Gwyneth Doland, writer for Fiery Foods Central, shares her recipe for this spicy dessert. This fluffy pie is a lighter alternative to dense, rich pumpkin pie most of us are used to. It’s served chilled, so the red chile kick comes as a pleasant contrast.
Potato Latkes
Potato pancakes, or latkes, are the most traditional dish that is served during Hanukkah. The texture varies, with some made with coarsely grated potatoes, some finely ground, and some are made with mashed potatoes. Adding ingredients such as herbs and vegetables is quite common, but these Southwestern ingredients are not. Traditional latkes are served with applesauce, but if you want to garnish these, try sour cream or Mexican crema.
Green Bean Smoked Casserole
People often ask Dr. BBQ: “Do you smoke everything?” Not quite, but he’s trying. Here is the classic Thanksgiving casserole transformed just a little. This is also from Ray’s book, Dr. BBQ’s Barbecue All Year Long! Cookbook.
Chile de Arbol Christmas Salad
This is my take on the popular Ensalada de Noche Buena (Christmas Eve Salad) that is served in Mexico. The jicama provides a nice crunchy texture to the salad, but if they are unavailable, use a crisp Granny Smith apple. For added color diced beets are sometimes added in the traditional salad. Pomegranates are in season this time of year, and the seeds add color as well as flavor to this holiday dish.
Ginger Pumpkin Bisque with Peppered Croutons
We don’t always end a holiday meal with pumpkin pie-sometimes we begin the feast with this spicy soup with its Caribbean island flavor. If you don’t want to use pumpkin, any winter squash, such as butternut, acorn or Hubbard, will do. This is an easy recipe to prepare, but if you want an even quicker version, used canned pumpkin puree or a 12-ounce package or frozen cooked winter squash as a base. This recipe is from Dave’s and my book, The Spicy Food Lover’s Bible.