Friday, April 25, 2008

Salsa

Salsa by Tamara & Jeanette

4 bunches green onion chopped (white part only)
3 cans stewed tomatos
4 cans green chiles
1 tsp diced jalapenos
1/2 lime juiced
1 bunch cilantro
2 cloves of garlic
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp balsamic vinegar

Put all ingredients into food processor, vita-mix (for only about 3 seconds), or chop up by hand.

Serve with chips or on top of anything! This salsa makes a great Christmas pass around.

Fruit Dip

1 package cream cheese
1 regular sized bottle of marshmello cream
Juice of one lemon
Zest of one lemon

Whip all ingredients together.
Serve with Apples, Strawberries or any other kind of fruit.

Yum Yum!

Chocolate Chip Skor Cookies by Jeanette Wengert

This is a winner recepie!

1 C butter flavored crisco
3 T vanilla
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 c white flour
1 pkg milk chocolate chips (use 1/2 bag if you want less chips)
2 C skor bits
Beat crisco, vanilla, & eggs until big and fluffy. Add salt, soda, flour and then chocolate chips and skor bits.

Roll into balls and bake 375 degrees for 10 minutes. ENJOY!

You can buy the skor bits online at amazon.com in a 4 pound bag. I don't recommend the heath toffee bits because they have nuts in them and the cookies don't turn out the same.

Other great combinations are: White Chips & Butterscotch Chips or Milk Chocolate Chips with White Chips

Texas Caviar by Jeanette Wengert

TEXAS CAVIAR!

This is an absolute favorite that everyone loves. It's a fun snack or a great side with a meal.

1 bunch cilantro chopped fine
2-3 bunches of green onion chopped fine (white part only)
2 avocados diced
4 tomatos diced (may add more or less to your liking)
1 can black eyed peas drained
1 can yellow or white corn drained
1 package of Italian dressing (Make the dressing as called for on the packet with the oil, vinegar and water)
Add 2 Tablespoons of white sugar to the dressing and mix well.

Combine all ingredients and pour dressing over the top and mix.

Serve with Tortilla chips

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Mexican Salad

This is something I created on our vacation in Mexico last summer. It really hits the spot. When I make it I usually just layer individual salads up on each plate. It would probably be easy to set up Hawaiian Haystack style with each ingredient in a separate bowl.

Romaine lettuce chopped (or any lettuce)
Chunked Cheddar Cheese (any cheese will do)
1 can heated black beans (use more for larger families)
Chopped cilantro
Chopped avocado
Diced tomatoes (or sliced)
Salsa
Ranch Dressing

Layer your salad with lettuce first, then beans, then remaining ingredients. The salsa and dressing go on top. You usually need less Ranch dressing than on a regular salad because the salsa adds to it.

Zesty Meatball Soup

This is from the whole wheat Zesta cracker box. I have made it twice and it's delicious! It was fun learning how to make meatballs. I like to sprinkle parmesan cheese on top of my soup before eating.

Ingredients:
1 beaten egg
10 Keebler Zesta Wheat Crackers, finely crushed
1 Tbsp. grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 lb. lean ground beef
2 small zucchini, chopped
1/2 c chopped onion
2 cans (14 1/2 oz.) stewed tomatoes with Italian seasonings, cut up
1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce with Italian seasonings
1 can (14 oz.) reduced-sodium beef broth
1/2 cup uncooked dry small shell pasta

Directions:
1. In large bowl combine egg, crackers, cheese, parsley and pepper. Add ground beef. Mix well. Shape into thirty-six 1-inch meatballs.

2. Spray Dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray. Cook meatballs, half a a time, in Dutch oven over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes or until no longer pink in center, turning occasionally. Remove meatballs from Dutch oven.

3. In same Dutch oven cook zucchini and onion until tender. Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth ad pasta. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 8 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir in meatballs. Heat through. Yield: 6 servings

Pot of Beans

You can make this in the stovetop or in the crockpot.

5-6 c dry pinto beans
3 bay leaves
1/2 tsp garlic powder
3 dried red chilies
2 Tbsp dried onions
1 tsp cumin
1 hamhock

Sort the dry beans for rocks and bad beans. Rinse many times until water is clear. Choose one of 3 ways to reduce indigestion 1) Soak beans overnight in water then rinse before cooking 2) Bring beans to a boil and simmer 2 minutes. Then let stand for 1 hour, then rinse 3) Cook beans on stovetop for 4-6 hours. To cook, cover beans well with water in crockpot (about 2-3 inches above bean level. Put hamhock in the middle. Remove seeds from chilies and put them in. Sprinkle remaining ingredients on top. Stir occasionally throughout the day. You may add water as well, beans should always stay covered in water. Cook on high 8 hours. Remove bay leaves, hamhock and red chilies before serving. If cooking on stove top, bring to boil on high then turn down to about med-low to simmer covered 4-6 hours.

Famous Family Bean Dip

This is the tasty bean dip we all LOVE! If you have any variations to it, please feel free to add them.

1 can refried beans
3 Tbsp. sour cream
1/4 c cheese
light sprinkle garlic powder
3 Tbsp. salsa
1 tsp. cumin

Sometimes I add a few dashes of chili powder to spice it up. This is tasty as a hot dip for chips, in burritos or as a side dish to a Mexican dinner. Everything is estimated so add or subtract until it tastes just right to you!