Smoky Jalapenos Food

SMOKY JALAPENOS

Steps:

• Cut a lengthwise slit in each pepper; remove seeds and membranes. Spread a teaspoonful of cream cheese into each pepper; stuff each with a sausage. , Cut bacon strips in half widthwise; cook in a microwave or skillet until partially cooked. Wrap a bacon piece around each pepper; secure with a toothpick., Place in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until peppers are tender.

CHIPOTLES (SMOKED JALAPENOS)

Steps:

• Fire up any kind of smoker: dry, water, electric, side or stovetop. Keep heat very low, under 230 degrees if possible.
• Stem your peppers, but don't seed them. Place peppers in a single layer on the grate.
• Using pecan (traditionally) or another wood according to your taste, bring up a good dense smoke. Keep the smoke as dense as possible, while keeping a very close eye on the heat.
• When using a stovetop smoker, after bringing the smoker up to temperature and producing smoke, reduce the heat to low. The process will take a lot longer but you won't cook your peppers.
• Check them every hour or so. They're ready when they have shrivelled up and look like dark leather.
• I just put mine in a canning jar, put on the lid and keep them in the cupboard. They keep nearly forever, if they are smoked through.
• If you want to pack them in adobo, this is a good recipe: #140353 Adobo de Chile [url]http://www.recipezaar.com/140353[/url].

SMOKY JALAPEñO PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Mix cream cheese spread and cheddar until blended; spoon into peppers, adding about 1 tsp. to each. Place on baking sheet.
• Pat sausage links dry with paper towels; place over peppers.
• Bake 10 min. or until heated through.

SMOKY BACON-WRAPPED JALAPEñO POPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
• Add the cream cheese, smoked Gouda, Cheddar, chives, lime zest, lime juice, salt and pepper to a medium bowl. Mix thoroughly until evenly combined.
• Divide the cream cheese mixture between the jalapeño halves, pressing to fill all the way to the top edge.
• Wrap a piece of bacon around each stuffed jalapeño so the ends of the bacon lie underneath. Place the wrapped jalapeños, stuffed-side up, on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the bacon is crispy and the cheese mixture is just beginning to bubble out from the top and bottom of the jalapeños, 16 to 18 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool 10 minutes before serving.

SMOKY JALAPENO POPPERS

Steps:

• Put on your food prep gloves. Slice each jalapeno open lengthwise using a paring knife, then make a small crosswise cut at the stem end to form a T.
• Insert your (gloved!) fingertip through the top of the opening and gently wiggle the core loose, then remove. Rinse under cold water to remove any additional seeds. Pat dry gently with a paper or clean towel and set aside. Repeat with the remaining peppers.
• Combine the Cheddar, Asiago, cream cheese and smoked hot sauce in a large bowl until smooth and well blended.
• Gently nudge the cheese filling into each pepper with a spoon. To close the peppers, gently squeeze each one until it resembles its original shape. Don't worry if the peppers tear a bit, just squeeze them shut.
• Sift together the breadcrumbs, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl.
• Lightly beat the eggs in a second shallow bowl.
• One at a time, hold the peppers by the stems and dip them in the beaten eggs, letting the excess drip off, and roll in the breadcrumbs; dip in the eggs again and reroll in breadcrumbs. Set on a plate to dry slightly.
• In the meantime, heat 2 1/2 inches of the oil in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed cast-iron skillet until a deep-fry thermometer registers 325 degrees F. Add three or four of the jalapeno poppers, making sure not to crowd your pan, and fry in batches until golden and crisp, about 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the temperature of the oil and adjust the heat as necessary so it stays steady.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate; season with salt. Repeat with the remaining poppers and serve immediately.

SMOKY JALAPENO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large saute pan over med heat cook onions and garlic until translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in tomato puree and chipotle pepper and bring to a simmer over med heat. Continue to cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to allow flavor to blend and sauce to reduce slightly. Lower heat if bottom of pan gets too hot so sauce does not burn.
• Remove pan from heat and whisk in ream, then set aside. Makes about 1 1/4 cups of sauce.