This is my friend Seana at a spice market in Israel but Im pretty sure I had a similar expression of excitement when I opened this months Foodie Penpal package . Big thanks has to go to Kate from London who really took on board my taste for pep n piquancy and sent me a really lovely selection of treats.
She included: some Roquefort crackers, chilli and lime chocolate, a bag of roasted chickpeas and a very cheeky little can of Gin Sling.
The chickpeas are so very tasty I decided to give them a go myself , they’re just out of the oven now and the smell in the house is magical:
Spicy Roasted Chickpeas:
Ive drained a tin of chickpeas and mixed them together with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tbsp each of cumin , hot paprika, garlic powder and a good pinch of salt. Spread into a single layer on baking sheet and baked in a 175 oC oven fo 45 minutes. Really tasty and really easy!
Later Ill be heading back into the kitchen to play with what I think is the most exciting ingredients Ive ever had in my box! San Marcos Cactus and Chilpotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce. Kate gave me some great ideas of what to do with this smokey Mexican ingredient and I found a few more on http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/481369
this is my favorite so far…
Chilpotle Pepper Chicken Marinade:
Blend 3 Chilpotle Peppers and sauce with the juice of a whole lime, a tablespoon of honey and a couple of glugs of olive oil then use it to marinade chicken legs and thighs , roast with some veggies for about 40 minutes at 200 c and eat with some flat breads and salad . Delicious!
THANKS KATE and THANKS FOODIE PEN PALS !
If you’re not already a FOODIE PENPAL but are interested in joining then click one of these links or the Foodie Penpal badge to join.
It works on the simple concept that you send someone a box of foodie treats once a month and someone different does the same for you. Every month a different person and every month a different box of fun.
http://thisisrocksalt.com/foodie-penpals
( all photos by Limetime)
Limetime 