PIPPERS RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, then top with a wire rack.
• Halve jalapeños lengthwise. (Do your best to halve them through their stems for added visual appeal.) Using the tip of a small spoon, scoop out and discard the seeds. Set the halved jalapeños aside.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the cream cheese, cilantro, scallions, garlic and lime zest, if using; season generously with salt and pepper.
• Season the inside of each halved jalapeño with salt and pepper, then fill each with about 2 teaspoons of the cream cheese mixture. (Fill until there’s a slight dome on top.) Wrap each stuffed jalapeño with 1 piece of bacon, setting one tip of bacon on top of the cream cheese filling, then wrapping the bacon under and over the popper at an angle, so the bacon covers the filling on top in two layers. (The bacon will shrink as it cooks, so you want to make sure the top of the popper is well covered.) Arrange poppers evenly on the wire rack, nestling each popper between two parallel wires to keep it upright so the cream cheese doesn’t spill during baking.
• Transfer to the oven, and bake until bacon is cooked through, about 25 minutes. Broil on the rack closest to the broiler until crisp, about 2 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve warm.

Steps:

• Take one whole chilli and using a small sharp knife make an incision along the length without cutting all the way through. Open up the cavity and using the end of a teaspoon scrape out and discard the seeds and the membrane. It’s very good idea to wear gloves when you’re preparing chillies in this way, and make sure you wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Repeat with all the other chillies.
• Mix the cream cheese with the mozzarella, season with salt and pepper then use it to fill the chillies. Push them gently to close them up and wipe off any excess.
• Put the flour, egg and breadcrumbs in separate shallow bowls or dishes and roll the stuffed chillies first in the flour then egg then breadcrumbs then repeat so they get a good double coating.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan until it reaches 160C. Carefully lower the chillies into the oil using a slotted spoon and deep fry in batches for around 2-3 mins or until deep golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with kitchen paper to soak up the excess oil.
• Once the chillies are fried season them with pepper and salt and spread out on a plate or board so everyone can help themselves. Great with beer and a movie.