rinse the lentils with cold water and transfer them to a large bowl.

Step 3

To the bowl, add the bell peppers, onions, celery and parsley. Season the salad with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.

Step 4

Pour the dressing over the salad, and toss to combine once more. Serve the salad immediately to preserve the crunch of the vegetables, with extra pepperoncini peppers on the side.

Add a little summer to your menu

July 17, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

By Marissa Nobile, News 8 Producer

Jalapenos add some heat to these delicious fish tacos

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) – If you’re planning a picnic or just looking to change things up we are helping you out with great summer eats. This morning, Chef Franco from Geronimo’s Tequila Bar and Shell & Bones Oyster Grill in New Haven stopped by our studio to share his favorite summer recipes.

BLACKENED MAHI MAHI LETTUCE TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE REMOULADE

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb Mahi Mahi (cut into 8 Strips)
Blackened seasonings to taste
Salt and Pepper to Taste
I cup thinly sliced cabbage
2 tsp honey or agave nectar
1 tsp White vinegar
¼ cup cilantro chopped
2 Roma tomatoes
½ red onion diced
½ lime juice
1 Jalapeno pepper
1 cup Mayonnaise
2 tsp Chipotle pepper
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp honey
2 tbsp capers (chopped)
Lettuce leaves

PREPARATION:
1. Pico de Gallo: Mix the tomato, red onion, Lime juice, half of the cilantro and jalapeno, season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
2. Chipotle Remoulade: Blend together the mayonnaise, chipotle, paprika, honey and capers until well mixed. Set aside.
3. Sweet slaw: Mixed the cabbage, vinegar, honey and rest of the cilantro. Set aside.
4. Season the Mahi with Blackened seasonings and salt & pepper and sear on a hot pan until cooked, about 4 minutes. Keep turning so each side gets seared.
5. Add two pieces of fish to each of the lettuce shells. Top with the slaw, Pico de Gallo and the Remoulade.

BLUEBERRY JALAPENO MARGARITAS

INGREDIENTS:
Lime wedge
¼ cup of sugar or coarse salt
For the jalapeno lime simple syrup
1 cup of water
1/3 cup agave or honey
2 jalapeno, sliced
Juice of ½ lime
For the Margaritas
1 cup fresh local blueberries
½ cup of fresh squeeze lime juice
1 ½ cups silver tequila
Mint leaves for garnish
Lime wedges for garnish

DIRECTIONS:
1. Set your glasses ready in the freezer. Use the lime wedges to wet the rim of the glasses then place sugar or salt on a plate and dip the rim of the glasses in it and all the way around; add crushed ice to the glass. Repeat with 4 glasses. Place in the freezer.
2. Place all the ingredients for the simple syrup in a small sauce pan over medium heat, whisk and let it simmer for 15 min. Let cool.
3. Once slightly cool, remove the slices of jalapeno for garnish then pour the rest of the simple syrup into a high speed blander along with 1 cup of the blueberries. Puree for a least one minute. Strain.
4. Fill a cocktail shaker with the blueberry mixture, lime juice and tequila, along with a couple ice cubes. Cover and shake. Strain Mixture into chilled glasses and garnish with blueberries, candied jalapenos, mint and lime.

MEXICAN STREET CORN (Vegetarian, Gluten Free)

INGREDIENTS:
2 tsp cilantro, chopped
6 ears of Corn
1 small clove Garlic
1 lime wedges
½ cup mayonnaise
½ tsp Ancho Chili Powder
1 Cup Cotija Cheese
Fresh Local Corn is grilled to perfection, then topped with garlicky mayo, salty Cotija cheese and sprinkled with ancho chili powder. Squeeze lime on top and enjoy this perfect recipe for Summer!

SCALLOP & SHRIMP COCKTAIL CEVICHE
Makes 8 portions

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 cup fresh lime juice
2 cups fresh orange juice
1 lb wild shrimp, cleaned
1 lb dried sea scallops
½ cup ketchup
2 tbsp chipotle pepper in adobo
3 tsp olive oil
2 cups diced English cucumber
1 cup diced jicama
1 small ripe avocado, cubed
1/4 cup diced red onions
½ cup chopped cilantro, plus garnish
Salt to taste
Tostadas or tortillas chips, store bought or homemade saltine crackers

PREPARATION:
Bring 2 quarts salted water to a boil and add ¼ cup of the lime juice. Scoop in the shrimp, cover and let water return to a boil. Immediately remove from the heat and place in an ice water bath. Repeat the process with the scallops until almost half cooked.

