pepper

Grill Pan Supreme Pizza

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Symphony of Flavors: Grill Pan Supreme Pizza! Who doesn’t like the taste of grilled foods? You know, that tiny bit of charred smokiness that delivers a presentation of black lines on pizza crust, vegetables, and meat. The raised edges keep food from sitting in fats or unnecessary grease, making it somewhat more healthy. The grill pan actually mimics cooking outdoors on a gas grill, without all the hassle, especially if it’s raining or snowing. Clean up is pretty simple, too. It gets my vote all day long. 

GRILL PAN SUPREME PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 prepared pizza crust, room temperature 

1 cup pizza sauce

8 slices pepperoni 

2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 slices deli ham, chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup green pepper, chopped

1/2 cup pizza sauce

1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, sliced

Giardiniera, for topping

Red pepper flakes, for garnish

Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions:

Preheat the grill pan on medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Using a silicone brush, oil the pan to prevent sticking. Grill one side of the dough until bubbles begin to form on the top. Lift the edge to check for charred grill lines on the dough. Carefully, flip over and arrange toppings. Add pizza sauce and fresh mozzarella. Place the whole grill pan in a preheated 400° oven. Bake 5-7 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove and serve with giardiniera, red pepper flakes, and grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

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. 

Jalapeño Crisps and Curls

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Uplifting Aromas: Jalapeño Crisps and Curls! I’m a pepper freak. I like habaneros, serrano, poblanos, jalapeños, chipotle, cayenne, banana peppers, and more. I’m not saying I want to burn the roof of my mouth, but I do appreciate the capsaicin-released adrenaline rush from time to time. I might even sneeze if I get a little too ambitious. The tangy flavor of chile peppers seem to be a natural substitute for using table salt, which I make an effort to limit in the daily diet. In case you’re wondering, if a hot pepper becomes too hot for you, reach for cheese instead of water. Cheese and dairy products actually neutralize the intensity and cool things down a bit. Then let the tug-of-war continue, because you know you want more. 

JALAPEÑO CRISPS AND CURLS 

Ingredients:

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded 

1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1 smidgen garlic powder 

1/4 teaspoon tajin seasoning 

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes 

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and chopped 

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine parmesan cheese, garlic powder, tajin seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Toss to mix; set aside. Trim a piece of parchment paper to fit a microwave-safe plate. Scoop 1-2 tablespoons of sharp cheddar cheese onto the parchment paper, forming a pile. Sprinkle parmesan cheese mixture on top. Arrange jalapeño pieces on each pile. Microwave for 1 minute on High power. If needed, microwave an additional 30 seconds longer until the cheese is crisp and golden. Remove plate from microwave and allow cheese crisp to cool to the touch. Carefully transfer cheese crisps to a wire rack. For curls, quickly wrap a cheese crisp around the handle of a wooden spoon until molded. Reuse parchment paper. Repeat process until all the cheese ingredients are used. Store at room temperature. 

Golden Oyster Stew

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Golden Oyster Stew! I knew it was something special when my father requested this savory stew once a year. Although he was the only one who indulged in its aromatic creaminess, I managed to sneak one spoonful each time. I guess you could say eventually I acquired a taste for this seafood delicacy. Now I’m sharing it with you. Carry on the tradition. 

GOLDEN OYSTER STEW

Ingredients:

1 medium potato, peeled and diced

1 tablespoon onion, chopped 

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 

8 ounces of fancy whole oysters, with oyster liquor 

1 cup light cream

1/2 cup of cheddar cheese, finely shredded 

Oyster crackers 

Instructions:

In a 2-quart pan over medium high heat, combine potatoes, onion, butter, sea salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.  Add just enough water to cover. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and add oysters with liquor, cream, and cheese. Stir occasionally for cheese to melt. Gently bubble until the edges of the oysters begin to curl. Do not boil over. Serve the golden oyster stew immediately with oyster crackers. 

Figgy Honey-Baked Cheese

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Figgy Honey-Baked Cheese!  Looking for an appetizer that brings in the cheer? It’s easy to create your own version of elegance when you use quality ingredients that begin with cheese. To awaken the taste buds, sprinkle in a few red pepper flakes which compliment the natural sweetness of honey. The crunch of walnuts satisfies those earthy snack-seekers.  Bake it all together for the most captivating sweet holiday aroma. Deck the Halls with boughs of Holly. Fa-la-la-la-la…la-la-la-lah!

FIGGY HONEY-BAKED CHEESE

Ingredients: 

8-ounce wheel Normandy Camembert cheese, double crème 

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons natural honey

2 tablespoons fig jam

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 tablespoon walnuts, chopped

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Place cheese wheel in an oven-proof dish. Score the cheese in a criss-cross pattern. Pour melted butter over cheese.  Drizzle natural honey over cheese. Spread fig jam over cheese.  Sprinkle with red pepper flakes.  Top with chopped walnuts.  Bake 20-25 minutes until cheese is soft and bubbly.  Serve warm with sliced apples, assorted crackers, and baguette slices.  

