Cooking with Astrid and Hiccup

Episode 2: Chile en Nogada

Episode 2: Chile en Nogada

"Hello everybody and welcome to a new episode of cooking with Astrid and Hiccup. I'm Hiccup and this is my co-host Astrid." Hiccup introduces as he and Astrid come out on the stage.

"Hello everybody. Today we will be showing you how to make Chile en Nogada." Astrid stated while she and Hiccup took their places behind the counter.

"Traditionally made in Puebla to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day on September 16, these chilies have a minced pork filling enhanced with chopped fruit, and a creamy walnut sauce." Hiccup said as he began laying out the ingredients.

"We will be needing 6 poblano peppers." Hiccup stated and searched under the counter for the peppers.

"Astrid, where are the peppers?" Hiccup asked coming up empty.

Then suddenly crashes and curses could be heard behind stage and out came a frantic Chicken who was being chased by their stagehand Ruffnut.

"COME BACK HERE YOU BLASTED CHICKEN!!" Ruffnut yelled. "How dare you touch my peppers!!" she then lunged at Chicken who was flying directly at Fishlegs, their sound effects technician.

Hiccup, Astrid, and the entire audience winced at the following impact. Ruffnut had landed in a compromising position on top of Fishlegs but was shouting in glee as she had captured Chicken.

"Oh my Thor is Chicken alright?" Tuffnut exclaimed to which he received a well placed punch to the gut by Ruffnut.

"I'm hurt. I'm very much hurt." Tuffnut wheezed out and then doubled over.

Ruffnut then casually held a squirming Chicken under her arm and told Hiccup and Astrid that a new batch of peppers would be out momentarily.

"Let's just continue." Astrid stated giving a nervous laugh. "For the Nogada sauce we'll need 1/2 cup goat cheese, 1 cup walnuts, 1 cup small diced white bread, 1 1/2 cups milk, and 1/2 teaspoon salt."

"For the filling we'll need 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 cup white onion, finely chopped, 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped, 1 medium ripe tomato, finely chopped, 1 tablespoon freshly minced cilantro leaves, 1 pound ground beef, Salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 cup cooked diced potato, 2 tablespoons dried black currants, 2 tablespoons toasted sliced blanched almonds" Astrid summed up as she saw a stagehand hand Hiccup a new bowl of peppers.

"And finally for the garnish we will be using 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds and 2 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley leaves." Hiccup said while placing a skillet in front of Astrid.

"We prepare the poblano peppers by heating a griddle or skillet over medium-high heat until a drop of water sizzles on contact." Hiccup explained as he watched Astrid work. Astrid then proceeds to carefully let one droplet of water fall onto the skillet.

"Astrid I didn't mean exactly one droplet." Hiccup stated facepalming.

"Don't give me that!" Astrid stated taking a jab at him while forgetting she still had the hot skillet in her hands.

"Eek!" Hiccup yelled and ducked, dodging the skillet just in the nick of time.

"Let's just continue." Hiccup said cautiously while inching back a few steps from Astrid.

"Add the poblanos, and cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until the skin is blackened and blistered on all sides, this takes about 5 to 7 minutes depending of the size of the poblanos." Hiccup said to the audience as Astrid demonstrated.

"How black do these things have to become?" Astrid asked as one of the peppers began crumbling as she grabbed them with the tongs.

"ASTRID!!" Hiccup shouted and quickly turned the heat down. "I said blackened and blistered not turned to ash. You still need to watch how much heat you use."