Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Greek Mixed Grill Kabobs and Pine Nut-Orzo Salad

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 to 6 servings


Ingredients

Salt
1/2 pound orzo
4 cloves garlic, grated or minced
4 sprigs fresh oregano, leaves stripped and finely chopped
6 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and finely chopped
1/4 cup green olive tapenade
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 lemons, juiced and 1 zested
1/3 plus 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 1/2 pounds firm white flesh fish, halibut or swordfish, cut into 12 (2-inch) chunks
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 12 (2-inch) chunks
Black pepper
You'll also need: Metal skewers


Pine Nut-Orzo Salad

1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted
1 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 cup feta cheese crumbles
8 Greek hot peppers, for garnish
1/4 cup kalamata olives, for garnish
2 tomatoes, diced, for garnish
1/2 cucumber, diced, for garnish


Directions

Preheat grill pan or outdoor grill to medium high.


Place a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil for the pasta salad. When the water boils, salt it and cook the pasta to al dente.


While the pasta works, in a small bowl combine the garlic, oregano, rosemary, tapenade, red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon lemon zest and the juice of 1 lemon with about 1/3 cup EVOO. Place the fish and chicken in separate shallow dishes or bowls and season with salt and pepper then divide the dressing between the bowls and coat the fish and chicken evenly. Skewer the fish and chicken on metal skewers. Grill the chicken 10 to 12 minutes until firm and juices run clear, and the fish for about 6 to 8 minutes, turning the kabobs frequently.


Drain orzo and combine with pine nuts, onions, parsley, feta crumbles, the juice of 1 lemon, about 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, salt and pepper. Serve the orzo salad with 3 pieces each of chicken and fish along side. Garnish plates with a couple of hot peppers, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers on each plate.

From: foodnetwork.com

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Southwest Turkey Burgers

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

8 slices turkey bacon or turkey bacon with black pepper or applewood smoked bacon
1 1/3 pounds ground turkey breast, the average weight of 1 package
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 large shallot or 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional - parsley may be substituted
1/2 small bell pepper, green, red or yellow, seeded and finely chopped
1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons, 2/3 palm full, ground cumin
1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne hot sauce, several drops (recommended: Tabasco)
2 teaspoons grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
Vegetable oil or olive oil, for drizzling
1/2 pound deli sliced pepper jack cheese
4 crusty kaiser rolls, split
1 cup sweet red pepper relish, found on condiment aisle - pepper jelly may be substituted
Red leaf lettuce



Directions

Chop your garlic and veggies.


Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat until crisp. Wipe excess grease from pan and return skillet to heat.


While bacon cooks, combine turkey meat, garlic, shallot or onion, thyme, cilantro or parsley, bell pepper, serrano or jalapeno pepper, cumin, hot pepper sauce, grill seasoning or salt and pepper. Divide mixture into 4 equal mounds then form meat into patties. Drizzle patties with vegetable oil to coat. Cook in skillet over medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Place sliced cheese over the patties in the last 2 minutes of cooking, use 1 or 2 slices for each patty, as you like.


Pile cooked cheeseburgers into buns. Spread sweet relish or jelly on bun tops and set red leaf lettuce into place, using the relish or jelly as glue. Top cheeseburgers with 2 slices of cooked, crisp bacon or turkey bacon and lettluce. Then serve with tortilla chips, tossed salad and/or spicy o-nuts.

From: foodnetwork.com

Friday, February 20, 2009

Scallion and Egg Pancakes

Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings as starter or side


Ingredients

2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon white wine or cider vinegar, eyeball it
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/4 cup tamari dark soy sauce
1/8 cup water, eyeball it
1 tablespoon light oil, plus some to drizzle
4 scallions cut into 1-inch lengths
2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks, beaten
Salt
4 large plain flour tortillas


Directions

Mix honey with vinegar, sesame oil, and tamari, then stir in water and transfer to a small serving dish.


Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat with 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil smokes, add scallions and sear them, crisping them at edges and charring the greens, 2 minutes. Pull pan from heat and add egg mixture seasoned with salt. Toss and scramble the eggs, putting the pan back over the heat briefly if necessary, then remove eggs to a plate. Wipe pan clean and add a drizzle of oil to skillet and a tortilla. Blister the tortilla, 30 seconds, turn it and add 1/4 of the scallions and eggs to top the tortilla. Fold the tortilla into quarters and crisp the outsides then remove, repeat with remaining ingredients then serve with sauce for dipping.

