Recipes « (y)our food choices™

How can something that tastes so good smell so bad afterwards?

There are so many things in the culinary world that will give you bad breath, but there’s only one, that I’m aware of, that’s so totally worth it, I would eat it every day if I could. This little packet of flavor is my absolute favorite appetizer of all time. The only problem I have with eating them is that I end up with dragon breath that lasts for days. I love them so much I even wanted to serve them at our wedding a couple of years ago, but talked myself out of it because I was fearful of how bad the room would smell with everyone eating, talking, and kissing.

I’m not sure which super cute celebratory chef it was that we were watching that made this quick and easy appetizer. Was it Jamie Oliver or Tyler Florence? It doesn’t matter because after anyone eats just one of these bombs, no matter how super hot they are, no one is going to want to kiss them. (Well, maybe I would if I get to kiss either Jamie or Tyler and get to eat a couple of the bombs too.)

Guys, Valentine’s day is just a little over a month away and if you’re looking for an easy way to dump your current girlfriend before the big date, make up a batch and eat these everyday. It’s a sure fire solution to keep her away from you, far away, along with everyone else. And if she doesn’t leave you after eating these deadly breath bombs, you’ve got a keeper.

Ingredients for dragon breath.

Cherry Pepper Bombs

1 jar cherry peppers
cubes of provolone or mozzarella cheese (1 cube per pepper)
thinly sliced salami or prosciutto
olive oil
optional: pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and fennel seeds

Cut the stems off of each cherry pepper and remove the seeds and stem. Depending on the size of each pepper, wrap one slice, or a half of a slice of salami or prosciutto around each cube of cheese and stuff the meat wrapped cheese into the pepper. Fill sealable jar with the peppers and top with olive oil, red pepper flakes, and fennel seeds if using. Store the jar in the fridge and let sit at least 24 hours.

As you eat up the peppers, use the olive oil in salad dressings or as a seasoning for pastas, sandwiches, etc.

Walnuts, bananas, strawberries, and milk cover the bowl of oatmeal.

We’ll never understand how anyone older than 8 years old would want to eat, let alone like, those packets of sugary instant oats. Maple and Brown Sugar (really, twice the amount of sugar), Apple and Cinnamon (dehydrated apples—yuck!), Peaches and Cream (makes me want to hurl). Sure they’re quick. Sure they’re easy. But being quick and easy is just a cop out. They are loaded with sugars, they contain very little fiber, and the ones that claim to have fruit in them are usually the ones no one wants to eat anyway. Why not do just a little bit of prep so that you can enjoy some relatively quick, easy, nutritious, and might we add, delicious steel cut oats?

Right now you’re saying: “I don’t have an hour to cook and stir. I’m in a hurry.” Nonsense! With just a little preparation the night before, steel cut oats can be ready and on the table before you decide which packet of sugar-laden oat powder you want to feed your children, or yourself, in the morning.

Quick Steel Cut Oatmeal
Serves 2

2 cups water
pinch of salt
½ cup of Steel Cut Oats

The night before, boil water in a sauce pan. Add the salt and steel cut oats. Turn the heat off and place the lid on top. Let stand overnight. The next morning, turn the heat back on to low medium and in less than 5 minutes the oatmeal is done.

Now for the fun part – the toppings and additions: diced up fresh fruit such as pear, apple or banana (we even love to add pomegranate seeds when in season), dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, blueberries, etc.), toasted nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.), spices of your choice (cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, etc.), and warmed milk (we like whole milk as a rule). If you need to sweeten your oats, drizzle a little honey at the very end or, if you have it, REAL maple syrup, agave nectar, or even a sprinkle of brown sugar.

There are no good excuses for relying on those tasteless, artificial, nutritionally worthless envelopes. We’re confident you’ll agree that steel cut oats beat the instant stuff any day.