Guacamole with Mandarin and Poblano Chile

 

Poblano pepper

1 large avocado

2 Mandarins which are a small, sweet, orange citrus fruit

1 Poblano chile pepper which is a larger, dark green chile pepper

Directions: Wash and dry all ingredients, even though they will all be peeled.

Using medium heat, roast the Poblano chile on stove top to blacken the tough exterior layer. Turn to ensure even blackness. Remove chile using tongs. Place on cutting board and cover with medium sized bowl for 5 minutes and allow to steam.

Under cold running water peel the blackened exterior layer of the Poblano chile. It should slide off, leaving the green fruit. On a cutting board, remove seeds and veins. Dice chile and put in a bowl.

Peel and dice the two Mandarins, a small, sweet citrus fruit, and add to the bowl with the diced Poblano chile.

On a cutting board slice the avocado in half. Wash the knife. Remove the pit. Score the fruit in each half vertically and horizontally. Using a spoon, scoop the fruit out of each half shell and add to the bowl with the chile and the citrus. Smash avocado with a fork and mix the three ingredients together.

Serve with chips or as a topping on quesadillas and tacos.

Serves 6 people as an appetizer.

Notes: The Poblano chile gives this guacamole a hotter flavor and the Mandarins add a sweetness. This version of guacamole did receive rave reviews from the daughter.

Guacamole variation 5.

Guacamole with Nectarines

 

1 large avocado

2 small to medium nectarines

1 Anaheim chile

Directions: Wash and dry all ingredients, even though they will all be peeled.

Using medium heat, roast chile on stove top to blacken the tough exterior layer. Turn to ensure even blackness. Remove chile using tongs. Place on cutting board and cover with medium sized bowl for 5 minutes and allow to steam.

Under cold running water peel the blackened exterior layer of the chile. It should slide off, leaving the green fruit. On a cutting board, remove seeds and veins. Dice chile and put in a bowl.

Peel and dice nectarines and add to the bowl with the diced chile.

On a cutting board slice the avocado in half. Wash the knife. Remove the pit. Score the fruit in each half vertically and horizontally. Using a spoon, scoop the fruit out of each half shell and add to the bowl with the chile and nectarines. Smash avocado with a fork and mix the three ingredients together.

Serve with chips or as a topping on quesadillas and tacos.

Serves 6 people as an appetizer.

Notes: The nectarines give this guacamole a tart and sweet flavor.

Guacamole variation 4.

Sketch in Orange: Fox, Pumpkin, Squirrel

 

Sketchbook - Study in Orange

Pumpkin Scone with Whole Wheat Flour

 

Heavy wet snow coats and breaks the foliage in late May what better time for Pumpkin Scone.

1 cup white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup oats, uncooked

1 Tablespoon baking powder

½ cup packed brown sugar

1/16 teaspoon lavender salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ginger

½ teaspoon cloves

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

2 eggs

1 cup cream

15 ounce can of pumpkin – be careful to use pumpkin and not pumpkin pie mix

Directions: Stir all the dry ingredients together thoroughly in a large bowl. Cut in butter. Crack eggs individually into a separate bowl if both are fine, stir together and add to dry ingredients and stir thoroughly. Add cream to above mixture and stir. Add pumpkin and stir thoroughly. Grease and flour a 9.5-inch diameter, deep-dish pie pan. Pour mixture into pie pan. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. Test scone with table knife. If dough is sticky return scone to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes at 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Pumpkin is dense and the baking time is longer than for a white flour and cream scone.

Icing

2 Tablespoons unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/3 cup sifted powdered sugar

1+ Tablespoon heavy cream

Directions: Melt butter in small sauce pan. Add vanilla. Sift in powdered sugar. Icing should be runny. If it is thick, add 1 Tablespoon cream. Stir. Spoon carefully all over scone; one may poke holes in scone so icing will run inside.

Serve scone while warm.

Serves 6 - 8 people.

Notes: Pumpkin scone with whole wheat flour variation 2

Cherry Cobbler

 

4 cups frozen, mixed sweet and tart cherries, pitted before freezing

1 cup flour

½ cup sugar

½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)

1/16 teaspoon lavender salt

Directions: To make the topping: cream together butter and sugar; add salt and cream; add flour and cream. Place 4 cups of frozen, mixed cherries in a well-greased deep dish pie pan. Distribute the topping evenly over the cherries. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 minutes.

Serves 8 people.

Notes: Many thanks to Wanda Dietz for the initial gift of lavender salt.

Lavender was grown in Palisade, Colorado: https://www.nielsenvillage.com/products