Poblano Poppers Food

STUFFED POBLANO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the tomato halves flesh-side up in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. In a medium bowl, whisk together 4 tablespoons of the olive oil, the confectioners' sugar, red pepper flakes and 2 teaspoons salt. Spread the mixture evenly over the tomato halves. Roast the tomatoes until tender, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat and add half of the canola oil. When it begins to smoke lightly, add half of the poblanos and cook to tenderize without making them mushy. Using a slotted spoon, remove the peppers to a baking sheet, cavity-side up. Repeat with the remaining poblanos and canola oil. Season with salt and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the 3 tablespoons of the olive oil and the thyme. As the oil heats, the thyme will fry and become crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the thyme sprigs, then season with salt and cool. Add the bell peppers to the same skillet and season with salt. Cook over high heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the peppers brown slightly but are still slightly firm, 3 to 5 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the peppers and transfer to a medium bowl. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet, heat until it begins to smoke lightly, and add the garlic and onions. Reduce the heat to medium. Season with salt and cook until the onions are lightly brown and tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the onions to the bell peppers.
• Quarter the oven-dried tomatoes and add to the pepper and onion mix. Chop the basil leaves and stir into the filling along with the red wine vinegar and mozzarella. Pull the thyme leaves off the stems and add to the mixture. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan and melted butter. Stuff each pepper halfway with the filling, and then top with the breadcrumb mixture.
• Heat the peppers in the oven to brown the tops, 10 to 12 minutes. Arrange on a platter and drizzle with the balsamic vinegar to serve.

POBLANO POPPERS

Steps:

• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
• Melt butter and olive oil together in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute mushrooms, scallions, and garlic in hot skillet until mushrooms have released their liquid and the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir parsley into mushroom mixture, and let mixture cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Stir mushroom mixture, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Creole seasoning together in a bowl. Stuff each hollowed-out poblano pepper with mushroom mixture and place on prepared baking sheet.
• Broil in the preheated oven, turning once, until stuffing is hot and peppers are browned, 8 to 10 minutes.

POBLANO PEPPER SMASH

Steps:

• Roast the whole poblano chile over an open flame, turning occasionally, until charred all over. Let cool slightly and then skin, seed and puree it in a blender.
• Rim a margarita glass with the lime wedge and dip in the Montreal steak spice.
• Add the gin, maple syrup mixture, lemon juice, mescal and 1 1/2 ounces poblano puree to a cocktail shaker. Fill it with ice and shake. Fill the margarita glass with ice. Strain the drink over ice and garnish with a poblano chile slice.

POBLANO-STUFFED BACON -WRAPPED "LAZY" POPPERS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high. Brown the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon--about 7 minutes. Drain on a paper towel.
• Wash peppers. Cut a slit lengthwise on one side of each pepper, and then carve about a quarter inch of pepper out alongside this slit so your fingers can barely fit inches It's a bit tricky, but gently using the flexibility of the pepper and the narrow opening, I was able to wash out the seeds and membranes without breaking the pepper, while also providing enough room for the filling.
• In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, Parmesan, and sour cream until well combined. Stir in the cooled sausage.
• Using a small spoon, stuff the peppers with the cream cheese mixture. Wrap each pepper with bacon and secure with toothpick by inserting pick into both pepper and bacon to hold. If it doesn't come close to wrapping around, just drape it over the top (where filling is), and secure.
• Preheat grill to medium. Brush grates with vegetable oil. Set peppers on grill. Cover and cook until peppers are tender and bacon is crisp--about 30 minutes.
• Enjoy!

DINNER POPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until partially cooked but not crisp. Remove to paper towels to drain., Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. In a skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat; brown tenderloins on both sides. Cool slightly., Carefully cut a slit down the side of each pepper and remove seeds. Fill each with 1 tenderloin; top each with 2 tablespoons cheese and a strip of cream cheese. Close peppers; wrap with bacon and secure with toothpicks., Place on a foil-lined baking sheet, slit side up. Top with remaining cheddar cheese; bake until browned and peppers are tender, 25-30 minutes. Remove toothpicks before serving.