chili

Open-Faced Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Burst of Flavor: Open-Faced Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwiches! Stretch Summer to its limit with this popular sandwich that has maximum flavor on a toasted pretzel bun. Pile it high with tangy cole slaw and a dill pickle spear on the side for a satisfying meal. Once you combine the shredded pork with the barbecue sauce, keep it warm in the crockpot and savor the aromas filling the house. 

OPEN-FACED PULLED PORK BBQ SANDWICHES

Ingredients:

3-4 pound boneless pork roast prepared as directed from the segment Kalua Pork Roast https://snapshotsincursive.com/2015/05/27

Leftovers can be frozen and used later to make something incredible like today’s special. 

Add 1 cup of your favorite bottled barbecue sauce to the shredded pork. Simmer to blend flavors. Or…..make the sauce yourself!

BBQ SAUCE:

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup chili sauce

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon liquid smoke

Instructions:

In a 2-quart saucepan, heat all ingredients to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more water if needed. Mix with pulled pork to blend flavors. Keep warm. 

Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Plating: Sriracha Mayo Dipping Sauce! Please don’t accuse me of serving under-seasoned food. Years ago I saw people dipping their French Fries in a bowl of mayonnaise and thought it very strange. And then I was informed the Europeans do it all the time. They say the full earthy flavor of the potatoes are enhanced by the rich, tangy taste of mayonnaise rather than the stronger sweet taste of ketchup. Fast forward to now, and I can justify a mayonnaise-based chili sauce, known as sriracha mayo, as a popular condiment. It’s thicker consistency latches onto a chip and won’t drop off on its way to your mouth. Adding the kick of spice is pure pleasure. Wouldn’t you agree?

SRIRACHA MAYO DIPPING SAUCE

Ingredients: 

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1 tablespoon sriracha chili sauce

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions: 

In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, sriracha chili sauce, lemon juice, soy sauce, kosher salt, and red pepper flakes. Stir until smooth. Serve as a dipping sauce with Garden Salsa Sun Chips*.

*I receive no recompense for mentioning this product. 

Jalapeño Spicy Cheese Dip

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Food Plating: Jalapeño Spicy Cheese Dip! Some call it Tex-Mex, others call it Queso based on the ancient Aztec civilization. No matter what you call it, melted cheeses in a skillet of herbs and spices, plus a kick of heat can be my dinner any night of the week. Some nights I prefer original corn tortilla chips to scoop up the cheese. And other nights I go for the gold and crave a chili lime seasoned gourmet tortilla chip. Be unique and crank things up or calm things down. It’s all a matter of personal taste, so everyone wins. 

JALAPEÑO SPICY CHEESE DIP 

Ingredients: 

1 cup light cream

3/4 pound white American cheese, finely shredded

1/2 pound fontina cheese, finely shredded

1/4 cup pickled jalapeños, roughly chopped 

1/2 teaspoon cumin powder

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Sliced radishes, for garnish

Jalapeño slices, for garnish

Cilantro, for garnish

Instructions:

In an iron skillet over medium-high heat, warm light cream until bubbles form around the edge. Reduce heat to low setting. Gradually stir in American white cheese and fontina cheese, stirring constantly to make a smooth consistency and avoid burning. Continue stirring until cheeses are melted. Add chopped pickled jalapeños, cumin powder, ground nutmeg, red pepper flakes, sea salt, and black pepper. Place iron skillet in the oven. Broil on High for 3-4 minutes, or until cheese begins to bubble. Remove from oven. Garnish with sliced radishes, sliced jalapeños, and fresh cilantro. Serve with chili lime gourmet tortilla chips. 

Green Pepper Dip

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Green Pepper Dip!  Nothing says “presentation” like a vegetable dip served in a green pepper. If you don’t believe me, try this for your next gathering. People practically “oooh” and “aaah” when you enter the room with it. The best part is a subtle flavor of the pepper blends into the dip. Hint: Do your homework at the produce aisle. Make sure you buy a pepper that will sit straight on the serving dish. 

