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film fare movie night snacks | 1 2 3

As much as I love the big themed shindigs and the intimate schmancy dinner parties, my usual mode of entertaining is a whole lot more low-key. Invite a few friends over, and settle in front of the TV for a good movie night. All you need is a DVD player (or VCR if you're playing it old-school), a good flick or two, some comfy seating… and plenty of movie-friendly munchies. Sure, movie night's not movie night without the obligatory candy and big bowl of buttery popcorn, but if you're looking to offer up more than the standard fare, here are a few recipes that'll make for tasty homemade accompaniments at your next movie night…

pumpkin seed salsa and chips
The base of this salsa are the tomatillos, which when you get them at the market, look like little green tomatoes wrapped in a papery husk. They're meatier than tomatoes, and have a tangier flavor. This is a thick, flavorful green salsa that's a nice change from the usual version.

10 tomatillos (12 oz.), husks removed
2/3 cup roasted hulled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
1-2 jalapeno chiles (depending upon how hot you like your salsa - use one for a mild salsa, two for a hot salsa. For a killer hot salsa, substitute one of the jalapenos with a serrano.)
1 poblano chile
¼ cup cilantro, or to taste
1 fat clove garlic
approx. ¼ cup water
1 stalk scallion, minced
2 Tbsp. red onion, minced
lime juice from 1/2 lime
2 tsps. brown sugar
salt to taste
1 bag of tortilla chips

serves a big ol' crowd (makes about 2 cups salsa)

1 Rub tomatoes and chile in cooking oil. Roast tomatoes and chiles on a foil-lined baking sheet for about 15 minutes at 450F (turn halfway through cooking time), until blistered and lightly charred. Peel chiles as best you can, and de-seed. Remove any stems that are on the tomatillos.
2 Toss half of the tomatillos, chile, garlic, cilantro and pumpkin seeds in the blender along with 2 Tbsp. water and give it a good zizz. Add a little more water if the mixture is too thick to easily blend.
3 Roughly chop the remaining tomatillos, and mince the scallion and red onion.
4 Combine the pureed tomatillo mixture with the scallion, chopped tomatillo and onion; add lime juice, brown sugar and salt to taste. If you find the salsa's too thick, add a tablespoon or two more of water and give it a good stir. Serve with chips.

sidle this way please

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