CHIPOTLE PEPPER

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Pear, Pecan Salad with Chipotle Beef

Makes a lovely Mother's Day or warm weather's day brunch or dinner. Serves 4.

2 striploin steaks (about 1/2 lb each)

1/3 cup Dan T's Smoked

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled

1/4 cup Dan T's Raspberry Chipotle

1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced

2 pears, thinly sliced

Cider Vinaigrette

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

1/2 tsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp salt

12 cups washed mixed greens such as arugula, Belgian endive, dandelion, frisée, radicchio

Marinate steaks in Dan T's Smoked for 2 - 4 hours, if possible. Remove from fridge one half hour before cooking. Grill on high 4 - 6 minutes per side (depending on thickness) or till done. Set aside for 10 minutes, then slice along the bias.Meanwhile toast pecans: Place in a non-stick pan and heat over medium-low till starting to brown, about 10 minutes.

Mix together vinaigrette ingredients and toss greens lightly to taste (you'll probably have a little vinaigrette left over). Plate each serving individually: arrange beef slices, then pear slices in a spiral pattern on top of greens. Scatter cheese, onions and pecans (about 2 tbsp per person) on top. Center a dollop (about 1 tbsp) of Raspberry Chipotle on top of pear. Serve with a fresh baguette (Ace Bakery makes a delicious loaf).

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Crab Cakes with Chipotle Mayonnaise

Cooking instructor Debbie Diament teaches stimulating classes in the GTA.

Here's one of her tasty recipes that includes our Raspberry Chipotle.

Visit Debbie's website at myplacefordinner.com

1 package (7 ounces, 200grams) crab meat, chopped

1/3 cup finely diced red pepper

1/4 cup finely diced green pepper

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1 egg, beaten

1 1/4 cups bread crumbs

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Chipotle Mayonnaise

2 Tbsp Dan T's Inferno Smoked Chipotle Sauce

2 Tbsp minced jalapeno

1 cup mayo

dash Worcestershire

In a small bowl, whisk together ingredients for Chipotle Mayonnaise. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together chopped crab meat, red and green peppers, green onion, egg, 2 Tbsp of the bread crumbs and 3 Tbsp of the Chipotle Mayonnaise. Stir until well combined. Sprinkle remaining bread crumbs in shallow dish or pie dish. Form crab meat mixture by rounded tablespoons into balls. Roll in bread crumbs. Place balls on waxed paper-lined baking sheet; flatten to 2-inch diameter.

(Can make ahead to this point: cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)

Heat olive oil in frying pan on medium heat. Fry crab cakes on both sides until golden and brown. Serve with Chipotle Mayonnaise. Makes 16 pieces

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Smoky Chicken Caesar

Caesar salads are more popular than ever. Here's a mildly smoky Caesar, with a lighter twist on a traditional favorite. Skip the bacon bits, the crutons and use a lighter lettuce such as red leaf or California Mix. Serve with a baguette for a refreshing spring or summer dinner.

The Dressing

1 egg

1/2 tsp dried mustard

2 cloves garlic

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed

2 tbsp Dan T's Smoked Sauce

1/3 to 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

The Chicken

4 - 6 deboned chicken breasts

1/4 cup Dan T's Smoked Sauce

1/4 cup of The Dressing above

The Salad

one large head red leaf lettuce

or about 18 cups California mix

1 sweet red pepper, sliced into strips

2 ripened plum tomatoes, sliced into strips

3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

For the dressing: Combine first six ingredients in a blender and chop for 10 seconds. On mix setting, add oil in a thin stream.

For the chicken: Mix dressing with Dan T's Smoked. Add chicken and marinate for 30 minutes. (For a spicier version, just coat chicken with Smoked Sauce.) Grill chicken on the barbecue 4 minutes each side or till done. Let stand 5 minutes, then slice chicken on the bias.

For the salad: Toss greens with remaining dressing (or to taste), add tomatoes,

peppers and cheese and toss some more. Plate salad and arrange chicken in a spiral pattern on top. Serves 4 - 6.

Tip: Ripen tomatoes by leaving them on the counter in a basket of apples or bananas. The gasses that the fruit give off naturally ripen the tomatoes.

