DUNES CATERING & EVENTS

INGREDIENTS

4 large pimento peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded and diced
2 jalapenos roasted, peeled, seeded and diced
4 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon Frank’s RedHot,
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 cup chopped pickles with brine
1 pound extra sharp cheddar cheese (preferably Tillamook); grated on the large holes of a box grater

BY CARRIE HIRSCH / SERVES 4-6 
2 pounds flank or skirt steak

This is a quick and yummy Asian marinade, served with an orzo pasta salad – East meets West flavors meld together beautifully! Allow enough time to marinate the flank steak in advance of preparation.

Makes: 10 servings

For the crab mixture:

1 pound crabmeat
2 stalks celery, finely diced
6 green onions, sliced and with roots and 2 inches of green tops discarded
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Greek Spinach Pie with Mushrooms

Serves 4 as a main course or 8 as a side dish

FILLING:

1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, cooked and drained
4 ounces feta or blue cheese crumbles
1 cup ricotta cheese
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound white button mushrooms, stems trimmed and thinly sliced
1 onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 

The day after Halloween, our family of seven would scrape out the fibrous strands of our pumpkins to reveal the bright orange flesh, cutting it into pieces and roasting in the oven — along with the seeds — to make the most delicious pumpkin soup. These days, pumpkin soup goes well beyond the traditional dollop of cream and pinch of nutmeg and can act as a host for so many diverse flavors, both savory and sweet. While it often takes a starring role on the table in the form of pies and bread, pumpkin also marries well with spicy ingredients without losing its distinct taste. For even more proof of its versatility, look no further than “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” — the movie’s humorous wit and innocence have stood the test of time and are adored by pumpkin lovers of all ages.

Every Halloween I cringe not because of the ghoulish costumes and decorations but because of the amount of sugar my children load up on at school and trick or treating. Sugar consumption is related to an array of health concerns like digestive problems, cavities and mood swings. In an effort to be holistic but not a fun vampire that sucks the life out of the holiday, try these healthy candy recipes:

Recipe by Carrie Hirsch

This pulled pork is great in BBQ Roll-ups (recibe below). You’ll also have some extra on hand to make more roll-ups the next day or to make a few tasty pulled pork sliders.

1 6- to 7-pound pork butt, boneless
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons sweet smoked paprika
2 tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
3 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons coarse salt

Recipe by East Coast Smoke BBQ / Makes: 4 servings

BBQ Roll-Ups are an easy make-ahead dish and will be the hit of the tailgate. The first stage of the recipe is prepared at home, then it’s finished off on the grill at the tailgate party.

1 pound of pork barbeque (use cooked Oven- Roasted Pulled Pork, see next page)
8 ounces softened cream cheese
1 bunch fresh cilantro, tough stems removed and leaves finely chopped 
1 cup corn kernels, drained 
Sriracha to taste 
1 cup barbecue sauce 
4 medium flour tortillas