Joe's Stuffed Poblanos

This is a new favorite. I am not a fan of stuffed peppers but absolutely love the spiciness of this dish combined with the traditional stuffing. It is yum-alicious!!

Ingredients:

• 4 large poblano peppers
• 1 cup cooked rice (not instant)
  
• 1/2 lb Italian sausage (can substitute ground beef or turkey)
  
• 1/2 cup shredded asiago cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded hard goat cheese or soft chevre
• 1 quart tomato sauce (Sept. '09 posting)
  

In a large bowl, mix cold cooked rice, de-cased raw sausage, cheeses and a few tablespoons of sauce.

Remove the ends of the peppers and de-seed.

Tightly pack stuffing into the peppers and replace the ends (which is purely cosmetic but cool!).

Pour the remaining sauce into a shallow baking dish.

Lay peppers in the sauce and cover tightly with lid or foil. Bake for ~1 hour at 350 or until peppers are soft.

Serve with pasta using the now, fra diavlo sauce from the peppers.

Very delicious. Thanks Joe!!

Linguini with White Clam Sauce

First of all . . . Happy 2010! I hope your year is a great one!!!

Last posting was clams - let's continue the trend!! Here is a very simple - but as always - delicious recipe for you to enjoy.

Ingredients:

• 2 cans of baby clams
• 1 dozen fresh clams (cherry stone) optional
  
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 cups of white wine
• Red pepper flakes
• Parsley
• Linguini (1 lb.)
• 1/2 stick of butter
  
• Olive oil
• Grated cheese
  

Coat the bottom of a medium pot with olive oil. Add garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes (a pinch is literally that! a pinch - in this case, maybe 10-12 pepper flakes!) and saute until transparent. Add the juice from the canned clams and white wine - bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and let cook for about 15-20 minutes.

Add clams, pinch of parsley and return to boil. Lower immediately to a simmer and let cook for another ten minutes or so.

AT THE EXACT SAME TIME:

Cook linguine according to package. Drain and return to pot with 1/2 stick of butter.

When there is approximately 3 minutes pasta cooking time left.

In another small pot - add about a cup of water and fresh clams. Cover and place over high heat - clams should open in less than a minute.

Place pasta in bowls Pasta Bowls - Set of 6 - Made in Italy and generously cover with sauce. Sprinkle liberally with Parmesan and place 4-5 fresh clams as garnish.

Serve hot with garlic bread . . . yum!!! Enjoy - and again . . . happy, happy, happy New Year. The best in 2010.