From: foodnetwork.com

Monday, February 16, 2009

Nothin' to Fret about Apple Fritters

Cook Time: 8 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 20 apple fritter rings


Ingredients

Vegetable oil, for frying
4 apples, Red or Golden Delicious or, 2 of each
2 teaspoons lemon juice (1 wedge will do)
2 cups complete pancake mix, any brand
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg, or equivalent of freshly grated
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar


Directions

Heat 1-inch vegetable oil on moderate to medium high heat. If you wish to test the oil, add a 1-inch cube of bread to hot oil. If it turns deep golden brown in color in a count of 40, the oil is ready.


Core apples with an apple corer. Cut into 1/4-inch thick slices across, forming apple rings. Sprinkle sliced apples with the juice of a wedge of lemon to prevent browning.


Mix together pancake mix and water, season with nutmeg. Place confectioners' sugar in a sifter or a tea strainer. Place a piece of cardboard or brown paper sack on a work surface for draining fritters. Working in small batches of 5 to 6 slices, coat rings of apple in batter, and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until evenly golden brown. Transfer to paper bag or towels to drain. When all the fritters are cooked, let oil cool before discarding.


Top fritters with confectioners' sugar and transfer to a serving platter.

From: foodnetwork.com

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Thai Chicken Pizza

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

1 pizza dough, any brand
1/2 cup duck sauce or plum sauce
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 package (2 cups) shredded provolone or Monterey Jack cheese
1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 rounded tablespoonful peanut butter
2 teaspoons hot sauce
2 teaspoons grill seasoning (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning) eyeball it
4 chicken breast cutlets, 1/2 pound
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar or cider vinegar
1/4 seedless cucumber, peeled and cut into matchsticks
4 scallions, chopped
1 cup bean spouts, a couple of handfuls
Palm full cilantro leaves, chopped
1/4 cup chopped peanuts, 2 ounces


Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.


Form pizza crust on pizza pan or cookie sheet. Top with duck or plum sauce - spread it around like you would pizza sauce. Sprinkle the pizza with some crushed red pepper flakes then top with cheese and peppers. Bake until golden and bubbly, 15 to 17 minutes.


Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Combine vegetable oil, soy sauce and peanut butter with hot sauce and grill seasoning. Use the microwave to loosen up peanut butter if it is too cold to blend into sauce, 10 seconds ought to do it. Add chicken and coat evenly with mixture. Let stand 10 minutes then grill chicken cutlets 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until firm. Slice chicken into very thin strips.


While chicken cooks, mix honey and vinegar and add the cucumber. Turn to coat evenly.


Top the hot, cooked pizza with chicken, scallions, sprouts and cilantro. Drain cucumbers and scatter over the pizza. Garnish pizza with peanuts, cut into 8 wedges and serve.

From: foodnetwork.com

Thursday, February 12, 2009

The Only Pizza You'll Ever Want Again: Chicken, Sun Dried Tomato, Broccoli, Ricotta, Mozzarella and Basil

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings, 8 slices


Ingredients

Crust:

1 (16-ounce) package pizza dough, brought to room temperature
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano


Toppings:

1/3 pound broccoli from trimmed broccoli bin in produce section, 1/3 head
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
3 cloves cracked garlic
1/2 pound chicken breast cut for stir fry or chicken tenders
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup part skim ricotta cheese
10 sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, available on dairy aisle
12 to 15 leaves fresh basil, torn or stacked and thinly sliced


Directions

Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.


On a 12-inch nonstick pizza pan, stretch out your dough and form the
pizza crust. Drizzle 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil on crust and
spread it with a pastry brush over the dough to the edges. Sprinkle
crust with 2 tablespoons grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.


In a small covered saucepan, bring 2 inches water to a boil. Separate
broccoli tops into florets, discarding lower stalks or reserving for
soup. Salt water and add broccoli florets. Cook covered 3 to 5
minutes. Drain broccoli and set on cutting board. Chop broccoli
florets into small pieces.


Heat a small nonstick pan over medium high to high heat. Add oil,
cracked garlic and chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Brown chicken
breast cut for stir-fry or tenders until lightly golden all over, 3 to
5 minutes. Chop sauteed chicken and garlic on a cutting board into
small pieces.


