Jalapeno Bacon Johnnycakes With Avocado Cilantro Cream Food

JALAPENO-BACON JOHNNYCAKES WITH AVOCADO-CILANTRO CREAM

Steps:

• Johnnycakes: Cook bacon in a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp and browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain, then finely chop. Remove all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet; return to medium heat. Add onion, hot and mild peppers, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden in places, 7 to 9 minutes. Transfer mixture to a large bowl; let cool completely.
• In a bowl, whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Add eggs, milk, sour cream, and sugar along with cooled pepper mixture, whisking just until combined (do not overmix). Stir in bacon; let stand 10 minutes.
• Avocado Cream: Halve and pit avocado; scoop flesh into the bowl of a food processor. Add sour cream, cilantro, lime zest and juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Process until smooth. Transfer mixture to a bowl and cover with plastic until ready to serve.
• Wipe skillet clean and return to medium heat; coat with a thin film of oil. Drop level tablespoons of batter into skillet, 2 inches apart. Cook until cakes are golden on bottoms, small bubbles form at surfaces, and edges lift slightly from pan, 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until cakes are golden on bottoms and spring back when lightly pressed, 1 to 2 minutes more. (Brush pan with more oil as needed.) Top with dollops of avocado cream and chopped peppers; serve.

BACON JACK AND JALAPENO QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Guacamole: Coarsely mash the avocado in a large bowl. Add the tomato, scallions, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno, and garlic until blended. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
• Quesadillas: Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
• Lightly spray a medium nonstick skillet with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, turning occasionally, until browned, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the bacon to paper towels to drain. Crumble and set aside.
• To the same skillet, add the scallions, jalapeno, garlic, cumin, and coriander. Cook, stirring often, over medium heat, until the scallions are soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Place the tortillas on the baking sheet; sprinkle 1/3 of the cheese, 1/3 of the scallion mixture, and 1/3 of the bacon over half of each tortilla. Fold the unfilled half of each tortilla over the filling. Lightly spray the quesadillas with cooking spray. Bake until lightly browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges and serve with the guacamole and sour cream, if using. Garnish with cilantro.

JALAPENO CREAM

Steps:

• Puree 4 seeded jalapenos, 1 cup cilantro, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 garlic clove, the juice of 1 lime and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt.

CREAMY JALAPEñO SAUCE

Steps:

• Pulse jalapeños, garlic, lime juice, and salt in a blender or food processor until puréed. With motor running, slowly drizzle in oil until a thick sauce forms. Add cilantro and pulse a few times until chopped and incorporated. Taste and add more jalapeño, if necessary.
• Do Ahead
• Sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated.

JALAPENO JOHNNY CAKE

Steps:

• Put dry ingredients (except for the Jalapeño pepper and cheese in one bowl and wet ingredients in another).
• Mix together a little at a time and let sit for fifteen minutes, occasionally stirring.
• Then put about a tsp or two of oil in a frying pan and make it hot.
• Just before frying the johnny cakes, add the cheese and jalapeño peppers and stir well.
• Drop by pot spoons onto a hot griddle just as you would if you were making pancakes. Wait till bubbles form on top and then flip and fry on the other side until golden brown.
• Serve with jalapeno dip, sour cream or eat plain.