Pluto Bar Recipes

MAKE YOUR OWN BURRITO BAR

Steps:

• Heat 2 nonstick skillets over medium high heat. In the first, add 2 tablespoons oil, jalapeno, garlic and onion for black beans. Saute 2 or 3 minutes, add beans and seasonings and cayenne pepper sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer. In the second skillet, add oil and chicken. Season chicken with chili powder and salt and lightly brown the meat, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic, red peppers and chorizo and saute 5 to 6 minutes, then reduce heat to low.
• Char and soften tortillas by holding them over hot burner 15 seconds on each side. If you do not have gas burners, heat your dry skillet you used for salsa and cook tortillas 1 at a time in the pan 15 seconds on each side. Pile tortillas near stove and line up your toppings. Serve fillings out of the pans you cooked them in.
• Heat a skillet over high heat. Add whole tomatoes and a seeded jalapeno, skin side down, and the thick slices of onion. Allow the tomatoes, pepper and onion to char on all sides. Add blackened tomatoes, pepper and onions to a food processor. Pulse grind the salsa with mint and cilantro leaves. Season salsa with coarse salt.
• Combine all ingredients in a food processor and process until the sour cream is pale green and scallions are finely chopped. Serve with burritos.

PLUM COBBLER BARS

Steps:

• In a large pot, combine plums and 1 1/2 cups/300 grams granulated sugar. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until fruit releases juices and becomes very tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill. You'll use this later to check the doneness of the jam.
• Purée plum mixture in pot using an immersion blender (be careful of splashing), or remove from pot and purée in a blender or food processor until relatively smooth. Return purée to pot if you removed it, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and reduces by about half, about 10 minutes. You should end up with about 3 1/2 cups/840 milliliters plum jam. (You can test the doneness by spooning a small amount of the jam onto the chilled plate, returning it to the refrigerator and letting it sit for 2 minutes. It should keep a clean line when you run your finger through it.)
• In a small bowl, whisk remaining 1/3 cup/65 grams granulated sugar with cornstarch to combine. Whisk sugar-cornstarch mixture into jam and cook, stirring occasionally, until it simmers. Simmer for 1 minute, stirring well to prevent scorching. Stir in vanilla extract, and cool plum mixture to room temperature.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees, and line a 9-by-13-inch pan with parchment paper with overhang on all sides. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, whole wheat flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add melted butter and stir until the mixture forms streusel-like crumbs.
• Press 2/3 of crumb mixture into an even layer at bottom of prepared pan. Spread cooled plum jam in an even layer over crust, then sprinkle remaining crumb mixture evenly over top of jam.
• Bake until jam bubbles at edges and streusel is lightly browned, 45 to 55 minutes. Cool completely before slicing into 12 pieces.

POTATO SKINS BAR

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Wash the potatoes and rub the skins liberally with vegetable oil. Put the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake until fork-tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Slice the baked potatoes in half lengthwise, then scrape out the inner flesh with a cookie scoop or spoon, leaving a small margin of potato in the skins. Brush both sides of the potato skins with vegetable oil. Salt both sides liberally. Place the skins cut-side down on the baking sheet and return to the oven. Bake for 7 minutes, then flip the skins to the other side. Bake until the skins are crispy, about 7 minutes more.
• Meanwhile, fry the bacon in a skillet until crisp, then remove to a paper towel-lined plate to cool.
• When ready to serve, chop the bacon into bits and transfer to a small bowl. Put the cheese, ham, salsa, sour cream, ranch and chives in separate bowls. Lay out the fixings, put the skins on a platter and have everyone help themselves at the skins bar.

PEANUT BUTTER BARS I

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, mix together the butter or margarine, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
• In a metal bowl over simmering water, or in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the 4 tablespoons peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the prepared crust. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.