To assemble pizza, dot crust with chopped broccoli bits and cooked
chopped chicken. Dot crust with spoonfuls of ricotta and spread
ricotta gently with the back of your spoon. Add sliced sun-dried
tomatoes, scattering them around the pizza to the edges. Complete the
assembly with a thin layer of shredded mozzarella, about 1 cup. Place
pizza in oven on middle rack and lower heat to 450 degrees F. Bake 12
minutes, until cheese is deep golden in color and crust is brown and
crisp at the edges. Remove pizza from the oven and let stand 5
minutes. Top with lots of torn or shredded basil. Cut pizza into 8
slices using pizza wheel and serve.

From: foodnetwork.com

Super Stuffed French Bread Pizza Rustica

Cook Time: 25 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

1 (2 foot long) loaf French bread
1 pound sweet Italian sausage
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 package frozen chopped spinach defrosted and squeezed dry
Salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups part skim ricotta
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 pound sweet sopressata, from the deli, sliced thick, chopped
1/2 stick pepperoni, chopped
1 sack (10 ounces) shredded mozzarella
1 sack (10 ounces) shredded provolone
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes


Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.


Split bread lengthwise and hollow it out. Cut in half across, making 4 shells for pizzas.


Heat a skillet over medium high flame and brown sausage in extra-virgin olive oil. Brown and crumble sausage. Add red bell pepper, onion and garlic. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, add spinach. Remove mixture from heat and season with a pinch of salt and black pepper, to your taste.


Transfer to a bowl. Combine sausage and veggies with ricotta, Parmesan, sopressata and pepperoni. Fill bread shells and top with mounded mozzarella and provolone cheeses. Place in hot oven on cookie sheet and bake until cheese melts and bubbles and bread is super crisp, about 10 to 12 minutes. Top pizzas with oregano and hot pepper flakes. Serve immediately, or snack all night!

From: foodnetwork.com

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

10-Minute White Pizza

Cook Time: 8 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 24 bite-size pizza


Ingredients

1 package thin crust prepared pizza shell or prepared focaccia, 16 ounces
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
3 large cloves garlic, minced
1 cup shredded mozzarella (found in dairy aisle)
1 cup shredded provolone (found in dairy aisle)
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano or Romano (a handful)
1 (15-ounce) can artichoke hearts in water, drained and thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped parsley


Directions


Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.


Put the pizza shell or focaccia onto a pizza pan or cookie sheet. Drizzle shell with oil and scatter minced garlic over shell to edges. Cover the pie with a layer of all 3 cheeses combined and work all the way to the edge of the shells. Top with artichoke hearts. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, until cheeses have melted and begin to bubble. Remove from oven and garnish with parsley. Cut pie with pizza wheel or knife into bite-size squares and serve.

From: foodnetwork.com

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Pumpkin Soup with Chili Cran-Apple Relish

Cook Time: 25 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 8 first course, 4 entree servings


Ingredients

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
2 tablespoons butter
1 fresh bay leaf
2 ribs celery with greens, finely chopped (save time and purchase celery already washed, trimmed and cut into sticks, this makes chopping fast work)
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons poultry seasoning or 2 teaspoons ground thyme
2 teaspoons hot sauce, or to taste
6 cups chicken stock
1 (28-ounce) can cooked pumpkin puree
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg


Relish:

1 crisp apple, such as McIntosh or Granny Smith, finely chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons honey
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon


Directions


Heat a medium soup pot over medium to medium high heat. Add the oil and melt the butter. Add bay, celery, and onion. Season the veggies with salt and pepper. Cook 6 or 7 minutes, until tender. Add flour, poultry seasoning and hot sauce, to taste, then cook flour a minute. Whisk in chicken stock and bring liquid to a bubble. Whisk in pumpkin in large spoonfuls to incorporate it into the broth. Simmer soup 10 minutes to thicken a bit then add in cream and nutmeg. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.


While soup cooks, assemble the relish: combine apple, onion, lemon juice, cranberries, chili powder, honey and cinnamon.


