Capri Salsa Fresca with Culantro - Super Bowl Recipes

FOOD:

Chips and Salsa are a nationwide Super Bowl tradition. 

Tortilla Chips have been mass produced since the 40's, first for the West Coast Mexican food market, and then, the national food market, starting in the 70's. Chips and Salsa are standard fare from Mexican restaurants to Sports bars. Doritos are probably the best known tortilla chip although many more varieties are available. Epicurious rated Bachman Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips #1. Check-out the list. Try one of Epicurious' recommended tortilla chips with Cooking Lounge's Capri Salsa Fresca with Culantro.

Cooking Lounge came across Capri Tomatoes that were priced to move. Ripe and sweet, the Capri Tomatoes were better suited for sauce over slicing. Also, on hand in the kitchen was culantro, a variation of cilantro, used extensively in Dominican and Latino cooking. Culantro is also known as recao, long-leafed herb, spiritweed, wild or Mexican coriander, saw leaf herb and a host of other names around the world.  Culantro has a robust, distinct cilantro flavor. Remember, be inventive; use what you have on hand. Usual, everyday dishes can become new stars of your culinary repertoire. 

Salsa Fresca is quick and easy. With chips, it is ideal for a Super Bowl party or a fresh healthful snack for family and friends. Salsa Fresca with Culantro is excellent on grilled chicken, fish or eggs, too. So, save some salsa to make an ordinary dish a little extraordinary.

Cooking Lounge gives guides more than exact recipes. Play with ingredients. Try colorful heirloom tomatoes as an extra special treat, for example.

Capri Salsa Fresca with Culantro
2lb ripe Capri Tomatoes, diced (make quarters then slice in half)
2 tbs fresh Culantro, finely chopped
2 Jalapenos, finely chopped
3 Scallion, finely chopped
1 clove Garlic, minced
1 tsp Lime Zest
1tbs Lemon juice
1tbs Lime juice 
Salt and Pepper to taste

Ripe Tomatoes have high liquid content so pour off some of the tomato juice before adding the citrus juices and reserve (throw into a stock or a sauce; no need to waste).












Mix well. Ready to serve but better flavor if Salsa Fresca with Culantro sits in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge

photos: wbj

Beer Flats Have Curves : Super Bowl 2013

FOOD:

A couple of months ago met Maria Walley of Daelia's Food Company while she was promoting a new product at East Village Cheese Shop. 
East Village Cheese Shop is legendary for discount prices on a large variety of cheeses and gourmet products. Got to love that for a Super Bowl party.

Maria's pitch was spot-on. Weeks later received an email from Maria; and, she sent samples of Beer Flats in Pilsner and Porter for Cooking Lounge to review.

The first thing that caught our attention was that Beer Flats have curves. Perfect for scooping and cradling all kinds of tasty bites from cheeses to spreads to cured meats. 

At Cooking Lounge, we munched the Beer Flats with Collier's Welsh Cheddar Cheese and an Old Golden Hen English ale, while cooking during the holidays. Of course, the crackers go well with beer.

Beer Flats are hearty, sturdy, whole grain, small batch "artisanal flatbread crackers made with craft beer." The Pilsner Beer Flats are malty and slightly sweet. The Porter Beer Flats are a savory, flavorful balance of rye, caraway, and molasses with hints of cocoa. The Porter Beer Flats are far more complex on the palate.  These crackers have great shelf life. An opened box of Beer Flats maintained quality for over a month; they stayed crisp and crunchy. 

Super Bowl XLVll is February 3, 2013 in New Orleans. 

Beer Flats are a perfect compliment to almost any Super Bowl culinary line-up. 

Check-out Cooking Lounge's Super Bowl Recipes - Top 10 Websites from last year.

Beer Flats are available at:
Whole Foods – NY, NJ, Conn
Zabar’s - NYC
Bottle King – NJ
Malt and Mold - NYC
NYmouth.com

Enjoy,
Cooking Lounge
photos: wbj

COOKING LOUNGE WANTS TO REVIEW and TEST MORE NEW PRODUCTS.

IF YOU HAVE A HIGH-QUALITY, AFFORDABLE, INNOVATIVE PRODUCT, LET US KNOW. COOKING LOUNGE MAY WANT TO TRY YOUR PRODUCT.

CONTACT: WILLIS [@] COOKINGLOUNGE.COM
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