Chili Chasers

This is the weather for hot food both temperature and taste wise. There's nothing  like a fiery  dish, full of exotic flavors to warm you from head to toe. It'll keep you toasty ,perfect for battling all these Arctic temps.

Chilis will give any dish fire and heat.Cooking with them is fun but it does come with a few caveats. The spiciness comes with the seeds where it's at its strongest. You may ant to handle the peppers wearing rubber gloves to avoid any major skin irritationsa. add them to a rich chili, full of different beans and tomatoes.The recipe is flexible. You can add beef for a hearty dish  while chicken and turkey give you a lighter one. Soy crumbles can be tossed in for a healthier vegan version.For a blood boiling heat add two tablespoons of fresh jalapenos along with two heaping tablespoons of chili powder. . To temper the fieriness serve it with mild side dishes like polenta, rice or even cornbread. You can also add a layer of just plain Saltines or tortilla chips. Chilis are not just relegated to the dish with the same name. Make a hot chili salsa for just chips or add a layer of sautéed and chopped jalapenos on hamburgers and hot dogs as a five alarm relish.

Indian curries can be both delicious and spicy.These are also perfect chill chasers and sunny bright pick me ups on bleak winter days .They're also loaded with health benefits, thanks to the addition of both turmeric and cumin, Like chili , curry recipes can be flexible. A chicken curry is always good but so is one with chickpeas and cauliflower. Most of the dishes are braises which  means that the ingredients are seared at a high hear first and then covered with liquid in a pot. It's an easy cook. For a real six alarm stunner try phall. This is a  super fiery dish that has twelve (yes twelve!) chilis added along with an ounce of fresh ginger and two tablespoons of chili powder. Garam masala is also added. This is a mix of lack and white peppercorns,  cloves, cinnamon and mace, with the addition of cardamom , bay leaf and caraway.If it's too not then cut back on the chilis and only use six.Another dish, vindaloo a popular dish from the eastern province of Goa, and is a dish of pork marinated in wines, vinegar and spices.It was originally from the Potuguese carne de vinha d'alhos. and can be also made with chicken or beef. marinated in cayenne and fresh ginger . Serve with basmati or jasmine rice to cool off.

The weather outside is frightful however a fiery chili or curry inside can be delightful. Make either to ward off those chills and freezing temps You'll feel all warm and sunny inside.