Adjust seasonings in soup and relish and serve soup in shallow bowls with a few spoonfuls of relish.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Pumpkin and Black Bean Soup

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 to 6 servings


Ingredients

2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cups canned or packaged vegetable stock, found on soup aisle
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained
2 cans (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (found often on the baking aisle)
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon curry powder, 1 palm full
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, 1/2 palm full
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, eyeball it in the palm of your hand
Coarse salt
20 blades fresh chives, chopped or snipped, for garnish


Directions

Heat a soup pot over medium heat. Add oil. When oil is hot, add onion. Saute onions 5 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes, black beans and pumpkin puree. Stir to combine ingredients and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and stir in cream, curry, cumin, cayenne and salt, to taste. Simmer 5 minutes, adjust seasonings and serve garnished with chopped chives.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Creamy Spaghetti and Beans

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

5 to 6 cups chicken stock
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 pound chunk pancetta chopped into small dice
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 pound spaghetti
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, cut into a small dice
1 fresh bay leaf
5 to 6 sprigs fresh thyme
1 (15-ounce) can Roman beans or small white beans (recommended: Goya brand)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup dry white wine, eyeball it
1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
A generous handful flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped


Directions

Place the stock in a sauce pot and warm it over medium heat then reduce to simmer.


Heat the extra-virgin olive oil and the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the pancetta to brown slightly. Next add the garlic and spaghetti and toast the noodles lightly, 3 to 4 minutes. Add onions and carrots, bay and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Soften veggies a bit, 5 minutes. Add wine and allow it to be completely absorbed. Add beans then add a few ladles of stock and stir the pasta. Keep adding stock a few ladles at a time allowing liquids to be mostly absorbed before adding more, as if you were preparing a risotto. When liquids are absorbed and spaghetti is cooked to al dente, 12-15 minutes, stir in cheese. Adjust salt and pepper. Turn off heat and stir another minute. Remove the bay and thyme stems. Serve in shallow bowls and garnish with lots of parsley.

From: foodnetwork.com

Friday, February 6, 2009

Reuben Mac and Cheese

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings


Ingredients

* Salt
* 1 pound cavatappi, hallow corkscrew shaped pasta or, other short cut
* 2 slices rye bread
* 3 tablespoons butter plus some for buttering toast
* A handful fresh parsley leaves
* 1 teaspoon paprika
* 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 2 cups milk
* 1/4 cup spicy brown deli mustard (recommended: Gulden's)
* 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
* 1 cup shredded Gruyere
* 1 cup shredded yellow Cheddar
* 3/4 pound good quality deli corned beef, sliced as thick as bacon, chopped
* 1 pound sauerkraut, rinsed and well drained


Directions

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Salt water and
cook pasta to al dente.


While pasta cooks, toast rye bread in toaster then butter hot bread.
Coarsely chop bread and place in food processor. Add parsley and
paprika to bread and process into bread crumbs, reserve.


Heat a sauce pot over medium heat. Add butter to pot and melt, whisk
in flour 1 minute then milk. Season the sauce with salt and pepper,
thicken sauce 5 to 6 minutes then stir in mustard. Melt 2/3 of the
combined cheeses into the sauce.


Preheat broiler.


Drain pasta and return to hot pot. Toss hot pasta with chopped meat
and sauerkraut to combine, stir in cheese sauce and coat. Transfer mac
n cheese to casserole and top with bread crumbs and remaining cheese.
Brown under broiler 3 to 4 minutes, serve.

From: foodnetwork.com

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Texas Hold-Ums Mini chipotle beef burgers with warm fire roasted garlic ketchup

Cook Time: 6 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 6 servings, 2 burgers each


Ingredients

* 2 pounds ground sirloin
* 1 medium onion, peeled and cut in 1/2
* 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, eyeball it
* 2 chipotles in adobo and 2 tablespoons of adobo sauce
* 2 tablespoons grill seasoning, a couple of palm fulls,
(recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
* 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus some for drizzling
* 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 3 tablespoons brown sugar
* 1/4 cup vinegar
* 1 (15-ounce) can crushed fire roasted tomatoes, about 2 cups
* Salt and pepper
* 12 slices, 1/2-inch thick, brick-cut smoked Cheddar or sharp
Cheddar, (recommended: Cabot), optional
* 12 small round rolls, split
* (Many markets sell mini Keiser rolls or use dinner rolls in any
flavor you like)


Directions

Preheat grill pan to high.


Place the meat in a bowl. Cut the onion in half. Grate half the onion
into the meat using the small grate on a box grater. Chop and reserve
the other half onion. Add Worcestershire, chipotles and sauce and
grill seasoning to burgers. Drizzle a little extra-virgin olive oil
over the bowl and mix meat. Score the meat into 4 sections. Make 3
mini-burgers, each 3 inches wide, 1-inch thick, from each half-pound
of meat.


