Better, Healthier Chili Relenos

I always think about ordering Chili Rellenos at the mexican and tex-mex places we go to. What stops me is that nearly every time I am disappointed.

A few places know how to make them well most do not. Most of the Rellenos you find are sorry deep fired messes.

The best restaurant rellenos I have had recently came at Cylcone Amelias on Shepard in Houston.
But even they can't match my own version ... IHO

Chilli Rellenos
6 Pobano Peppers, pick large ones with smooth dark skin as staright as possible for ease of prep.

1 lb cooked shredded chicken, this is a great way to use up leftover roast (or roticery) chicken.

1 med/lg onion chopped
4 jalopaneo peppers, chopped
1/4 lb mushrooms,chopped
1 sm can diced tomatoes, drained reserving liquid
4 cloves garlic, chopped

1/2-1 cup toasted pecans, chopped

1 cup shredded jack cheese

The Poblanos must be first charred all over and then put in a plastic bag or container while hot to loosen the skin. I usually then rinse the skin off in running water. The tops are then cut off and the seeds and membrane removed, if this is not done you will end up with a meal that is hotter then you will like, I promise!

The onion and garlic are browned in olive oil and then the jalopeno peppers and mushrooms added and cooked until softened. I then add the tomatoes and meat and nuts and stir until bubbling hot and thouroly mixed. remove from heat.

As soon as it has cooled enough for you to handle, I mix in 1/2 the cheese.
As much of the mixture as possible is stuffed into the peppers.

The peppers are arranged in a baking dish and the leftover stuffing poured over the top as well as the liquid drained from the tomatoes. The rest of the cheese is sprinked over the top.
Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until is is bubbling and the poblanos are fork tender.

pizza, pizza

That reminds me of the slogan for Little Ceaser's Pizza(R) . This is what I first thought of as pizza, dare I say, good pizza when I was a young child. I have since been edumacated on Pizza, of course I grew up in Chicago (Go Barrak!!) so I had a head start. And of course I also ended up being partial to deep dish although I do enjoy a good coal/wood fired pizza.

Weirldy one of the pizzas that made an impr3ssion on me recently was a seafood pizza I had in the Grendaine islands of the carabean. We have been trying to replicate it. And getting closer but am not there yet. We did make this one with shrimp and red snapper and it was good. The fish was parcooked before baking. Lots of basil, red bell pepper, motzarella cheese and a bechamel type sauce.

I do make my own crust and I use the over night method as that seems to add that yeasty flavor I expect in a pizza crust.

I will post more details later on my techniques, such as always baking at high temp ~500F

Octoberfest

Hey it feels like fall....it's about damn time!!!

To that end a German twist on and old southern standby.
We had bratwurst and grits for dinner.

This is a very simple very satisfying meal to make and surprising the flavors work well together.

First the grits,
old style long cooked grits are best, but 5 min will do in a pinch.
Don't neglect the salt, and I add about 1/2 Tb butter and 1 oz cheese per serving after the grits a 1/2 cooked.

Then some spinach,
saute 1/2 med onion chopped in 2 Tb olive oil, add 2-3 cloves garlic chopped, saute until lightly browned. Add spinach, 2 more Tb olive oil and stir until spinach is wilted. sprinkle with 1 Tb red wine or balsamic vinegar.

The brats are grilled over very low heat until well browned and cooked through.

The meal is plated with a mound of grits with a pile of spinach layered over with a brat perched on top. Condiments arranged around the side include mustard, dill pickle, Sirachi chili sauce, and a slice of yesterday's whole grain challah bread.

Whole Grain Challah bread

I seems that lately we are having a lot of one or two dish meals. Last night was no exception, we had fresh whole grain challah bread and chicken curry.

The curry was a typical garam masala/coconut milk based curry.

The Whole grain challah bread was the interesting new experiement.
This is a two day recipe.

Day 1
Add to a mixing bowl
1 c Sourdough Starter (or 1 1/2 tsp yeast proofed in 1/2 cup warm water)
1 1/2 c Water (Hot but not scalding)
1 c Whole Millet
1 c Whole Wheat Berries
1 c Whole Wheat flour
1/2 c Bread flour


Mix this up until is thoroughly mixed, it should be a very sticky loose mixture.
Allow to rest on the counter till the next day.

Day 2
add to poolash (loose dough mixture)
1 cup Water(Warm)
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1 1/2 Tb Salt
2 eggs
3-4 Cups Bread flour

Knead in stand mixer adding flour gradually until dough is elastic and only slightly sticky.
Shape loaf(s) and raise until doubled, about 1-2 hrs.
Bake for 10 minutes at 500-550F then 30 minutes at 375F
Allow to cool as long as you can stand before cutting... I can never wait long enough.
Do not bag until the next morning to allow excess moisture to evaporate other wise you will ruin your crust.