GREEN PEPPER DIP

Ingredients:

1 Large Green Bell Pepper 

1 cup mayonnaise 

1 cup Greek yogurt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1 teaspoon dill weed

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon parsley flakes

Instructions:

Cut top off green pepper. Carefully scoop out all seeds and the four ribs. Rinse and pat dry. Combine all remaining ingredients. Mix well. Gently fill the pepper with dip, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least one hour. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and bacon bits. Serve with crudités and crackers. 

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Simple Sensations: Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail!  No matter how often my husband and I entertain, this choice reigns as Number One with our guests. It is so easy to prepare and the presentation awards it center stage. In addition, I place the appetizer on a pedestal serving stand for great eye appeal. For such a tiny food which carries an impressive response, it truly is an oxymoron. 

JUMBO SHRIMP COCKTAIL 

Ingredients:

1 pound Jumbo Shrimp, cooked and deveined with tail on

1/2 heart Romaine lettuce, shredded

1 12-ounce bottle Chili sauce

1 tablespoon prepared horseradish 

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Dash of cracked pepper 

Instructions:

Mix all the sauce ingredients. Blend well. Cover and refrigerate for one hour so flavors can intensify. Meanwhile, fill a chilled glass serving bowl with shredded hearts of romaine. Be sure to leave room for a smaller dish of cocktail sauce to rest in the center of the serving bowl. Rinse the shrimp and pat dry with paper towels. Arrange the shrimp around the rim of the bowl to form an attractive fan.  Return bowl to the refrigerator to remain chilled until guests arrive. Serve with wooden picks or olive skewers for dipping shrimp into sauce. The romaine is an excellent accent for nibbling. 

Zapata Tequila Shots

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Uplifting Aromas: Zapata Tequila Shots! You’re either going to love me or hate me for this recipe, so first hear me out. I’m a tequila-girl; not a crazy one, but one who has a zest for life. I like chili peppers, too. As you read through the recipe, let me offer alternative ways to “tone down” the cocktail. Because the non-alcoholic margarita mix is frozen into cubes, they can be dropped into a blender and made into a tasty frozen margarita. Simply adjust the amount of spicy tequila (or not) to suit your taste. A slushy is also very tasty, using the non-alcoholic margarita mix ice cubes and adding sparkling water. Now you see, everyone can be happy with this tasty margarita. 

ZAPATA TEQUILA SHOTS

Ingredients:

Chili-lime seasoning blend

1 cube of frozen margarita mix*

1 1/2 ounces pepper-infused tequila**

Jalapeño slice, for garnish 

Lime wedge, for garnish

Instructions:

Sprinkle the chili-lime seasoning onto a saucer. Circle the rim of a stemmed cocktail shot glass with a fresh cut lime. Dip the glass onto the saucer of chili-lime seasoning to create a flavorful rim. Add one cube of frozen margarita mix. Pour the pepper-infused tequila over the ice cube. Add a jalapeño slice and lime wedge for garnish. Serve. 

Advanced Instructions for Frozen Margarita Mix Ice Cubes:

*Using small 15-count square silicone ice cube trays, fill each tray with your favorite margarita mix. Freeze overnight. Remove cocktail ice cubes and store in zipper freezer bags. Repeat until all the margarita mix is frozen into ice cubes. 

Advanced Instructions for Pepper-Infused Tequila:

**To make your own version of pepper-infused tequila, begin with 750 mL of blue agave tequila gold. Using gloves, slice 2-3 chili peppers. Remove stems and partial seeds to control heat; discard. Add the sliced chili peppers to bottle of tequila. Reseal; shake bottle. Store in a cool, dry area for one week. Then pour the tequila through a fine mesh sieve into a large measuring cup. Transfer the pepper-infused tequila back into the bottle. Seal and store in the refrigerator. 