Heat a small sauce pot over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil
and garlic. Cook garlic 2 to 3 minutes then add sugar and vinegar,
cook 2 minutes more and stir in tomatoes. Season sauce with salt and
pepper and allow it to reduce 5 to 6 minutes more.


Grill meat 2 to 3 minutes on each side and top with cheese, if you like.


Place burgers on buns and top with raw chopped onions and warm fire
roasted ketchup and serve.

From: foodnetwork.com

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Mozzarella Salad

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

* 16 pieces bocconcini, bite sized mozzarella balls
* 1 pint multi colored, yellow or red heirloom cherry tomatoes
* 4 scallions, whites and greens, thinly sliced on an angle
* 1/2 cup coarsely chopped parsley leaves
* 1/2 cup thinly sliced basil, 10 to 12 leaves
* 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, eyeball it
* 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
* Salt and pepper


Directions

Halve the mozzarella and tomatoes and combine in bowl with scallions
and herbs. Dress salad with vinegar, olive oil and season with salt
and pepper, to taste.

From: foodnetwork.com

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Garlic and Herb Three Cheese Pizza

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 ball fresh pizza dough, store bought or from your favorite pizzeria
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Handful parsley leaves, finely chopped
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 (5-ounce) round soft cheese with herbs, crumbled (recommended: Boursin)
1 teaspoon lemon zest, eyeball it
2 cups shredded sharp provolone cheese
Few sprigs fresh thyme, leaves chopped or 1/2 teaspoon dried


Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.


Stretch dough out and form a thin round. Use a little flour or
cornmeal on your hands if dough sticks. Mix the garlic, parsley,
ricotta, herb cheese and lemon zest. Spread the soft cheese mixture
across the pizza dough to the edges then top with an even layer of
provolone. Scatter thyme over the cheese mixture. Bake until crisp and
bubbly-brown on top, 18 to 20 minutes.

From: foodnetwork.com

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Make Your Own Burrito Bar

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients
Black Bean Filling:

* 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
* 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 2 cans black beans, drained
* 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, a palm full
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin, eyeball it in your palm
* 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper sauce
* Coarse salt


Chicken and Chorizo Filling:

* 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
* 3/4 pound boneless chicken breast tenders, diced
* 1 teaspoon dark chili powder
* Coarse salt, to your taste
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
* 1/2 pound chorizo, casing removed and diced
* 12 burrito size flour tortillas


Toppings:

* 2 cups roasted salsa, see below
* 1 1/2 cups grated Pepper Jack cheese
* 1 1/2 cups white smoked cheddar, shredded, preferred brand Cabot
* 4 to 6 scallions, chopped
* 1 heart romaine lettuce, chopped
* Green Onion Sour Cream, recipe follows


Roasted Salsa:

* 4 plum tomatoes
* 1 jalapeno pepper
* 1 small onion, peeled and cut across into 3 thick slices
* 3 or 4 sprigs fresh mint leaves
* Handful cilantro leaves
* Coarse salt


Directions

Heat 2 nonstick skillets over medium high heat. In the first, add 2
tablespoons oil, jalapeno, garlic and onion for black beans. Saute 2
or 3 minutes, add beans and seasonings and cayenne pepper sauce.
Reduce heat to low and simmer. In the second skillet, add oil and
chicken. Season chicken with chili powder and salt and lightly brown
the meat, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic, red peppers and chorizo and
saute 5 to 6 minutes, then reduce heat to low.


For salsa, heat a skillet over high heat. Add whole tomatoes and a
seeded jalapeno, skin side down, and the thick slices of onion. Allow
the tomatoes, pepper and onion to char on all sides. Add blackened
tomatoes, pepper and onions to a food processor. Pulse grind the salsa
with mint and cilantro leaves. Season salsa with coarse salt.


Char and soften tortillas by holding them over hot burner 15 seconds
on each side. If you do not have gas burners, heat your dry skillet
you used for salsa and cook tortillas 1 at a time in the pan 15
seconds on each side.


Pile tortillas near stove and line up your toppings. Serve fillings
out of the pans you cooked them in.


Green Onion Sour Cream:

* 2 cups sour cream
* 1 lime, juiced and zested
* 3 scallions, sliced
* 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, a handful, optional - parsley can
be substituted


Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until the sour
cream is pale green and scallions are finely chopped. Serve with
burritos.

Yield: 2 1/2 cups

From: foodnetwork.com