Uber-Snacks for the Super Bowl
This weekend, I sorted through the magazines that I had accumulated over the course of my marriage in order to pear down by tearing out the articles of interest and to create a couple of binders with dividers to keep them organized "cookbook-style." I plan to create an entertainment section, and everyday section, and a holiday/special occasion section, as well as a separate binder for "style" ideas.
That is beside the point.
When tearing and sorting, I found a recipe for jalepeño poppers. I was really excited about them because ever since Applebees got rid of their poppers, I've been dying for some. Kevin suggested that we make them for the Superbowl (or in my case the Superbowl Commercials), so we did. I managed to go to the grocery store on one of the busiest days of the year (I know becuase of my stint at Kroger in HS) and got 10 jalepeños among other usual items.
Earlier in the weekend, we saw a commercial for TGI Fridays and their southwestern egg rolls. I decided these would be my second appetizer for the superbowl.
Jalepeño Poppers:
Preheat Oven: Broil
You will need:
10 Jalepeños
1/2 c. cream cheese
2 TBSPs Monterrey Jack Cheese, Shredded
salt
pepper
2 quarts canola oil or an oil with a high smoke point
Breading:
1 egg + flour + bread crumbs
OR
tonic water, flour, salt, and pepper
Split Jalepeños down the side and scoop out seeds and ribs, leaving the pepper as much in tact as possible. Rub with a small amount of canola oil, and place on a cookie sheet. Broil until skin is blistered, turning occassionally for even roasting. Set aside to cool
Meanwhile, mix the cream cheese and monterrey jack until combined. Season to taste.
When Peppers are cool, fill with cream cheese mixture, pulling split edges over each other to seal in cream cheese. Heat 1.5 inches of oil to 325-350 in a skillet or sauce pan.
Either follow a standard breading proceedure (egg, flour, egg, breadcrumbs) or dredge in the tonic and flour mixture. (I used the latter since my panko didn't stick properly). Prepare a catching plate or tray with a cooling rack over papertowels to drain the oil off.
Place peppers in oil, watching constantly to prevent them from sticking together and to keep from over-browning. Turn once. This will go very quickly.
These can be frozen for up to a week in advance according to the recipe w/ the breadcrumbs. I wouldn't try it with the wet batter.
Cherry Sauce:
10-15 candied cherries, minced
juice of half a lime
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
Combine in saucepan, reduce over medium high heat. Dip Jalepeño Poppers and enjoy!
Southwestern Eggrolls
1/2 cup of cooked rice
1/2 cup of black beans
1/2 cup cooked corn
1/2 a diced onion
1/2 a minced jalepeno
2 cloves of garlic, minced
juice of half a lime
chopped parsley
chopped cilantro
1 cooked, diced chicken breast
TBSP Cumin
1.5 tsp cayanne pepper
2 tsp chilli powder
salt
pepper
wonton wrappers
1 egg + 1 TBSP milk
Corn oil for in a skillet or sauce pan, 1 to 1.5 inches deep.
Sautee chicken with the onion, garlic and jalepeno until chicken is almost completely cooked. Deglaze with lime juice. Add cumin, cayanne pepper, chilli powder,and combine. Add the corn, beans, and rice. Salt and Pepper to taste. Remove from heat and add fresh chopped herbs.
Set aside. Create an egg wash from the milk and egg. This will serve as the glue for your wonton skins.
(hehe, I just wrote "wanton" instead of "wonton"... scandolus eggroll skins... what?!)
Put together and eggroll making station. Placing the wonton skins so they look like a diamond in relationship to you, fold up the bottom and in the sides so it looks like an envelope. Seal with egg wash. Holding the filling tightly, roll to the end and seal the last lip with egg wash as well.
Fry until Golden Brown. When removing fromthe oil, make sure to let the edges drip extra oil from the folds before setting aside to cool. Leave to dry on a cooling rack placed over papertowls.
Serve with salsa and sour cream or in TGI Friday's style, mix avacado and ranch dressing.
Did I mention that we took a break from the diet yesterday? lol!
~DJ~