Thursday, August 21, 2008

Roasted Chili Relish and Reviews

I adapted this recipe from one in our Gourmet Magazine from last month:
Roasted Chili Relish

Ingredients
  • 0.5 - 1 lb various chilies (as hot as you want)
  • 1/2 small head garlic (4-5 cloves)
  • 1/3 cp white vinegar
  • 2 - 3 tbsp sugar
  • salt / pepper / thyme
Steps
  1. Clean peppers and remove stems/seeds
  2. Roughly chop peppers
  3. Remove top of garlic head
  4. Wrap garlic head in foil and place it along with peppers on foil on baking sheet in 350 degree oven for ~30 minutes (I used a toaster oven)
  5. Let cool slightly and remove garlic from wrappers/cover
  6. Put everything in a food processor with vinegar, sugar, and seasoning and run until chopped fine and semi smooth (<1>
  7. Pour mixture into small sauce pan and cook until liquid has reduced by half
  8. Pour into jar with lid and refrigerate
Thoughts

The original recipe called for actual "pickling" of the chilies but I was too lazy and hungry for that. I put this stuff on everything from my sandwiches to chicken/pork dishes to pasta. It had a great heat plus a nice tang from the vinegar and sugar.

::Reviews::

A couple of weeks ago a couple coworkers and I took a long lunch and went to a local deli/small grocery store in south st. louis and had some great sandwiches. The place is called LeGrands Market and I find it hard to think of a better sandwhich that can be had for less than 5 bucks. The size was good, the meats were good quality, the mixtures were tasty and the toppings were great. I will be going back ... if only it were closer to work ;-) Check out their scan of their sandwich menu and just try and not get hungry!

On another lunch break, we took in what is becoming a downtown highlight. Papy's. At 11:25am the line was 30 minutes long and wrapped throughout the small restaurant (it opens at 11). All in house home made barbeque that is there until they run out each day. Despite the wait, it was well worth it ... some of the best brisket I have had in quite some time.

Em made a Rachel Ray recipe the other night and it was pretty darn good. (I don't know if I was more shocked by the fact that she made one of Ray's or that it was as good as it was) She made her Sloppy Buffalo Joes with ground turkey and extra hot sauce and they were really good.

Finally, a coworker of mine turned us on to a new (to us) local ice cream place called Serendipity which has some really good homemade icecream. No its not Ted Drews, but its closer and very good. Mmmm Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream :)