We offer a few varieties of sweet peppers that grow nicely at the warmer sandier soils of the Lewis Rd farm. You may see green bell peppers, Padron peppers or Corno di Toro peppers. Some can be eaten raw and in salads, others for stuffing, roasting, soup, stews, relishes or pickling.
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INGREDIENTS:
1 head cauliflower, broken into florets and florets halved 1-2 bell peppers or Corno di Toro (any colors are fine), seeded and cut into ½ inch dice 1 tomatoes, cut into medium dice 2-3 “spring” onions, cut into medium dice (around ¾ to 1 cup) 2 cloves garlic, mincedContinue reading »
My version of a classic. Using potatoes such as Bintje or Sangre varieties adds depth of flavor, and using ripe peppers such as Corno di Toro instead of grocery store green bells just makes the dish even better. O’Brien potatoes are great for dinner as well as breakfast.
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This is a more delicate salsa than standard Pico de Gallo. The garlic is blanched to mellow it, and the amount of chili is pretty light. And instead of straight cilantro, cilantro oil is used. Use this as a topping for grilled or poached fish or chicken, or on slices of barely wilted summer squash.
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Although this recipe calls for fresh red bell peppers, feel free to substitute the ones that come on a jar. They keep it simple, and allow you to enjoy this wonderful sauce now. You can use whole canned tomatoes, although I have gone ahead and made the recipe without tomatoes. Instead I put in a dollop of tomato paste and added more oil. It tastes different, but still excellent.
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I am not kidding when I call this recipe “Italian Style”. I got it while standing in line at the Aptos Farmers Market from two elderly Italian women. Their conversation was a pastiche of both English and Italian, and finally I just asked them for the recipe because it sounded so good. They were happy to share it with a “nice young boy”… The recipe is about balance of flavors, and the quantities are approximate. The onion is the bass-line, the peppers are the high notes. The sweetness of both links them in the middle and the raisins and pine nuts round out the flavors. I use this as a dish on it’s own, and use it as a part or base for many other dishes. Mix in other things to make it a main dish, or use it on pizza or in pasta.
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INGREDIENTS:
1 frying chicken, 2-3 lbs.8 slices bacon, cut in half
4 Hungarian sweet peppers
1 lg. onion
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This is not so much a recipe as it is a technique. Use just enough oil to lightly coat the peppers. Some recipes tell you to put the peppers into a plastic bag, but I am not sold on that idea, so I use a steel bowl and a pot lid, or find a plate or other bowl to fit. These peppers, once roasted, store well in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, or freeze beautifully for months. Use these as is for garnishing things, or use them as a base for other dishes. I have cooked these over an open gas burner (can be messy!), under the broiler, even in the sink with a propane torch, but my favorite way is on a grill.
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Certainly the easiest way to cook Padrons, especially if you are grilling already, and you happen to have a spritz bottle for your oil. Keep an eye on these as they go quickly. When I first made these, I only did a few, figuring the kids wouldn’t care for them. Wrong! By the time I cleaned the grill and sat down, they had eaten most of them. Fortunately, it didn’t take long to grill up some more for myself.
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Padrons are a treat that until recently were found only in Spain, usually at a tapas joint. With a flavor that is hard to describe, it almost seems padrons can be addictive. There are several “basic” methods of cooking these peppers, and this is my take on the most common. Many people deep fry the peppers, but I tend towards the frugal so I prefer to shallow fry the peppers. For stovetop cooking, I also feel I have a little more control this way. Remember not to over load the pan with peppers or you lower the temperature of the oil too much and wind up with limp, soggy peppers. The idea is to blister the skin and brown the peppers a little. Be sure to use a large crystal salt-the crunch it provides is part of the whole experience. By the way, smaller padron peppers are usually mild, but a hot one shows up now and again. This is part of the joy of eating these peppers I think, that little thrill you get wondering if the next one might sting a little. When padrons get larger, say longer than 2 inches, they suddenly turn on the heat and can/usually deliver quite a bit of fire, so be careful.
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This is based on a traditional recipe. Or, not so much a recipe as a technique. “Scapece” is basically fried vegetables that are scattered with herbs and vinegar and allowed time to marinate. Served room temperature or gently reheated, this dish serves as an appetizer or salad, or side dish. Most of the recipes use zucchini, but I have seen it done with carrots, eggplant, and peppers. Typically fried, I have seen a version where everything is grilled and then marinated. Although most recipes use red wine vinegar, I have seen some using balsamic vinegar or white wine vinegar. I could see using white balsamic vinegar for a nice light twist. This is another recipe that begs for the use of a fixed blade slicer like the Ben Riner.
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This is my take on a recipe from a friend. This is a dish where the cooking method combines with the main ingredients to provide the flavor. It is important not to crowd the meat when cooking so it browns, and the charring of the chilies provides flavor as well. The underlying flavor through it all is the cilantro and tomatillo. Using the stems avoids the soapy taste some people pick up from cilantro, and the leaves discolor where the stems do not. Eat this as a stew or cook down until fairly dry and use in tacos. This dish is poco picante. Adjust the number of jalapenos and serranos to make it hotter or milder.
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