Fun & Learning – Page 27

Cucumber Jalapeño Martini

Refreshing with a surprising spicy twist…

You could simply create a refreshing cucumber martini, but why on earth stop there if you’re a spicy food fan? Add in a layer of heat by muddling fresh jalapeño pepper with the cucumber. It adds a surprising spice to this refreshing cocktail that you and your guests no doubt will enjoy.

If you’re an “all-in” spice kind of person, you could also opt for serrano pepper here. Serranos have a comparable bright, fresh flavor as the jalapeño, but they’re typically double the heat.

Spicy Cajun Cream Sauce

by Matt Bray

Delicious…from pasta sauce to dipping sauce. Spicy Cajun cream sauce is not only tasty, it’s also very versatile. It’s obviously a good choice for adding a touch of spice to basic pasta. But try it, too, topping some chicken cutlets or as a dipping sauce side for …

Homemade Jerk Seasoning

by Matt Bray

A savory seasoning with heat.

When you think jerk seasoning, you think Jamaican foods, jerk chicken, shrimp, and steaks. And it’s true – this homemade jerk seasoning is perfect with all of these things. But it’s a seasoning that’s actually a whole lot more versatile. Try sprinkling it on pizza and sandwiches for a little extra savory oomph. Mix it with mayonnaise to make a phenomenal dipping sauce. Sprinkle it on sweet potato fries or your morning scrambled eggs. You’ll find lots of uses in your kitchen. The heat source: cayenne pepper powder.

Poblano Corn Chowder

by Matt Bray

Creamy and mild.

This is about as family friendly as a chili pepper-based soup can get. The mild simmering heat of poblano peppers adds just a hint of spice to this creamy corn chowder. It’s delicious and quite filling too. If you want a little more heat, try swapping out the poblanos for jalapeño peppers. Serve with crackers and shredded white cheddar (as an optional topping.)

Sweet Maple Chipotle Barbecue Sauce

by Matt Bray

Sweet maple syrup meet smoky chipotle…

Talk about two rich flavors that are at the opposite ends of the taste spectrum. Yet together, they are magic. On one side you have rich, sweet maple syrup, on the other smoky, spicy chipotle pepper. Paired in a barbecue sauce, you have a taste bud explosion for your next cookout. Try it on steak, pork, or chicken. It’s great, too, as a barbecue dipping sauce for your favorite fried foods. If there’s too much heat here, lessen the amount of chipotle used to two.

Smokin’ Hot Habanero Burger

by Matt Bray

A burger with big ol’ bite! This one’s not for those with moderate spicy food tastes. This habanero burger is over-the-top and smokin‘ hot. It’ll knock your tastebuds to another zip code. There’s so much heat here, and in so many ways, that it’s a must to …

Cascabel Sauce

by Matt Bray

Smoky and nutty, perfect on enchiladas.

The lovely cascabel pepper offers a lot more than just good looks. Its earthy flavors – smoky and nutty – make for one flavorful sauce, especially for tortilla-based Mexican cuisines like enchiladas, quesadillas, and burritos. Try this cascabel sauce, too, with grilled chicken and beef. We like it without the cilantro to retain the full nuttiness, but some prefer the hint of freshness the cilantro brings to balance some of the earthiness.

Smoked Paprika Vs. Paprika: PepperScale Showdown

by Matt Bray

The world of paprika is surprisingly complex… You have sweet and you have hot. You have generic, Spanish (three types), and Hungarian (eight types). And then you have smoked too. Where does smoked paprika fit in? How does it typically differ from other forms of …

Guajillo Salsa

by Matt Bray

Guajillo peppers are well-loved for their smokiness and tea-like sweetness, and it’s these two flavors that make it such an excellent salsa pepper. Here mixed with tomatillo, this guajillo salsa has a sweet tang with a trailing smoke. It’s excellent finely blended and served with …

How To Can Hot Peppers: A Simple Step-By-Step

by Matt Bray

Have an excess of fresh hot peppers sitting in your kitchen? Canning them is a terrific way to extend their lifecycle so that you can enjoy the heat year-round. Canned hot peppers have the same chili heat burst with a terrific tangy pickle taste which makes …