Author: Matt Bray - Page 120

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Ready to make your own taco seasoning?

It’s one of the simpler recipes out there, and all it takes is spices that are likely already in your spice cabinet.

We also love homemade taco seasonings because they are fun to make with the kids. It’s a cool way to make taco night more hands on. The kids will get to see what exactly make that ground beef as tasty as it is. This recipe makes a similar amount to your typical store-bought taco seasoning packet. If you’re concerned about overall spiciness, you can control that by decreasing the black pepper and chili powder in the mix.

Spicy Tequila Sunrise

by Matt Bray

Wake up those taste buds!

Here’s a tasty twist on the traditional tequila sunrise. The pop of jalapeño pepper will certainly perk you right up. Keep the seeds in when muddling the hot pepper slice for a little additional heat.

Looking for something even spicier? Upgrade that chili to serrano pepper. It comes in double or more the heat of the jalapeño, with a very comparable taste. Now that’ll wake you up!

Jalapeño Lemonade

by Matt Bray

Tart, sweet, and spicy.

This lemonade recipe refreshes in more ways than one. The mild to medium heat from the jalapeño hits the spot with the fresh tang from the lemons. It’s a terrific summer-time refresher, perfect for parties or just a relaxing afternoon.

And yes, we know what you’re thinking, it’s also a great mixer with vodka. This is the kind of recipe that everyone in the family can enjoy.

Spicy Chicken Nachos

by Matt Bray

A spicy fan snacking favorite… Whether it’s for a big game day, an outdoor party, or a fiesta of any kind, spicy chicken nachos are always a hit. This is one appetizer that doesn’t leave you wanting more, both tasty and filling. You bet it’ll …

Mango Habanero Hot Sauce

by Matt Bray

Sweet zip!

If you like your hot sauce to have a little tropical flair, then there are few that deliver more than a mango habanero hot sauce. The extreme heat is a perfect match with tropical sweetness. And there’s even a slight hint of savory Indian cuisine and Tex Mex in this recipe with the addition of a dash of both chili and curry powders.

You can use this sauce in a lot of ways. The tropical sweetness makes mango habanero hot sauce a perfect dipper for chicken satay and chicken fingers. The same goes for beef skewers (the curry twist really shines here.) You can also use this hot sauce as a barbecue glaze, too. It’s surprisingly refreshing with barbecue compared to some of the heavier ketchup and molasses based sauces out there. And don’t forget the burgers. Skip the traditional ketchup and mustard and dash a little of this hot sauce on instead. You’ll be surprised with the results.

Obviously mango habanero hot sauce is super tasty, but always remember that habanero peppers sit at the upper end of the pepper scale. Be careful when preparing. Wear kitchen gloves and know how to treat chili burn just in case.

Super Easy Blue Cheese Burger With Jalapeño

by Matt Bray

Hamburger recipes don’t get much easier than this.

Sure, there are more gourmet recipe options out there for a blue cheese burger, but if you have frozen patties at home, this is a sure-fire way to add a touch of surprising flavor and, of course, a nice pop of heat via jalapeño. The teriyaki sauce adds a bit of tang to the burger, and it works very well with the richness of the blue cheese.

Try it with some chipotle-dusted french fries. You won’t be disappointed for such a quick-to-prep-and-cook meal.

Spicy Jamaican Curry Chicken

by Matt Bray

Caribbean cuisine and hot peppers go hand-in-hand, and that’s especially true with anything Jamaican and scotch bonnet peppers. It’s a pairing made in heaven. Think of this spicy Jamaican curry chicken recipe as tropical comfort food. It has a rich flavor, a spicy sweetness, and enough chicken …

Why Does Your Nose Run When You Eat Spicy Food?

by Matt Bray

Chili peppers and other spicy foods sure can excite your taste buds, but that’s not all they can do to your body. Your system can have all sorts of side effects to spicy food – everything from chili burn on the skin to sudden sweats. But the most surprising for many is the runny nose. Why is that? Why does your nose run when you eat spicy food like jalapeño peppers?

Sweet Chili Sauce Spicy Ice Cream Topping

by Matt Bray

A mango sorbet pairing made in heaven

Pairing this spicy ice cream topping with mango sorbet is pure awesome, plain and simple. The tropical fruit sweetness mixed with the Thai chili heat just works. And this is an easy dessert topping to pull together on the quick. If you have some Thai sweet chili sauce in the fridge, you are a quarter of the way there. Give it a go when you’re craving a tropical fruit sorbet or ice cream.

Strawberry Jalapeño Margarita

by Matt Bray

Just imagining the sweet tang of strawberry mixing with the heat of jalapeño is mouthwatering, to say the least. They may seem an unlikely pair at first glance, but like with many sweet things, spicy works really well here. REALLY well.

A strawberry jalapeño margarita is one of those summer show-stopper drinks that’ll energize a party. So pick up some fresh strawberries and a couple of jalapeño peppers before your next tequila-friendly shindig, and get ready for some serious smiles.