Chili-Lime Pepper Salad

August is over but the summer spirit continues, at least for me, and until the leaves start changing and the farmer's market closes shop with all its' fresh produce.  This is one of Jon's most requested recipes since the inception of this blog to give him my recipes and those I have made at home throughout the years.

I concocted this recipe back in 2008 when I discovered  Tajin Chili Seasoning--never thought my teenager would go for this...but here we are!  See what you think. 

Equipment:

Large mixing bowl

Sharp knife

Whisk

Ingredients:

2-3 mix of large peppers, green, red, orange, yellow

1/2 large cucumber, quartered

1 large carrot, peeled and sliced diagonally

2-3 green onions, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced and chopped

1/2-1 tsp of Kosher salt

Fresh Ground Pepper, or regular black pepper

1 Tbls red wine vinegar

1/2 lime, juiced

2-3 Tbls of extra-virgin olive oil

2 tsp Tajin Chili Seasoning, sprinkled

1/2" Block of feta, cubed

Instructions: 

1. Wash your hands.

2. Chop and mince your garlic.

3. Add pinch kosher salt

4. Add few grinds of black pepper.

5. Add red wine vinegar, lime juice.

6. Slowly whisk in olive oil. 

7. Adjust salt, pepper, and lime juice to taste. Set aside.
8. Prep your veggies:

--peppers, seeded and chopped

--cucumber, quartered 

--carrot, diagonally sliced

--green onions, sliced

--add everything to mixing bowl with the dressing

8. Sprinkle Tajin Seasoning and combine with veggies. Adjust salt, lime juice, Tajin once more to taste.

9. Add feta and gently fold into veggies.

10. Add this salad to any soup and crusty bread and you've got yourself a fantastic meal.

Tailgating Hot And Cold

Football season is notorious for eating poorly and excessively.  It's one of those facts of life and being part of tailgating on a college campus, or anywhere for that matter.

Of course, no one ever wants to gain weight or fulfill the prediction of the "Freshman (or College) Fifteen", but that shouldn't prevent you from being social, having fun or contributing...right?

So here's a way around that--have it both ways! Bring two items to the party--one that's hot, spicy and "health-challenged":  Hot Jalapeño Cheese Dip--and the other, crunchy, simple and "better-for-you": Cool Cucumber Munchers. No need to stress. Don't be left out! Something for everyone!

To avoid confusion the recipes will be posted in sequence.

Hot Jalapeno Cheddar Corn Dip

(Original recipe calls for bacon.  I would recommend skipping that!)

Equipment:

8 x 10 Pyrex Oven-proof dish

Knife, for chopping

Mixing bowl

Ingredients:

(3 slices of bacon, diced and cooked crispy)

2 8 oz packages of 1/3 reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayonnaise

4-6 jalapeños, chopped and deseeded--leave some with seeds if you like it hot and fiery!

1 cup corn kernels

1 1/2 cup of sharp cheddar

1/2 cup of mozzarella 

1/3 cup of green onions, sliced

For the topping:

1 cup of crushed Ritz crackers

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 stick butter, melted

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

3. Make the bacon if you choose to use this.

4. Make the topping in a small bowl combining crushed crackers, cheese and butter. Set aside.

5. Combine the first 8 ingredients (bacon to green onions) into a bowl and mix well.

6. Transfer cream cheese mixture to the pyrex baking dish.  Choose size depending how thick you want the dip to be.  For thicker dip you will need to add extra baking time vs. thinner dip.

7. Sprinkle crumbled cracker mixture evenly on top.

8. Bake for 20-30 minutes.

9. Have your crackers waiting.

10. This is a great recipe to make the night before, put it in the fridge, and bake the next day when ready.

While that's baking, move on to your next success.

Cool Cucumber Munchers

Do not be deceived by the simplicity or that this entails cucumbers.

Equipment:

Oven or Toaster Oven

Baking Sheet

Mixing Bowl

Knife, for chopping and spreading

Ingredients:

1 French Baguette, small diameter

1-2 English Cucumbers or Regular Cucumbers, sliced 1/4" thick to fit bread round

4 oz of goat cheese / Chèvre  

1 clove garlic, minced

1-2 tsp of Fresh herbs, such as oregano, parsley and marjoram, chopped

Salt & Pepper

Tajin Chili Seasoning (optional and can be bought in Mexican / International Grocery stores.  Worth the investment since this is an ingredient used in several recipes that Jon has requested)

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Alternately peel the cucumber and slice into 1/4" rounds.

2. Slice the baguette into 1/4" rounds and toast slightly.

3. Combine the soft goat cheese with garlic, herbs, S & P, and a pinch of Tajin (if available)

4. Spread cream cheese mixture on to bread rounds.

5. Top with a slice of cucumber and a dash of Tajin

6. Place on a platter or put them in a Tupperware to travel to the game wherever that may be.

7. Be safe and have fun!

Summer In Your Mouth

Basil and tomatoes are one of the greatest combos ever (next to Frodo and Sam, 007 & M, or Skywalker & Obi-Wan). Some things just go together!

Bruschetta is an explosion of flavors in your mouth and you can't help but taste summer.  This is one of our son's favorite appetizers or snacks...although, to be honest, we have eaten an entire tray as our supper some nights.  The key here is getting fresh tomatoes off the vine from your local farmer's market and fresh ingredients--it's better for you, the environment and the economy.

Keep it simple with a fresh loaf of French bread; or, go all out with the goat cheese and toasted pine nuts version.

Note: 

I have never tried this, but you could conceivably exchange cilantro, red onions, and jalapeños for the basil and green onions, and make a salsa.

Equipment: 

Large mixing bowl

Chopping Surface

Knives to chop

Ingredients:

3 cups tomatoes, diced

5 green onions, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

10-12 basil leaves, chopped

1 tsp kosher salt

Fresh ground pepper

3 Tablespoons olive oil

2 tsp red wine vinegar

Juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon

French bread or ciabatta, sliced

4 oz. Soft goat cheese

1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted & chopped

Instructions:

1. Wash your hands.

2. Wash tomatoes, herbs, and onions.

3. Seed tomatoes and finely dice them.

4. Slice your green onions and mince the garlic
5. Chop a nice handful of fresh basil.  Sorry the dried stuff isn't good enough for this.

6. Combine first 9 ingredients. (except bread, cheese, and nuts)

Add 2 teaspoons of red wine vinegar

Add 3 Tablespoons of good olive oil

Add juice of 1/2 to 1 full lemon.

7. Once it's gently combined, adjust the taste according to your liking with additional salt, lemon, vinegar, or oil.

8. Slice fresh baguette and enjoy!

Optional, but so worth it:

9. Toast slices of bread in oven with a drizzle of oil

10. Toast pine nuts ( as demonstrated in previous blog. Remember these little nuts burn easily) 

11. Spread goat cheese on toast.

12. Sprinkle pinenuts on bread.

13. Place generous helping of tomatoe mix on top.