Hot and Spicy dishes, part 2

[Kathy Ellen]

Thought I'd like to start this thread off with:

Penne Pasta Ala Vodka


Ingredients:

1 lb penne macaroni (make sure the penne has ridges to scoop up the sauce)
lots of extra virgin olive oil and hot chili sesame oil
3 cloves minced garlic
2/3 chopped, sweet vidalia onion
1 small can tomato paste
1 35 oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 stick butter...yes, real butter
lots of vodka...ok... half cup at least
cup of heavy cream
fresh, grated asiago and parmesan cheese to your taste
all of your favorite spices: fresh basil, oregano, cilantro....
and touches of crushed red pepper. salt and pepper
__________________________________________________ _____

** In a large skillet saute butter,oils and onions for 8 minutes.

** Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, red pepper flakes and any other dried
spices to the mix. Simmer for 25 minutes. Begin to boil pasta now and drain.

** Add vodka and heavy cream to sauce and mix.

** Add penne pasta, fresh spices of basil, oregano and cilantro and grated
chesses to the mix and blend.

***You can also add cooked, spicy shrimp and chicken to this mixture for a full
meal...freezes well

[chonsigirl]

I want to have dinner at your house!

[Kathy Ellen]

Kathy Ellen's Fresh Salsa

Ingredients:

** 2 cups of fresh corn (cut from the cob)
** 4 ripe plum or vine tomatoes, peeled (optional), seeded and diced
** 2/3 large red onion diced
** garlic and red pepper flakes to your taste
** 1 each: sweet peppers (green, yellow and orange) seeded and diced
** 1 tablespoon minced jalapeno peppers
** 1 tablespoon minced poblano peppers
** fresh cilantro (heafty handful)
**1 tablespoon each of squeezed lime and lemon juice extra virgin oil and balsamic oil (enough to marinate). You can add a bit more of olive & balsamic oil, salt and pepper.
__________________________________________________ ______________

** Combine corn, tomatoes, onion, all peppers and cilantro. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper and marinate for an hour or overnight.

** Drain the salsa mixture in a colander. Try to squeeze out as much liquid as possible by placing this mixture onto paper towels and tea towel, and drain for 1/2 hour.
__________________________________________________ _____________

You can mix this salsa with chicken, shrimp, pork, lobster and make a fried tortilla. I buy the large "Mission Wraps", usually Jalapeno Cheddar or Sundried Tomato and Basil and add my favorite chesses ( asiago, parmesan and fontina).

**lay the tortilla out flat. Place your ingredients: meat, cheese and salsa, or whatever on the tortilla and fold the tortilla like a taco.

**place extra virgin olive oil in a pan and place the tortilla mixture onto the pan. Fry on both sides until brown. DON'T take your eyes from the pan for a second....it fries up VERY quickly. you wouldn't believe what a difference this frying makes...

** add sour cream and snippets of scallions to the top of the tortilla and ENJOY!!

****** This mixture of salsa makes at least 4 cups of salsa....enought to use right away and freeze extra. Just make sure you've taken most of the liquids out.
__________________

[Kathy Ellen]

Just made this brekke sandwich this morning...yummy

Spicy Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Panini

INGREDIENTS:

Any kind of brekke sausage that you like. I love the hot, Italian sausages
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
dash freshly ground black pepper
dash Cajun or Creole seasoning
2 to 3 teaspoons butter
2 small slices Mozzarella cheese
2 medium ciabatta breads (about 3 1/2 to 4-inch squares) or other similar size bread

PREPARATION:

Slice your sausage link in half crosswise, then slice into 4 or 5 thin slices lengthwise. In a small skillet, brown the sausage on both sides, set aside.
Whisk eggs in a small bowl with the milk, salt, pepper, and seasoning.

Slice the Ciabatta bread horizontally.

In a medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat.

Add eggs and let firm up around the edges. With a spatula, form the egg into a rectangle, letting the liquid egg remaining flow around it. Continue cooking and shaping with the spatula until firm enough to flip. Flip and let the other side cook until the eggs are firm but still moist. Remove from heat.

Cut in half and divide egg between two bottom halves of Ciabatta bread or other bread. Top the egg with the thinly sliced sausage then place a slice of cheese on top. Finish with bread tops. Grill or cook in a panini press until sandwich is hot and cheese is melted.

Makes 2 medium sandwiches.

****If you don't have a panini maker you can put aluminum foil around a brick and then place it over the sammy on the grill.

[Kathy Ellen]

Originally Posted by chonsigirl

I want to have dinner at your house!

Well then, come on over my surfer friend and chow down

[Kathy Ellen]

Check this site out for the heat of chili peppers:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scoville_scale

[Kathy Ellen]

Shrimp Fra Diablo
Serves about 6 people

Ingredients

1 tb olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 md onion, chopped
15 oz can tomato puree
6 oz can tomato paste
2 tb red wine
1/2 c water
2 tbs crushed red pepper flakes
2 tbs drained capers
2 tb minced fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 lb medium shrimp, peeled and
deveined
1 cooked pound of your favorite rice or pasta

Instructions

In a heavy skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic
and onion and saute 5 minutes. Add the tomato puree, tomato paste,
red wine and water. Bring to a boil. Add the crushed red pepper
flakes, capers and basil. Lower the heat and simmer 15 minutes. Add
the shrimp and cook over low heat 7 to 10 minutes, or until the
shrimp are pink and cooked through. Serve over hot cooked pasta or
rice.

[qsducks]

Kathy, I'm definately trying that shrimp fra diavlo. There is a small restaurant near where I live and they do it with lobster over angel hair pasta. To die for!

[Kathy Ellen]

Originally Posted by qsducks

Kathy, I'm definately trying that shrimp fra diavlo. There is a small restaurant near where I live and they do it with lobster over angel hair pasta. To die for!

Q, that sounds delish and I think I'll make it this summer when my family come to visit. Anything "fra diablo" is yummy to me. The hotter the better

[AussiePam]

Hot and spicy dishes???

You rang??

G'day Kathy - how ya going, Hon?