Peruvian Cheese Potatoes

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Uplifting Aromas: Peruvian Cheese Potatoes! My friend, Gian, encouraged me to try a dish from his native land, Peru. He described it as a traditional appetizer so popular it has become the national dish: Papa a là Huancaína. Because it’s basically boiled potatoes covered in a spicy cheese sauce, he explained it as chile-warm, delicious, creamy, and satisfying. Strangely enough, this appetizer is served cold, similar to the American Potato Salad. It taste nothing like it, though. The jury is still out on whether I will make it at home again. I’m thinking the next step is to order it in an authentic Peruvian restaurant. Perhaps they’ll share a secret or two. 

PERUVIAN CHEESE POTATOES 

Ingredients:

8 yellow potatoes, whole

4 lettuce leaves

Huancaína Sauce (see recipe below)*

2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered

Mixed olives, pitted

Instructions for Potatoes:

Heat a pot of salted water to boiling. Add the potatoes. Boil the potatoes until tender when pierced with a fork, approximately 20 minutes. Drain the water and allow potatoes to cool. Arrange lettuce leaves on a platter. Halve the potatoes and place on top of the lettuce. Pour Huancaína sauce over the potatoes. Garnish with hard-boiled eggs and pitted olives. 

*Ingredients for Huancaína Sauce:

1/2 cup aji amarillo paste

4 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup evaporated milk

2 cups white queso fresco cheese

4 saltine crackers 

Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

*Instructions for Huancaína Sauce:

Warm oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the aji amarillo paste, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Sauté approximately 3 minutes, or until the onions have softened. Remove pan from heat and set aside to cool. In a food processor, combine the chile/onion mixture, and evaporated milk. Blend well. Add the queso fresco cheese and saltine crackers; blend until smooth. The sauce should be thick. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 

Xinjiang Tiger Salad

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Fabulous Fixings: Xinjiang Tiger Salad! As suggested by its name, this dish challenges you to imagine the stripes of a tiger when arranging it on a salad plate. Not only that, its intensity can surprise you like the whip of a tail when the heat of the chili pepper attacks the palate. I find chewing on cilantro tames that fiery beast. Now the question remains. Are you brave enough to try it?!?

XINJIANG TIGER SALAD

Ingredients:

2 Roma tomatoes, sliced

1 red onion, sliced thin

3 green chilies, sliced

1 handful cilantro, leaves

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1 pinch sugar

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:

Arrange tomato slices and red onion slices on a salad plate. Too with green chilies. Place cilantro leaves onto plate. Combine balsamic vinegar, sugar, and sea salt. Mix well. Pour into a condiment cup. Drizzle over vegetables, gently toss, and serve. 

Kidney Bean Chili Pizza

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Palatable Possibilities: Kidney Bean Chili Pizza! If you like the spiciness of chili and can’t resist a slice of gooey cheese pizza, prepare yourself for an endorphin rush like no other. Happiness is contagious and I guarantee you, chili pizza will put you in a good mood. Now let me be clear, the pizza itself is not “make you sweat hot”, which is why I listed the hot pepper rings and sriracha as garnishes to taste. To each his own. I probably overdo the spiciness compared to my husband. Just remember, if it’s too spicy, drink milk. It soothes the body much better than soda, beer, or water.

KIDNEY BEAN CHILI PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef

1 envelope original chili seasoning mix

14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, with juice

15-ounce kidney beans, with juice

12-inch prepared pizza crust

1/4 cup red onions, sliced

2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded

Hot pepper rings, for garnish

Sliced green olives, for garnish

Sriracha Sauce, to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef. Drain fat. Stir in chili seasoning mix, diced tomatoes, and kidney beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spoon chili evenly onto crust. Layer with sliced red onions. Cover all with shredded mozzarella cheese. Bake 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is crispy. Top with hot pepper rings and green olives. Drizzle with sriracha sauce. Serve immediately.