Here We Go! Here We Go! Steeler’s Peach Salsa

September 8, 2013Carroll 2 Comments

Sir Wes is lighting up the grill this weekend to get his wings on. As you must know it is the long awaited NFL Kick-Off Weekend. With coals already burning, I thought I would cut line and grill some peaches before the wings hit the grill for a quick salsa.

I do enjoy watching football, but tend to get distracted easily. I sometimes find that can watch all four quarters and not be able to tell you what happened. Not all games, but some…

Steeler’s Grilled Peach Salsa

1 1/4 pounds ripe peaches, (3-4 medium), pitted and sliced in wedges
1 teaspoon canola oil
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons red bell pepper
1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
Zest and juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Prepare grill, charcoal or gas, to medium heat. Brush the peaches sections lightly with oil. Place the peaches directly on the grill and cook until charred and softened, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and cool in refrigerator. Meanwhile mix the onions, peppers, lime juice, cilantro and a touch of salt. When cooled, chop the peaches into 1/4-inch pieces and add to the mixture, tossing delicately.

This salsa works will with chips as well as grilled fish, chicken, pork and anything else that might be on your game day table!

About half way thru the football season I will start to focus more about what is on the table then what is on the TV. By 3/4 thru the season the only thing that keeps me tuning in is the Steelers and my fantasy teams. I am a tough competitor (I like to think anyway) in 2 Pigskinner Pick ‘Em Leagues, the owner of one fantasy football team, and assistant coach to another. By this late into the season I have started planning the Superbowl Menu and tuning into Real Housewives in lieu of the 8:00 game.

That’s pretty much my football season, but for this weekend I am all in!

By the way- did you notice how shiny and pretty the Notre Dame Gold helmets are? Here we go! Here we go!!

Texas Caviar

March 10, 2013Carroll 3 Comments

Not too long ago we had a town hall at work in which the team, or if you work at Walt Disney World, the Cast put together a menu based on their background and heritage. With over 60 cooks participating, you can imagine how extravagant and flavorful this lunch was. I took away a ton of idea’s and a full belly, not to mention a recipe or two.

The recipe for Texas Caviar came from another part of the kitchen team, one of the most important parts- the receiving/ordering team. They are not chefs, but let me tell you they have more food knowledge then many cooks, form cuts of meat, vegetables in season and which fish are swimming when and where. Just a reminder to never judge a book by its cover, that everyone you encounter has something to offer.

As all things in Texas, this “caviar’ offers big texture with big flavor.

Ingredients

1 each 15.25 ounce can reduced sodium black beans
1 each 16 ounce can reduced sodium pinto beans
7 ounce white corn kernels
2 ounce chopped green chilies
1 fresh jalapeño pepper, chopped
½ each red and green bell pepper, small diced
½ bunch cilantro, chopped
¼ cup rice wine vinegar
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon kosher salt

Method

Drain and rinse beans and corn if using canned. Combine the beans, corn and peppers in a mixing bowl.
Make the dressing by putting the vinegar, oil, sugar, garlic powder and salt in a small sauce pot and bring to a boil. Immediately pour over the bean mixture and stir well. Add the chopped cilantro and refrigerate until cool. Serve with fresh cut veggies, tortilla chips, or over a bed of greens.

The flavors grow with time, mixing and mingling and become perfectly balanced between salty and sweet.

This has moved to the top of my list for healthy reception dips/salsas.

Kitchen talk has a wide range, from personal family stories, to tales of out of work shenanigans, to light to heavy teasing of one another, and of course food. A team of over 60 can bring a lot of ideas and a ton of knowledge, and especially a lot of passion. It’s easy to forget what a great resource is around you with all the beautiful cookbooks on the shelves and the ease of the internet in our hands or pockets. More often than not the answers or ideas your search for is under your nose, or paperwork and order sheets in this case.

Cranberry Salsa!

November 22, 2011Carroll 8 Comments

I have an admission to make- I like canned cranberry jelly, ridges and all. This is how I grew up-which is probably why I am ok with having the good old sliced cranberry jelly every so often. HOWEVER- as long as time permits, I would much rather make my own cranberry relish or chutney. This year’s planning session led me to find a recipe in Southern Living featuring a Cranberry Salsa, which I knew must be great being that all things “salsa” are always delicious. It’s the cilantro I love, not to mention usually there are chips, and maybe a cerveza. This is a great alternative to a typical relish, or even the lovely canned cranberry jelly!

: Fresh Cranberry Salsa Mise en Place

Another great thing about this dish is that you can do it pretty far in advance, I made it on Sunday and the flavors are melding together already.

Ingredients

1 (12-oz.) package fresh or frozen cranberries
1 tablespoon orange zest
1 navel orange, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons coarsely chopped crystallized ginger
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Pulse cranberries in a food processor until coarsely chopped. Transfer to a bowl.
2. Pulse orange zest and next 5 ingredients in food processor 3 to 5 times or until orange, ginger, and pepper are finely chopped. Stir into cranberries; cover and chill 2 before serving.

Into the food processor!

You can chop everything by hand or use a blender if you are without a food processor or time!

Can you see all that delicious cilantro!

From start to finish it took me about 15 minutes- super easy!

The longer it sits the better!

I actually could eat this by the spoonful, out of the jar!

The last perk of this recipe is that I am guessing by adding a little cream cheese to it after Turkey Day is done, you will have a tasty tortilla chip dip!