FLASH IN THE PAN: Vinegar pickles are crisp, satisfying — and versatile

July 10, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

By ARI LEVAUX for Lee Montana Newspapers

Jars of cucumbers, carrots and onions, looking pretty as they pickle.
Robert Judge

Pickling can happen any time there are ripe veggies for the picking. Now it’s cucumber season, which lasts basically all summer long. Beans are upon us too. Soon come the pickled peppers, large batches in large jars, sometimes with carrots. Then maybe some beets.

Generally speaking, there are two types of pickle: the fermented kind, aka sour pickle, and the pickled-in-vinegar kind, which is more common and goes by many names. Although I love to eat the fermented veggies prepared by others, I remain a novice in that realm.

Vinegar pickles, meanwhile, are a versatile way to go that can accommodate anything you could want to eat pickled, from cauliflower to kohlrabi, not to mention the asparagus that’s already come and gone. I do all of my pickling in basically the same go-to brine recipe. With small adjustments here or there, it works for pretty much anything.

Vinegar, which makes up at least half of any brine, is a powerful preservative. Most brine recipes call for salt and sugar too, both of which also discourage bacterial growth.

For reasons of space, food safety and liability, this is not the place to give a complete set of instructions on how to pickle. My recipe assumes a basic knowledge of canning technique and certain pieces of equipment. For Cliff Notes versions of the canning process, consult the box of lids and rings that come with the jars.

County extension offices are usually great sources of information on food preservation. This publication(https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/348/348-594/348-594_pdf.pdf) from Virginia Tech’s county extension office is a fantastic overall primer on canning methods and materials. You can also consult Ball Canning, the company that produces both Ball and Kerr jars. Ball scientists have prepared and safety-tested recipes that are very easy to follow and hard to screw up. They will also try to sell you things like Ball Kosher Dill Pickle Mix, a blend of salt and spices. If you want to use your own salt and dill, such recipes can be annoying.

But as you mature and gain confidence as a canner, you can figure out how to customize a recipe to suit your needs.

My default recipe was developed for pickled peppers, but part of why it is so versatile and awesome is the mustard seeds, which add a dimension of flavor. And when the pickles are gone, they leave behind a brine full of pickled mustard seeds that can be used in many ways, including grinding the seeds into homemade mustard. Or you could just stick some more veggies into the jar, top off the salt and vinegar, and make a round (or two) of fridge pickles.

Ari’s Pickle Principles

Use Kirby-style, aka pickling cucumbers–the kind with the little bump/spikes on them. These can withstand higher temperatures, without getting soggy, than slicing cukes. They should be small, no more than five inches long and an inch or so wide, and fresh. I like to hit the farmers market in the cool of the early morning, load up, and get them into jars ASAP.

Pack the washed cucumbers into sterile quart jars, leaving an inch of head space at the top.

For a crispier pickle, add a grape leaf, or, as the Russians do, part of a horseradish leaf. The leaf tannins from leaves really do help preserve crispness, which is of paramount importance. If you want to add dill, or garlic cloves, or pickling spices, go for it.

To get a sense of the quantity of brine you need, fill one packed jar with water, and then measure that amount of water by pouring it into a measuring cup. Multiply that amount by the number of packed jars you have.

The brine is half water and half vinegar, with the vinegar part being half cider vinegar and half white wine vinegar, both of which I purchase in gallon jugs. I like the cider vinegar for the flavor, but if you want the visual of a pristine white brine, use only white wine vinegar. Plain white vinegar is kind of nasty but gets the job done.

Heat the brine on medium, adding sugar a little at a time until it doesn’t quite taste sweet but takes the edge off the vinegar–about a tablespoon per quart.

While the brine heats, add a tablespoon of mustard seeds to each jar, and a tablespoon of salt. Since mustard seeds come in both yellow and brown colors, I mix them first before doling them out.

When the brine reaches a boil, pour it into the jars so it covers the veggies and still leaves a half-inch of head space. Wipe the rims clean and screw on the lids.

Process in a water bath for the appropriate time based on the vegetable being pickled. With cucumbers that would be 15 minutes.

Honestly, I usually skip the cooking step, especially for the peppers, as they stay crispier–albeit at the expense of safety. Like any home canner should always do, I inspect each jar carefully. If a seal is broken or the contents don’t seem right I toss it. Soggy pickles definitely get tossed, because that isn’t right.

Living life on a pickle’s edge isn’t for everyone, and for liability reasons I need to stress that if you even consider not cooking your pickles you will immediately contract botulism and your house will burst into flames.

Assuming you fall in line and cook your cukes, they can still come out crispy enough if you use Kirbys that are young and fresh, and add a grape or horseradish leaf, or some other tested form of leaf tannins, to the jar.

And if those aren’t crispy enough, then keep a batch of fridge pickles going. Or maybe it’s time to venture into sour pickles, which aren’t cooked either. The lazy crispy pickle.

