Cuisine: Chilis

Camarones a la Diabla (Mexican Deviled Shrimp)

My friend John, visiting from Australia, recently stayed with us for a few days. Whenever he's in Los Angeles, his top craving is Camarones a la Diabla (Mexican Deviled Shrimp). He used to get his fix at our favorite local Mexican spot, but it unfortunately closed down and even burned! We haven't found a replacement that quite measures up.
Given John's jet lag — or as my late mother-in-law used to call it, "jet jolt" — I decided to make the dish at home instead of going out. The recipe involves creating a rich paste from various dried chilies, tomatoes, and white onions, then simmering the shrimp just until they're perfectly cooked. I was a bit nervous about the chilies, but it turned out beautifully, with a subtly spicy kick. My favorite part of this recipe is that you can prepare the sauce ahead of time and simply heat it up with the shrimp when you're ready to serve.

By Leslie Blythe

Zucchini Orzo Salad with Pepperoncini Dressing

Zucchini Orzo Salad with toasted walnuts, herbs, and a zesty Pepperoncini Dressing is refreshing and flavorful. Pepperoncini peppers are mild, yellow-green chili peppers that are typically pickled. They are tangy, slightly sour, and subtly spicy. It’s a great side dish for a summer barbecue.

By Leslie Blythe

Woolworth’s Frito Pie

A Cult Classic
I was watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate on the Food Network last night with my daughter, Zoe. One of the chef’s favorite things is Frito Pie. She was very intrigued. I remember eating it as a child. One of the best ways to eat it, however, is to pour the chili right into a mini bag of Fritos and top with cheese. This is a great thing to eat if you are out at a football game somewhere cold.

As to the origin, some say Frito Pie was invented at Woolworth’s in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Corporate lore at Frito-Lay, however, say that Daisy Dean Doolin, mother of the guy who first bought the rights to market Fritos in 1932, not only perfected her son’s product, but also made it into a dish as a way to help market the crispy fried corn chips.

By Leslie Blythe

Caramelized Onion & Chili Crisp Pasta

Get ready for a flavor explosion! This Caramelized Onion & Chili Crisp Pasta is a bold and exciting dish that's sure to please. The sweet onions and spicy chili crisp are the perfect complement to the creamy Parmesan sauce. You can use cream, half-and-half, or coconut milk to create your desired level of richness.

By Leslie Blythe

Chile Rellenos Soup

Chile Rellenos Soup is a creamy and cheesy soup inspired by the classic Mexican Chile Rellenos. Roasted poblano peppers, cheese, and chicken capture the flavors of the traditional dish in an easier-to-make format. To make it easier, I used rotisserie chicken and topped with with crushed tortilla chips. It's really delicious.

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Firehouse Chili and Cornbread Casserole

I have made this Firehouse Chili and Cornbread Casserole twice in one week due to the rave reviews. I like this dish because the cornbread is baked right on top of the chili, which gives it a nice crust on top.
Cocoa powder (my secret ingredient in all my chilis) adds a rich depth of flavor to chili. Be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder so it doesn't make the finished dish sweet.

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Tater Tot XLNT Chili Casserole

My late mother-in-law always served albondigas soup and tamales on Christmas Eve, which we do every year. She always served an XLNT chili brick for a topping. I never really thought about using it any other way, until we read the inside of the packet. It's basically a base to make your own chili, by adding peppers, beans, etc. I decided to try this Tater Tot XLNT Chili Casserole (actually my husband Eric made it!).

Starting out as a push cart on the side of Southern California roads, XLNT became a popular lunch time meal for some of California’s earliest residents. It was Californians’ love for the recipe that allowed XLNT to be one of the first tamales to be distributed and sold directly to grocery stores.

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Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili

This Jalapeño Popper Chicken Chili is made with ground chicken, jalapeño peppers, corn, black beans, cream cheese, and a variety of spices. The chili can be cooked in either a pressure cooker or a slow cooker; I have given instructions for both.
The chili gets its heat from the jalapeño peppers, but you can adjust the spiciness to your liking by removing the seeds from the peppers or by adding more or fewer peppers. The cream cheese adds a richness and creaminess to the chili, and the spices give it a depth of flavor.
The chili can be served with a variety of toppings, such as shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, chopped bacon, and additional jalapeños. It is also great for meal prep, as it can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge or freezer.

By Leslie Blythe

Chili Crisp Baked Feta

This Chili Crisp Baked Feta is really good. It's a little bit spicy, salty, and delicious! Once out of the oven, it gets a drizzle of hot honey. If you've never had hot honey then you are missing out. I love it on pepperoni pizza.

By Leslie Blythe

Spaghetti all’Assassina (Assassin’s Spaghetti)

After watching this CNN episode of Stanley Tucci Searching for Italy, I was intrigued by this recipe, which uses an alarming amount of red pepper flakes. I happened to be rather fond of red pepper flakes and always carry some in my purse and my car. This recipe is courtesy of chef Celso Laforgia, chef and owner of Urban Bistrot in Bari, capital of Puglia in southeast Italy.  He says that the two things you need are a powerful fire and a big pan that will fit the spaghetti. The trick to the dish is to burn it enough to make it crunchy, but not burn it so much that it's bitter. When the pasta makes a crackling noise, you know it's ready. If you want to make it, you should watch the episode which explains it all. By the way, we loved it.

By Leslie Blythe