Jalapenos

Well it finally happened. Mainly due to poor planning on my part. I found myself at a bar trying to find some kind of "exotic" vegetable on the menu. It was slim pickings to say the least. Had I organized my day better and thought about this ahead of time, I could have enjoyed a nice salad with some jicama and a cilantro lime dressing before I headed out for the night or an omelet that morning with some white asparagus and fresh thyme. However, I didn't plan anything. Nada. Zip. Zilch. So here I sit, at the Amsterdam Ale House, perusing the menu for something that I can legitimately count as one of my 365 vegetables. Ironically the closest "unusual" item to be found was a beet salad. Ahhhh...We meet again my old nemesis! Having finally made friends with the golden beet earlier in the week, I opted for the second best on the menu, Jalapeno Poppers. Truthfully, as wide of a spectrum of food that I do eat, I don't think I've ever indulged in an order of these classic bar snacks. After enjoying my first ever order of poppers and a cold beer, I questioned why I had never had these little deep fried gems before today. It took the second beer to really convince myself that I can justifiably check off jalapenos on my list. But the more I think about it now, how could I not. I know that I won't be able to personally prepare every single vegetable that I try and want to add to my list but the point is to experience, one way or another 365 different vegetables in 365 days. Jalapenos are not exactly "new" to me, in fact I used them in the tomatillo salsa I prepared the other day but those times are few and far between. However, the bite of the jalapeno without it being too intense, makes me realize now, it can really enhance the flavor of many dishes and I will being adding it to my next shopping list.