Festive Breakfast Pizza

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Festive Breakfast Pizza! Whether you prepare a holiday brunch for invited guests or gather ’round the table in your pajamas, this recipe is a winner. Simply because, everyone loves pizza! You now have an excuse to eat it for breakfast, even if you’re “Home Alone”. It has baked eggs, it has shredded potatoes, it has crumbled sausage, and gooey cheese all together over a golden deep dish crust. So there you have it. Bring out the holiday movies, set up the TV tray, and eat pizza for breakfast. Permission granted. 

FESTIVE BREAKFAST PIZZA

Ingredients:

1 pound pork sausage, ground

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper 

1/4 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Herb and Garlic Seasoning*

1 green pepper, chopped 

2 ounces pimentos, diced

1 cup hash brown potatoes, shredded 

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded 

1 tube prepared pizza crust

5 eggs, beaten 

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet over medium heat, brown sausage until cooked and crumbly. Drain well. Sprinkle with seasoned salt, white pepper, and Mrs. Dash Herb and Garlic Seasoning. Microwave chopped green pepper on HIGH for two minutes. Combine diced pimentos, green peppers, and sausage. Mix well. For a deep dish pizza, roll out pizza crust and press into an iron skillet bringing dough up the sides of the pan. Layer with sausage mixture, hash browns, and cheddar cheese. Whisk eggs and milk together. Pour over the pizza. Top with Parmesan cheese. Bake 30-35 minutes or until eggs are set and crust is golden. 

*I receive no recompense for recommending Mrs. Dash Herb and Garlic Seasoning. 

Toasted Lobster Sliders

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Fabulous Fixings: Toasted Lobster Sliders! If I had to list how many ways I’ve eaten lobster, I think I would lose count. The most popular would have to be my first experience of steamed lobster with drawn butter. Since then, I’ve also had lobster grilled cheese, lobster risotto, lobster rolls, lobster mac’n cheese, lobster bisque, stuffed lobster pie, lobster cobb salad, lobster eggs benedict, and now lobster roll sliders. Yet, I know there are many more tasty dishes out there you can think of, so feel free to mention them in the Comments section below. 

TOASTED LOBSTER SLIDERS

Ingredients:

1 package Hawaiian dinner rolls 

1 pound cooked lobster meat, cut into chunks 

1/2 cup sea salt butter, melted

1 teaspoon seafood seasoning

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Fresh chives, for garnish

Red pepper flakes, if desired

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Place slider buns on the baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, split the tops of the buns without cutting all the way through. In a bowl, combine the melted butter, seafood seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix well. Brush the rolls all over, including the cavities. Save the reserve butter. Bake rolls for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a microwave-safe dish, warm the lobster meat in the reserve butter for 2 minutes on 30% power. Divide the lobster meat into the baked rolls. Pour remaining garlic butter over top. Garnish with chopped chives. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes. Serve warm. 

Quick & Easy Baked Jalapeños

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Fabulous Fixings: Quick & Easy Baked Jalapeños! It’s no secret jalapeño peppers become mellow as they bake, especially filled with cheese. I’m telling you this in case you haven’t tried them in fear of burning your mouth. I’ve heard other cooks talk about soaking them in milk for 15 minutes once the seeds are removed, but I’ve never had that issue. When cooked, jalapeño peppers become slightly smoky and a little bit sweet. Sweet, you say? Actually the roasting can caramelize the natural sugar that creates a symphony of flavor. Now are you ready to give them a second chance?

QUICK & EASY BAKED JALAPEÑOS 

Ingredients:

10 jalapeño peppers, medium size 

5 Mozzarella string cheese sticks, cut in half

1/2 cup Mexican Cheese Blend, shredded 

1/4 cup ranch salad dressing

Red pepper flakes (optional)

Dried oregano, crushed

Instructions:

Preheat oven 350°. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet. Spray with nonstick oil. Set aside. Wash the jalapeño peppers. Pat dry. Leaving the stem on, slice the upper third portion lengthwise. Discard top. Scoop out the seeds and discard. Place the hollow pepper “cavity” on the wire rack. Repeat with the others. Press one piece of mozzarella cheese stick into the bottom of each jalapeño pepper.* In a small bowl, combine shredded Mexican Cheese Blend and ranch salad dressing. Mix well. Divide filling evenly between jalapeños. Press down gently to fill the peppers. Sprinkle on red pepper flakes and crushed oregano leaves. Bake 30 minutes, or until tops are golden brown and jalapeños are tender. Garnish with cilantro. Serve warm. 

*Each half mozzarella cheese stick can be shredded as though you were eating it as a snack. It melts either way. 

Hot Honey Cheese Snack

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Fabulous Fixings: Hot Honey Cheese Snack! I think by now you can see I have an addiction to spicy foods. Close your eyes and imagine me jumping for joy when I discovered my favorite source of natural honey infused with scotch bonnet and habanero peppers. Talk about fiery and sweet! The cheese actually acts as a coolant so no one goes running from the room with their mouth on fire. Trust me. Would I lead you down the orchard path to simply get stung?!?

HOT HONEY CHEESE SNACK

Ingredients:

8 ounces Brie cheese

2 ounces hot honey

Red pepper flakes, for garnish

Dried oregano, for garnish

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap Brie and place in a small ovenproof crock or baking dish. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and gooey. Drizzle with hot honey, red pepper flakes, and dried oregano. Serve immediately with baguette slices and nut mixture.