Monthly Archives: June 2015

Summer Cocktail Recipes

One Jar of Tamed Jalapeños = Five Refreshing Cocktails

Five Cool Summer Cocktails

That’s right. 

One jar of Jeff’s Naturals Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeños can yield up to 5 cool summer cocktail recipes.

However, you may want to pick up a 2nd or even 3rd jar just in case. Our Tamed™ Jalapeños are free of sulfites, sourced in California and packed within 24-hours of harvest so you get the freshest product available. Consumers can relax knowing our jalapeños are also Certified Kosher, Gluten Free, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan.

The best part? Enjoying the delicious tangy jalapeño flavor with less heat! These crowd-pleasing summer cocktail recipes come together quickly and are perfect to serve at parties and cookouts all summer long.

Jalapeño Cucumber Craze

Jalapeno Cocktail

Mix together ½ c. fresh lime juice, 1 thinly sliced lime, 1 c. tequila, ½ thinly sliced cucumber, ¼ c. Jeff’s Naturals Sliced Tamed Jalapeños,  12 fresh mint leaves (optional) & 1 can lemon-lime soda. Chill in refrigerator.

Serve over ice in a salt-rimmed glass. If desired, add a little brine from the Jalapeño peppers jar for a spicy kick.

Jalapeño Lime Margarita

Jalapeño Lime Margarita
Combine 4-6 cups of Ice, 1 (12 oz.) can frozen limeade concentrate, 1 cup tequila and ¼ cup of triple sec into a blender and blend until smooth. Add a splash of Jeff’s Naturals Sliced Tamed Jalapeños brine to taste and blend again. Pour into a glass rimmed with salt and garnish with a lime wedge and jalapeño ring.

Spiked Jalapeño Lemonade

jalapenolemonade_web

Simple syrup:
In a small saucepan over medium-high heat. combine 1 cup of water with 1 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Add ¼ cup  Jeff’s Naturals Sliced Tamed Jalapeños (drained), lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Lemonade:
In a pitcher, mix 1 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (approximately 5 lemons) with 2 cups of water. Add ¾ cup of the simple syrup and stir well.

Serve over ice with a jalapeno garnish. If using vodka, pour 1 ½ ounce into each glass and top with lemonade.

Watermelon Jalapeño Margarita

Watermelon Jalapeño Margaritas

In a blender, puree 5 cups of seedless watermelon cubes and strain juice through a fine wire mesh sieve. Discard any pulp and seed remnants. In a large pitcher, stir together watermelon juice, 1 cup silver tequila, ½ cup of Cointreau (you could also use triple sec), and ¼-½ cup of fresh lime juice. Add a splash of Sliced Tamed™ Jalapeño brine to taste and stir to combine. Keep cold until ready to use. In a shallow dish, combine 3 tbsp. of kosher salt and 1 tsp. of chili powder.

To prepare the margaritas, rim each glass with the chili powder mixture by wetting the rim of the glass with Cointreau and dipping in the chili and salt. Pour the watermelon margarita over ice and serve with a garnish of watermelon cubes and jalapeño slices.

Jalapeño Mangorita

Jeff's Naturals Jalapeño Mangorita

Fill a rock glass ¾ full with ice. Add 1 ½ oz. tequila and fill with Lakewood Mango Blend Juice leaving just enough room for the juice of ½ lime, and a splash ofJeff’s Naturals Sliced Tamed Jalapeños brine. Stir to combine and serve with a lime wedge and slice of jalapeno.

Fourth of July Cookout

Eight Great Cookout Recipes with a Fresh New Twist

Now that summer is in full gear, it’s time to light up the grill and get cooking! Since just about everyone loves a good old-fashioned summer BBQ, we wanted to share some of our favorite All-American Cookout Classics with a Mediterranean twist. These crowd-pleasing appetizers, sides, and main dishes may even top the Fourth of July fireworks!

#1 Pepper Stuffed Burger

Fourth of July Recipe Burgers

Prep Time: 5 min.
Total Time: 20 min.
Serves: 1

INGREDIENTS
6 ounces ground hamburger, 80/20
1 ½ tablespoon shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons Jeff’s Garden Diced Tamed Jalapeños
Hamburger bun,toastedToppings: lettuce, sliced onion, guacamole, tomato, cooked bacon and extra Jeff’s Garden Diced Tamed Jalapeños

PREPARATION
Divide and firmly shape the meat into 2 patties. Place cheese and jalapenos into the center of one patty, leaving the outer edge free. Top with the second patty and pinch the edges together. Season with salt and pepper.
Preheat grill. On medium-high heat, cook each side of the burger for 6 minutes or until internal temp reaches 160°F. Remove from grill and set aside.
On a toasted bun, add lettuce, onion, burger, guacamole, tomato, bacon and more Mezzetta Peppers.

