Jalapeno Popper Pocket

Easter at Mama's. We went to service at Greater Grace at 8 AM. Mama wore the same hat she's been wearing on Easter for twenty years. The whole family at her duplex for dinner — ham, mac and cheese, greens, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls. Lemon cake for dessert.

Pop's in the recliner. Tigers on. Sugar in range this week. Sunday at Mama's. She made greens with hambone the way she has since 1985.

Pulled chicken Saturday — slow-roasted thighs, BBQ sauce, sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls.

Aiden's 11. The youth basketball league. I'm coaching. He's the best player on the team and he knows it. Zaria's 8. Helps me cook on a step stool. Has opinions about the seasoning.

The week held. The kitchen held. The chain holds.

The basketball court at the rec center got refurbished. New floor. Plays different. Bouncy. I shot a few from the elbow before practice Wednesday. The knee held. The shot fell short.

A reader wrote in about the smothered pork chops. Said her late husband loved them. I wrote back. I told her about Pop. We exchanged three emails. She's in Saginaw. She's coming to the city in the spring.

Stopped at Eastern Market Saturday. Got chicken thighs, bacon, a watermelon, and a pound of greens that I did not need but bought anyway. The vendors know me by name now. Three of them asked about the family.

The custody calendar holds. Aiden and Zaria alternate weeks. Brianna and I co-parent without drama now. We do not always have to like each other to do this right.

The Lions on TV Sunday. Lost on a missed field goal. Detroit. The neighborhood collectively groaned at the same moment. You could hear it through the windows.

Plant ran clean this week. The line ran. The body held. The paycheck is the paycheck.

Pop sat in the recliner Sunday. He fell asleep before the third quarter. We covered him with a blanket.

Filled the propane tank Wednesday. The smoker is the only appliance I baby. Wiped it down. Checked the gaskets. Checked the temperature gauge. The smoker is mine the way Pop's torque wrench was his.

Truck needed an oil change Saturday. Did it myself in the driveway. Took an hour. The neighbor across the street gave me a thumbs-up from his porch. I gave him one back. Detroit men do not waste words on car maintenance.

Mama left me a voicemail Wednesday. She said, "DeShawn. Don't forget Sunday." I had not forgotten Sunday. I have not forgotten Sunday in twenty years. The reminder is the love. I called her back.

Aiden had practice Tuesday and Thursday. I drove. He shot threes for an hour after.

Mr. Williams across the street had a heart scare. He is okay. We are all watching each other now. I took him a plate of greens and chicken Wednesday. He said, "DeShawn. You're a good neighbor." I said, "We're even, Mr. Williams. You shoveled my walk in 2024." He laughed.

A neighbor down the street gave me a tomato plant Saturday. He grows them on his porch. Said he had extra. I put it next to the back step where it gets the afternoon sun. Detroit gardens are improvised victories.

I made grocery lists on the back of envelopes the way Mama did. The list this week was short — onions, garlic, half-and-half, cornmeal, a pound of bacon. The list is the recipe of the week before it happens.

Watched the Tigers Sunday afternoon. Lost in extras. Detroit reflex. I yelled at the TV the way Pop used to yell at the TV. The TV did not respond. The bullpen will probably not respond either.

Saturday at Eastern Market, chicken thighs in the bag, the smoker already cleaned and checked — that’s when I knew what the afternoon was going to be. Pulled chicken on Hawaiian rolls is the move when the week has been long and the family needs something worth sitting down for. This jalapeno popper pocket carries that same energy: smoky, creamy, a little heat from the pepper, everything folded in tight the way a good Saturday should be. Zaria stood on her step stool and had opinions about the seasoning. She was right.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes | Total Time: 25 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

2 cups pulled or shredded cooked chicken (slow-roasted thighs preferred)
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and black pepper to taste
4 large pita rounds or flatbread pockets
1 tablespoon olive oil or melted butter (for brushing)

Instructions

Mix the filling. In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, cheddar, diced jalapenos, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder. Stir until smooth and fully combined.
Fold in the chicken. Add the pulled chicken to the cream cheese mixture and stir to coat evenly. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. If the filling feels thick, a small splash of chicken broth loosens it up nicely.
Preheat and prep. Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium heat. Lightly brush one side of each pita with olive oil or melted butter.
Fill the pockets. Carefully open each pita and spoon in a generous amount of the chicken filling — about 1/2 cup per pocket. Press gently to seal the edges without tearing.
Toast until golden. Place filled pockets oil-side down in the skillet. Cook 3—4 minutes per side until the outside is golden and slightly crisp and the filling is warmed through. Press down lightly with a spatula as they cook.
Rest and serve. Remove from heat and let sit for 2 minutes before cutting. Serve as-is or with a side of extra sour cream or hot sauce for dipping.

Nutrition (per serving)

Jalapeno Popper Pocket — The Saturday Pull That Started With a Smoke and Ended at the Table