easy homemade salsa

Don't not make this recipe simply because I am not a photographer and can't make foods look as delicious as they really are. I was so glad I had seen this recipe and purchased the ingredients because I had forgotten about it until just minutes before the missionaries came to dinner.  It's delicious.  My son asked, "Can you just always make salsa?"  With a recipe like this the answer is yes.

easy homemade salsa (dinners, dishes and desserts)
1 large can whole tomatoes
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
1-2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 jalapeno, minced (I used one but I should've used two!)

Put everything into the blender and process until smooth.  That's it!

Store in an air tight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.  I doubt it will last that long in this house!

black and blueberry crumble

My friend Deon dropped this by one evening as a thank you for my husband going to scout camp.  We saved it until the morning and when my husband returned the family enjoyed it together.  This crumble was a big hit and the consistency was perfect.  It was like dessert for breakfast.

black and blueberry crumble (my friend Deon)
filling
3 cups fruit
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon sugar, optional

crust and topping
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup oats
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

Press crust into pan and bake for 12 minutes at 375 degrees.  Add fruit minus the juice.  Add topping and bake 12-15 minutes.  Should be golden and bubbly. 

therese's whole wheat dinner rolls

Hall of Fame!  My friend Therese and her daughter stopped by Sunday afternoon with these rolls as a thank you.  Doesn't food make the best thank you?!  I've always thought so.  It was sort of embarrassing that as we stood at the doorway chatting that my kids started eating the rolls.  My kids loved them so much I had to try them and before you knew it the entire family was eating rolls in front of them, eating while talking.  I hope instead of thinking our manners were atrocious it was more of a compliment.  I asked for the recipe right away because I know how difficult it is to find a whole wheat roll recipe that is light and fluffy and delicious.  These rolls are insanely good.

therese's whole wheat dinner rolls (my friend Therese)
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons warm water
2 tablespoons dry milk
3 1/2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons fast rise  yeast
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, cut into thin slices
3 cups whole white wheat flour

Add all the ingredients, except for the flour, into bread mixer. Once yeast is activated, add flour and mix for at least 8-10 minutes on high. Add more flour if dough is still sticky. Shape dough into crescent shapes and place on prepared cookie sheet.  Spray the tops of the rolls with cooking spray or butter and lightly cover rolls with plastic wrap. Let rise for 45 minutes then bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 12-20 minutes or until just slightly golden. Makes about 12 rolls. Enjoy!    

 

Tips from Therese's sister who developed this recipe (Therese gets the credit because she made them for us!):

*I prefer using white wheat flour instead of red wheat flour. It makes a more delicate texture for the rolls. I also grind it fresh before every batch.

*You can let the dough rise once before shaping it into rolls and then again after the dough is in the roll shape but I’m usually too busy for this extra step and I think they turn out just fine with just one rising.

* Try not to overcook the rolls.

*I always double this recipe because my kids devour them so fast!   

thai green curry chicken

My husband requested thai green curry chicken for dinner this week so I hopped to it.  We went out for Thai food last week so I was excited to give it a try.  It was great!

thai green curry chicken (adapted from allrecipes.com)
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons cooking oil
2 tablespoons green curry paste
2 green onions with tops, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
1/2 container fresh stir fry veggies from Trader Joe's (or chop your favorites)
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 cups coconut milk (I used light)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons white sugar (I used 1 tablespoon Splenda)
1/2 cup cilantro leaves

Toss chicken first in 1 tablespoon soy sauce then in flour, coating pieces evenly.  Heat oil in a large wok over medium high heat.  Place chicken in the wok, cook and stir chicken until browned, about 5 minutes.  Remove chicken.
Reduce heat to medium and stir in curry paste.  Cook for 1 minute until fragrant then stir in green onions, garlic and ginger; cook 2 minutes.  Return chicken to the skillet and add the vegetables stirring to cat with the curry mixture.  Stir the coconut milk, 1 tablespoon soy sauce and sugar into the mixture.  Allow to simmer for 20 minutes until the chicken is tender.  Serve with cilantro leaves or cook them in the mixture.

orange julius

A couple weeks ago I pulled up to my friend Shonda's house to pick up my kids and all of our kids were lined up on the top step of the front porch sitting and sipping orange julius's out of canning jars with striped straws.  The whole scene could've made the cover of Country Living.  Our orange julius's that I made last night weren't as cute and we slurped them around the kitchen table.  BUT,  they were a huge hit especially with my husband who hadn't had one in years.  He raved about this recipe.  What I love is that the ingredients are simple and I usually have them on hand.  An easy way to please a family!!

orange julius (my friend Shonda)
6 ounces frozen orange juice concentrate
1 cup water
1 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
1-2 cups ice (I used 2 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend and serve!

white chocolate dipped waffle cones

For not having big plans leading up to the 4th of July, it turned out to be super fun thanks to some great friends who invited us over for fireworks and vanilla bean ice cream served in these festive waffle cones that they dip every year.  What a great tradition!  This would be a great alternative to birthday cake at birthday parties- oh the crumbs and all the little feet that step on them!!

white chocolate dipped waffle cones (my friend Shonda)
waffle cones
white chocolate, melted
sprinkles

Dip the edges of the waffle cones into melted white chocolate.  Decorate with sprinkles!  Let set on wax paper.

coconut chicken curry

I bought a Joy of Cooking cookbook at a garage sale for $2 on Saturday and this is the first recipe I decided to try.  It was a joy to cook- my oldest chopped the vegetables as I gathered the other ingredients. My husband walked in the door just as dinner was ready and the weather was perfect for enjoying dinner outdoors.  This was a very enjoyable dish, easy to prepare and healthy.  We'll have it again sometime!

coconut chicken curry (adapted from The Joy of Cooking cookbook)
2 pounds chicken breasts (I fileted mine) seasoned with salt and pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup chopped onions
1 large carrot, sliced
1/2 cup peas, thawed if frozen
2 scallions, sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (we didn't have one so used garlic chile sauce to heat up the dish)
1 tablespoon finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 1/2 cups light coconut milk
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon salt

Heat oil over high heat.  Add chicken and brown on both sides.  Remove from the pan.  Add onions, carrot, peas, scallions, jalapeno pepper, ginger and garlic.  Cook until the vegetables are soft, 5 minutes.  Add coconut milk, raisins, curry powder and salt.  Add the chicken, reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and the rice is cooked.  Serve with cooked rice.