#2 Baja Fruit Salad

MZ_RecipeImage_Baja_Fruit_Salad
Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 45 min.
Serves: 2-4

INGREDIENTS
2 cans (20 oz.) juiced packed pineapple chunks, drained
1 can (15 oz.) mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 cup Jeff’s Garden Roasted Bell Pepper Strips, chopped
1/2 cup chopped jicama
1 t. brown sugar
1 t. fresh lime juice
1 t. chopped fresh cilantro
2 T. shredded coconuts

PREPARATION
Combine all ingredients except coconut in a large bowl and toss well to mix. Top with coconut just before serving. Makes about 4 servings.

#3 Mexican Hot Dogs With Grilled Corn Salsa

MEXICAN HOT DOGS WITH GRILLED CORN SALSA
Photo Courtesy of Heart Beet Kitchen

A delicious spicy twist on Hot Dogs made with Jeff’s Naturals diced Jalapenos. Click here for full recipe.

#4 Peperoncini Potato Salad

Cook Out Potato Salad

Prep Time: 5 min.
Total Time: 25 min.
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds medium red skin potatoes, rinsed
1 cup Jeff’s Garden Deli-Sliced Peperoncini, drained, with brine reserved
3 tablespoons Jeff’s Garden Non-Pareil Capers, drained
½ fresh lemon, zested
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper

PREPARATION
Place washed potatoes into a pot with cold water, season with salt so it tastes “salty like the sea” and bring water to a boil on high heat. Cook potatoes until they are easily pierced with the tip of a knife, about 15 minutes.

Drain and rinse under cool water. Cut potatoes into bite size pieces and place into a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the peperoncini, capers, zest and parsley. Drizzle on the olive oil and gently toss to combine. Add a tablespoon or two of the peperoncini brine for some added “zing”. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve.

#6 Mediterranean Burger

Mediterranean Burger
Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 30 min.
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS
2 lb. 80/20 ground beef, divided into 4 patties
Salt and pepper, to season
½ c. feta cheese, crumbled
½ c. Jeff’s Garden Organic Sliced Kalamata Olives, roughly chopped
1/3 c. Jeff’s Garden Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes, roughly chopped
4 hamburger buns, toasted
Toppings – baby spinach and sliced red onion

PREPARATION
Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. Season each side of the burger patties with salt and pepper. When skillet is hot, cook each side of the burger for 4-5 minutes or to your desired doneness. Top with feta cheese during the last few minutes of cooking time.

To assemble the burgers, place the burger on the bottom half of the toasted bun, next add olives and sundried tomatoes. Top with spinach and red onion and serve hot.
Chef’s note: for a Greek burger spread, try mixing the feta cheese into some Greek yogurt, add some fresh mint and smear onto the burger buns.

#7 Mediterranean Bean Salad

Tuscan-Bean-Salad
Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 1 hr. 10 min
Serves: 8-10

INGREDIENTS
1 can (15 oz.) small white beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 oz.) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 jar Artichoke Hearts, coarsely chopped (not drained)
1 c. Jeff’s Garden Roasted Red Bell Peppers, coarsely chopped (not drained)
3/4 c. Jeff’s Garden Organic Pitted Whole Greek Kalamata Olives, cut in halves
1/2 c. red onion, finely chopped
1/4 c. Jeff’s Garden Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes (not drained)
2 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar
1/2 c. fresh basil, sliced thin
salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION
Stir together all ingredients except basil. Cover and let marinate, refrigerated, for a least 1 hour. Stir in basil just before serving.

#8 Watermelon, Olive, Jalapeño and Feta Salad

WatermelonSalad

Prep Time: 20 min
Total Time: 20 min
Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbsp. Jeff’s Garden Pitted Kalamata Olives, drained and diced
1 Tbsp. Jeff’s Garden Sliced Tamed Jalapeño Peppers, drained and diced
2 c. seedless watermelon, rind removed, cut into 1”cubes
1/2 c. feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 c. red onion, finely diced
1 Tbsp. mint leaves, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. green onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

PREPARATION:
In a large mixing bowl add all ingredients and gently mix. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Served chilled.