Processingpimientopeppers Recipes

SPICY PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, onion, garlic, celery seed, and 1/2 teaspoon salt with a wooden spoon. Add the jalapeños, scallions, red peppers, Cheddar, and Sriracha and combine well. Taste for seasonings and serve with crackers, corn chips, and/or crudités.

PASTA STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta in the boiling water for 1 to 2 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water, then set aside.
• Cut the tops off the peppers. Remove and discard the stems, then finely chop the pepper flesh from the tops and set aside. Scoop out the seeds and as much of the membrane as you can. Place the peppers upright in a baking dish just large enough to accommodate them.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion and diced pepper tops. Cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the Italian sausage, crumbling it as you go, and stir until it is cooked and nicely browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the marinara sauce and black pepper, then remove the skillet from the heat. Fold in the ricotta, half of the shredded mozzarella and the reserved pasta. Stir until well combined. Divide the mixture among the prepared peppers. Top the peppers with the remaining mozzarella and drizzle with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Add 1/2 cup water to the bottom of the baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the peppers are soft and the cheese is bubbly, another 15 minutes.
• Serve garnished with fresh basil.

PROCEDURE FOR LONGER TIME PROCESSING

Steps:

• Partially fill a boiling-water canner with hot water. Place in the canner a sufficient number of clean canning jars to hold the quantity of food prepared by the recipe. Cover and bring the water to a boil over high heat. This step generally requires 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your canner.
• Place lids in boiling water 5 minutes before you are ready to fill the jars. Follow the manufacturer's directions.
• Remove jars from the canner and ladle or pack the food into hot jars to within 1/2 inch (1 cm) of top rim (head space). If the food is in large pieces, remove trapped air bubbles by sliding a clean small wooden or plastic spatula between glass and food; readjust the head space to 1/2 inch (1 cm). Wipe jar rim to remove any stickiness. Center lid on jar; apply screw band just until fingertip tight.
• Place jars in canner and adjust water level to cover jars by 1 inch (2.5 cm). Cover canner and return water to boil. Begin timing when water returns to a boil. Process for the exact time specified in the recipe.
• Remove jars from canner and cool for 24 hours. Check jar seals (sealed lids turn downward). Remove screw bands, dry and either replace loosely on jar or store separately. Label jars with contents and date and store in a cool, dark place.

PIMENTOS (PICKLED PEPPERS)

Steps:

• Clean the peppers (including the jalepenos) of all the seeds and white stuff.
• Cut the bell peppers into strips about 1" wide and 2" long.
• Slice the jalepenos in 1/2" slices across.
• Boil the bell peppers in water for about 5 minutes.
• Mix the oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and water in a saucepan.
• Bring to a boil, and boil about 5 minutes.
• In the meantime, put drained sweet peppers, chopped garlic, and jalepenos in a sterilized glass jar (or two, depending on size!) Pour the vinegar/sugar mix over.
• Seal.
• Let sit in refrigerator at least two weeks before serving.
• This keeps well 4-6 weeks in fridge.
• Can be frozen though there is some deterioration of texture.