Peppadew Martini Food

PEPPADEW MARGARITA

Steps:

• Rub the rim of a glass with a lime wedge, dip rim in flaky sea salt, and fill glass with ice. Pour tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, and brine into an ice-filled cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into glass, and garnish with lime wedge and a Peppadew.

PEPPADEW MARTINI

Steps:

• Halve the jalapeños lengthwise. Set a sauté pan over medium heat and add the jalapeños, peppercorns and allspice and juniper berries. Cook, stirring frequently, until the jalapeños are lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Combine with the vodka, cover and infuse for 24 hours. Strain.
• Drain the Peppadew peppers, reserving the brine (about 1 cup). Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, combine the goat cheese, mascarpone, vinegar, olive oil and cream. Beat until smooth. Stir in the shallot, chives and salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• To stuff the peppers, spoon the goat-cheese mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a medium star tip; pipe into the peppers. If necessary, refrigerate the filled peppers for up to 4 hours, removing them from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before preparing the cocktails.
• using a muddler or the end of a spoon, muddle 2 lime wedges with a pinch of salt in a cocktail shaker. Fill the shaker with ice and add 11/2 ounces infused vodka and 1 ounce brine. Shake well, strain into a 6-ounce martini glass and top off with equal parts lemon-lime soda and seltzer. Garnish with 2 or 3 of the stuffed peppers on a skewer. Repeat Step 4 to make more cocktails. Store leftover vodka in a cool, dry place.