Firecracker Food

FIRECRACKER CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray.
• Place the chicken pieces on a plate and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.
• Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten eggs.
• Heat the oil over high heat in a large pan. Place the chicken in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. You may have to work in batches.
• Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the 9"x13" pan.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar and red pepper flakes.
• Pour the sauce over the chicken. Bake for 35 minutes, stirring once halfway through to coat the chicken with the sauce. Top with green onions and serve.

FIRECRACKERS

Steps:

• Place carrots in a spring-top glass jar. Bring the water, sugar, cider vinegar, onion powder, mustard seeds, salt, and chili flakes to a boil in a non-reactive saucepan. Boil for 4 minutes.
• Slowly pour the hot pickling liquid over the carrots, filling the jar to the top. Place the chilies in the jar. Allow the carrots to cool before sealing. Refrigerate for 2 days up to 1 week.

FIRE CRACKERS

Steps:

• Line crackers on ends (like dominoes) in an air-tight container.
• In a small bowl, mix oil, dressing mix, peppers, and garlic powder.
• Stir until all ingredients are well mixed.
• Continue to stir to prevent the pepper from settling on the bottom of the bowl.
• Spoon mixture evenly over crackers, like drizzling icing on a cake.
• Close lid tightly and flip the container over every 5 minutes for about 20 minutes. Lightly shake back and forth to make sure all the crackers are coated.
• Store in a ziplock bag. Will keep for about a week -- if they last that long!

FIRECRACKER SHRIMP AND RICE

Steps:

• Whisk together the brown sugar, orange juice, hot sauce, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Dry the shrimp well with paper towels and add to a large bowl. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the shrimp and toss to coat.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Fry the shrimp in the hot oil until pink, about 1 minute per side. Add the ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the sauce mixture, rice and scallions and cook until warmed through, about 3 minutes.
• Top with more red pepper flakes, a drizzle of sriracha and cilantro leaves.

PULLED FIRECRACKER BRISKET

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large, deep roasting tin (one that can go on the hob) or in your largest flameproof casserole dish. Season the beef well and sear in the tin until nicely browned all over. Lift out and put on a plate or board. Add another 1 tbsp oil and the onions to the tin and sweat for 8-10 mins until really soft. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the paprika, mustard powder, cinnamon, cayenne or chilli, treacle, 2 tbsp vinegar, 2 tbsp sugar and the remaining oil. Brush all over the meat, reserving about 2 tbsp for later. Heat oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2.
• Add the garlic, bay leaves and chillies to the softened onions, stir around the pan for 1-2 mins, then pour in the passata, Worcestershire sauce, remaining vinegar and sugar. Season the sauce, give a good stir, then put the brisket on top. Wrap the tin tightly in a few sheets of foil, or cover with a lid, and bake for 6 hrs, turning once or twice during cooking, until really tender.
• Uncover the dish, give the sauce around the meat a little stir and brush the remaining spice paste over the meat. Can be made a day ahead up to this point - cool then chill the meat and sauce; remove from the fridge and scoop off any fat from the sauce before reheating. Increase the temperature to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Cook for a further 20 mins (or 40 mins from cold, covered for 20 mins) until the meat is dark and sticky. Remove from the oven, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest for 15 mins.
• To serve, skim any fat off the surface of the sauce, shred the meat with 2 forks, discarding any butcher's string as you go, and toss the meat through the sauce, discarding the bay leaves and chillies. Pile into warm flatbreads and serve with Charred sweetcorn salsa (see 'Goes well with') and a dollop of soured cream.

FIRECRACKER CASSEROLE

Steps:

• In a skillet, brown the beef and onion until the beef is no longer pink; drain.
• Add beans, chili powder, cumin and salt.
• Transfer to a greased 13x9 in.
• pan.
• Arrange tortillas over the top.
• Mix soup and tomatoes; pour over the top.
• Sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350* for 25-30 minutes.
• Serve with sour cream on top.

FIRECRACKER GRILLED FISH

Steps:

• Put fillets in glass dish and set aside.
• Combine remaining ingredients and whisk together.
• Pour marinade over fish.
• Cover and marinate in refrigerator 4-6 hours.
• Remove from marinade.
• Place on well oiled grill about 5 inches from coals/burner.
• Cook about 10 minutes (flipping halfway through) per inch or until fish flakes with a fork.
• Remove and serve with parsley sprinkled on top.