Ari LeVaux writes Flash in the Pan, a syndicated weekly food column carried in more than 60 newspapers nationwide. Though his audience is national, he says he “always writes about Montana. Usually.”

Finish Line: Be proactive about probiotics

July 5, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

Hot dog with sauerkraut and jalapenos

It’s the Fourth of July, folks, and for most of us, that means a day off from work, fireworks and a great excuse to eat hot dogs.

Now, hot dogs aren’t the best food out there, but you’ve got to admit, you get a hankerin’ to eat one when you smell them cooking. Recently I found out some amazingly cool facts about sauerkraut, that now, in my twisted mind, makes it OK for me to eat hot dogs. Let me explain.

In one of my recent columns, I talked about the gut/brain connection and how the health of our gut can actually affect our mood. There is a connection between gut health and mental health. While on my quest to learn more about the gut and how it influences our stress levels, I came across some fascinating information about probiotics and just how important these little critters are for us to feel good.

According to Courtney Collett, graduate student in medical dietetics at The Ohio State University, most of our immune system resides in the gastrointestinal tract and we have more than 40 trillion bacteria cells in there helping keep the gut doing what it’s supposed to do.

Probiotics are simply high concentrations of that good bacteria the gut needs to perform optimally. This is important because as we age, our microbiomes change because of diet, medications, stress and health issues. Apparently even being less active can affect these little guys. You can buy probiotics over the counter and there are some really good ones out there like Align, but they can be pricey at about $30 for a box of 24 tablets.

You’ll also need to know what you’re looking for, since not all probiotics are the same. When reading the label, look for what microbes are inside, how many live microorganisms are in each dose, the health benefits they promise and storage information (many need to be refrigerated).

If you are lazy and cheap like me, a tastier and healthier way to boost your probiotic count is to consume foods like yogurt, miso soup, kefir, tempeh, buttermilk, sour pickles and sauerkraut. These are key foods for natural probiotics to feed and thrive on. Yes people, pickles, yogurt and sauerkraut can make you healthier and happier.

If you are traveling for the holidays or for business, pay attention to what you’re eating and put yogurt on the list as a must-eat every morning and throw in a pickle or two at lunchtime. Traveling throws off the gut for a multitude of reasons, making it all the more important to add in those probiotics. Jet lag, exposure to sick people in the airport and on the plane and uncommon regional foods can disrupt the gut. Mood is easily affected by how we physically feel, so make your diet a crucial component of your stress reduction regiment.

So go enjoy some fun with the family today and eat a hot dog or two, with sauerkraut, of course. You can even put some tempeh on there, although I honestly have no idea what that is and cannot be held responsible for what it might do to your hot dog.

Davana Pilczuk has a doctorate in kinesiology and specializes in helping individuals and teams perform better at work, in sports, or in life. Follow her on Twitter @DavanaHPG or contact her at davanapilczuk@hotmail.com.

Spice Up Your Life! Jalapeño Avocado Cream Cheese Wontons

July 5, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

By Jesse James – Stupiddope

Jalapeno Avocado Cream Cheese Wontons

Every now and again we all need a little spice in our life. Well, today we get a look at a recipe that will not only add some spice to your life but will also do so with some stunning flavor. Today we get a look at a recipe for some Jalapeño Avocado Cream Cheese Wontons.

This interesting and flavorful combination comes from the creative culinary genius’ at Cake N Knife and certainly will be a new favorite. This recipe is essentially a fried, upgraded version of jalapeno cream cheese poppers. The spicy filling and fried exterior come together for something incredible that will eventually be your favorite snack. This is certainly nothing to sleep on, and definitely worth your time and effort. Check out the recipe right here, right now and give us your thoughts on the results below. Keep it locked for more great recipes coming soon.

Photos provided by Cake N Knife

Jalapeno cheddar corn cakes

July 3, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

By Renee Peace Carr, WUSA

Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Cakes

Easy, cheesy jalapeno cheddar corn cakes make the perfect side at any barbeque or summer party. Thanks for b Restaurant for the recipe!

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked corn kernels

2 ea jalapeno diced

1 cup sliced scallions

8 eggs

1 cup white cheddar cheese

¼ cup olive oil

1 cup flour

1 coup cornmeal

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Instructions:

Pulse corn kernels in food processor a few times to chop up. Place in bowl with remaining corn, jalapeno, eggs, cheese and eggs. Stir to combine

In separate bowl combine dry ingredients, add in wet corn mixture to flour and stir gently to combine.

Drop 2 oz batter into 3’ circles on an oiled flat top and cook 2 minutes on each side.

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Jalapeño Corn Dog Bites

June 30, 2017/in Recipes /by ChrisS

Jalapeno Corndogs