Pico de Gallo

Since I am not a salsa fan, due to the disagreement of peppers and my stomach as to which is more powerful, I decided to adapt a few things and come up with my own recipe.

Voila!

Super-Mild Pico de Gallo
6 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, pressed
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup cilantro, chopped

Mix. Eat with chips. Enjoy.

For Mild add:
1 green pepper, chopped

For Regular add:
2-3 jalapenos, seeded and chopped

I don't even want to think about how it would get hotter...

Easy Cream of Chicken and (Wild) Rice Soup

Saute together:
Two cloves of garlic
One large carrot
One large onion
One-Two celery stalks
One-Two chicken breasts

When cooked, add:
Two cans cream of mushroom soup
One can mushrooms
One cup of rice (plain or wild)*

Salt and pepper to taste.

*One cup rice, two cups water. Simmer till done.


I discovered during an episode of Rachel is hungry, what leftovers and other things are in the fridge to eat? that this tastes almost exactly like the Chicken and Wild Rice soup I used to get all the time at Panera.

Scrumptious Salmon Sandwiches

Scrumptious Salmon Sandwiches
Enough for four patties
1 lg can of salmon (12oz I think)
1 tbsp dried basil
½ tsp dried garlic (or two cloves sautéed in the butter)
½ to 1 tbsp butter
A dash of salt, pepper and parsley

Mix all together, bearing in mind all dried spices measurements are approximates.
They don’t stick together well, I’m assuming a tbsp of flour might help but I don’t know how that would taste.
Separate and shape in four patties and bake for 25 minutes at 350, or until looking slightly dry on top.

Serve patties on bread with cheese and sliced cucumber on top.

And remember there will be bones in the salmon can, they are good for you. I pick them out, crush them, and put them back in.

Brownies with Cocoa

I like my brownie recipe that uses dry cocoa instead of the chocolate that you have to melt. There's a recipe in one of the church cookbooks that works well, but I didn't have it this week for dessert for today's baptism dinner. So I websurfed and found something that worked very well and came out decently fudgy.

8x8"
350 for around 20 minutes
(until edges are dry and middle is set,
being careful not to overbake)

Melt 1 stick butter.
Stir in 1/2 cup cocoa.

Add 1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla.
Mix till shiny and smooth.

Add 2/3 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix well.
Bake in greased pan.

Tamale Pie

Brown:
1 1/2-2 pounds ground beef
1 large onion

Drain fat and add:
1- 16 oz can of diced tomatoes
1- 16 oz can of kidney beans
1- 8 oz can tomato sauce
1- 4 oz can chopped chilis
1 pound bag of frozen corn
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 Tbsp chili powder

Simmer, uncovered, for 10-25 minutes.

Cornmeal Mush
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 tsp salt
4 cups water

Blend- bring to boil over medium low heat. Cook another 1-2 minutes, until quite thick.
Add:
2 Tbsp butter
3/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar

Pour meat mixture in a greased 9"x13" pan. Top with cornmeal mush.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 50-55 minutes.

Instant Oatmeal

I learned this from Kraayevelds, many years ago.

Base:
2 cups quick oats, blended until fine
2 cups quick oats, unblended
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp salt

To flavor, add on set of the following ingredients:

Apple Cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup chopped dried apples
2 tsp cinnamon

Brown Sugar Raisin
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup raisins

Cinnamon Spice
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg

Peaches n Cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup dry milk
1 cup chopped dried peaches


To serve, combine 1/3 cup mix and 1/2 cup boiling water. Stir and let sit for about a minute before eating.

Paul's Pizza Crust

(Because my brother Paul makes the best pizza!)

Mix:
1 3/4 cups warm water
2 Tbsp sugar or honey
1 Tbsp yeast
1/2 Tbsp salt

Add:
2 cups flour- beat well.

Add:
2-3 cups flour, mix and knead until dough is elastic.

Pat onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake 5-6 minutes at 500 degrees.

Add pizza toppings and bake an additional 8-10 minutes.

Makes 2 crusts.