$10,000 Winning Recipe

Well it is time for the Masters and most people think of......Pimento Cheese? Yep it is a great tradition they have at the tournament of serving Pimento Cheese Sandwiches on white bread. Well here is a pimento cheese toast I created to win the first Texas Pete Cook-off a couple of years ago. The competition was with 3 other very talented industry chefs and peers for a grand prize of $10,000 to be donated to No Kid Hungry. All in all it was really fun....see the video at the end but first here is a recipe you can make to enjoy while watching golf this weekend.

Pimento Cheese Toast with Crispy Black-eyed Peas & Pickled Kale            

5 portions

Pimento Cheese Toast

1 cup               Sharp Cheddar, grated

½ cup               Mayonnaise

¼ cup               Red Pepper, roasted, peeled & diced

2 T                   Texas Pete Garlic Hot Sauce

1/2 tsp.           Kosher Salt

¼ tsp.              Black Pepper

1 T                   Butter, Soft

10 ea               2x2 inch, Brioche bread slice ½ inch thick

1.     Place Cheddar, Mayonnaise, red pepper, Texas Pete, salt and pepper in a bowl

2.     Mix to combine completely, set aside

3.     Butter one side of the brioche bread, and then toast in a skillet, butter side down

Crispy Black-Eyed Peas

1 can               Black-eyed Peas

2 tsp                Texas Pete  Chipotle Hot sauce

As need           Salt & Black Pepper

1.     Rinse Black-eyed peas in cool water, drain.

2.     Toss the Black-eyed Peas with the Pete’s Chipotle Sauce

3.     Spread the Black –eyed peas on a sheet pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. 

4.     Cool Black-eyed Peas at room temperature. Once cool, set aside

5.     To Cook: Fry Black-eyed peas in a 350 degree fryer for 3 minutes or until golden brown.

6.     Shake off excess grease, place in a bowl and toss with salt & pepper until evenly coated.

Pickled Kale

1 cup               Baby Kale

½ cup               Cider Vinegar

1 tsp.               Salt

1 tsp.               Sugar

1 tsp.               Mustard Seeds

1.     In a medium sauce pan combine the vinegar, salt, sugar and mustard seeds, bring to a boil and cook for 2 minutes

2.     Remove from heat and allow to cool to 140 degrees

3.     In a bowl pour cooled pickling liquid over baby kale and stir to evenly distribute

4.     Place in refrigeration until needed

TO ASSEMBLE Cheese Toasts:

1.     Divide the pimento cheese mixture between the 10 pieces of brioche

2.     Place under broiler until cheese is melted and bubbly

3.     Remove and place on plate, top with a generous spoon of fried black-eyed peas

4.     Garnish with 2 to 3 well drained leaves of pickled kale

5.     Serve

Video of the cook-off link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt-5rm-aMQM

www.jwd-consultancy.com

Crock Pot Greens recipe

Crock Pot Greens

Bacon, diced                                                               2 strips

Onion, sliced                                                               1 large onion

Garlic, sliced                                                               6 cloves

Greens*, your choice, cut into ½ inch pieces             16 cups

Red chili flakes                                                           1 tsp

Sugar                                                                           1 TBSP

Kosher Salt                                                                  2 TBSP

Black Pepper                                                               2 TSP

Chicken or Vegetable Stock                                        1 quart

Water                                                                          2 cups

1.     In a sauté pan over medium high heat cook the bacon until half done, then add the onion and garlic. Cook until the onions are tender and lightly browned

2.     Triple was the greens and chop them into ½ inch pieces, place in large crock pot

3.     Add the cooked bacon-onion mixture to the top of the greens

4.     Add the chili flakes, sugar, salt and pepper to the greens

5.     Add the stock and water, cover

6.     Cook on low for 8 hours (I have cooked these over night and it works great)

7.     Adjust seasoning if needed before serving

8.     Serve with your favorite entrée and little pepper vinegar

*Greens – I like collards, turnip, mustard or kale – use one variety or mix and match for great flavors. I use Collard and kale since that what I had left in the garden

www.jwd-consultancy.com

Rolling in the Greens!!! Final winter crop harvest.

Well here is the final harvest for the winter crops - collards and kale. Both slow cooked for 6 hours in the crock pot (sorry I am too busy to tend a dutch oven on the stove)  Recipe to follow - this is easy simple and oh so delicious greens to make

All about the Carrots!!!

Yep right now the carrots are in full swing in the garden......the new recipes follow.  Nothing beats being inspired to cook by great ingredients you grow yourself. More recipes to come