Do not leave out chicken for more than 30 minutes.

Mandarin-Raspberry Chipotle Chicken

This is a spectacular dish with a smoky, sweet finish that's delicious as a main course or can be served with toothpicks as an appetizer.

2 tbsp olive oil

2 small shallots, chopped fine

4 small cloves of garlic, chopped fine

1 lb boneless chicken breasts

1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur (even tequila)

1/4 tsp salt or to taste

about 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, wiped, stems removed and sliced

1/2 cup Dan T's Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

2 mandarin oranges, peeled and sectioned

Heat oil and sauté shallots and garlic on medium high for 5 - 7 minutes or until golden brown. Push aside garlic and shallots to edge of pan, add chicken pieces and sauté 2 minutes per side or until golden. Add liqueur and salt, cover and simmer about 5 minutes or until done (depending on thickness of breast). Remove chicken. Add mushrooms to pan and sauté 2 minutes. Add Raspberry Chipotle and orange pieces and heat on low for 2 minutes or until heated through. Meanwhile slice chicken on the bias, place on a platter and pour sauce on top.

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Peppery Potato Salad

4 cloves garlic

4 potatoes

2 tbsp yogurt

2 tbsp mayonnaise

1/4 cup chives, chopped

1/4 cup Dan T's Smoked Cayenne-Chipotle Sauce

Roast garlic in 400° oven for 20 minutes or until golden. Peel and cube potatoes and microwave on high for 12 minutes or till done. Cool potatoes. Mash garlic and mix together with remaining ingredients. Pour dressing over potatoes and mix well. Salt & pepper to taste. Serve warm or cold. Serves 4. Great with Smoked Ribs.(See Meats.)

Smokin' Chicken & Fettuccine

This is a fabulous dish that's great for doing on the fly for friends or family. It's simple and fast to prepare and sure to get great reviews. Serve with fettuccine or your favorite pasta.

For the Chicken

2 deboned chicken breasts

1 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp Dan T's Inferno Smoked Sauce

For the Pasta Sauce

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 red onion, julienned

1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes, julienned

1/2 - 2/3 cup whipping cream

4 cloves garlic, roasted* and mashed

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried

1/4 cup Dan T's Inferno Smoked Sauce

For the chicken: combine olive oil and Dan T's Smoked Sauce and coat chicken, marinating for 2 hours, if you have the time. Broil or grill chicken for about 4 minutes each side or till done. Let stand 5 minutes, then slice along the bias and reserve.

For the Pasta Sauce: Sauté onions and peppers in oil in a non-stick frying pan for about 3 minutes, until tender-crisp. Remove veggies. Add whipping cream to the pan, basil and garlic. Heat on high till bubbling and the sauce is reduced and thick. Mix in Dan T's Smoked Sauce. Add sun dried tomatoes, chicken, return veggies and simmer 3 minutes until warm. Meanwhile bring water to boil and cook enough pasta for four, according to package directions. Toss pasta with sauce. Serves 4.

*To roast garlic: Preheat oven to 450°. Peel garlic and roast on a piece of tin foil for 15 minutes or until soft.

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Raspberry Smoked Salmon

2 - 3 lb salmon fillet

1/2 cup red onion, chopped

1/2 cup Dan T's Raspberry Chipotle

Preheat barbecue or oven on medium high. Lie salmon fillet skin side down on a large sheet of tin-foil. Pour Raspberry Chipotle on fillet to cover and sprinkle with onion. Fold foil over to seal. Barbecue or bake for 8-12 minutes. Remove from grill and slide a spatula between fish and skin to remove tin foil and skin. Serve with a green salad, steamed carrots and rice.

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Smoked Ribs

Tender ribs take time, but are simple to prepare.

Back or side ribs

1/2 tsp salt, pepper & beef stock for each 1lb of ribs

water

Dan T's Smoked

Preheat oven to 350°. Place ribs, salt, pepper and beef stock in a baking or braising pan and add enough water to cover ribs. Cover with tin foil and cook in the oven for 2 hours. Remove ribs and coat with Dan T's Smoked Sauce. Grill on high for 5 minutes, baste then turn and grill 5 minutes more.

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