ancho chili peppers

IMG_1027, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

both green and those red ones that have been on the bush longer

Welcome to breakfast in Denver

Hatch chili rellenos, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

This is a switch from oatmeal and blueberries but I just couldn't help it. When I first heard of a Denver omelette I learned that the main ingredient was green chilies. Years ago when I was dating a man from Denver he taught me how to make an authentic green chili but my mother taught me how to make good rellenos. My mother was not known for her skills in the kitchen but she could whip up a fabulous meal on a Coleman stove with one pan. My parents and their friends often headed South for the weekends in Baja California and once we arrived my mother would flag down the local residents for fresh tortillas and chilies. She would not serve rellenos for dinner or lunch but breakfasts were killer meals.
I have served mine with salsa from Trader Joe's but fresh would be even better. Try them and Bueno Appetit!

Start with good fire-roasted Hatch chilies

IMG_0981, originally uploaded by cabanagirl.

Hatch chilies are on fire here in Denver and other parts of the West. Hatch is a town in New Mexico that has become a huge producer of chilies and home of the Hatch Chili Festival in September. I buy mine at the Farmers' Market where they are fire-roasting them on site. I see them at Whole Foods' parking lot and even at my local nursery. They are HOT!. But you can also get medium and mild.