Homemade Salsa

Apparently, people must think that I like cookbooks.  Ok, they know I love them, really.  I say this because I got not just one, but three for Christmas.

Here's one that I got from my brother and sister-in-law.  They are forever promoting spicy Mexican food and will take random trips to Albuquerque to purchase roasted green chiles.  

It's a cookbook for salsa and tacos from the Santa Fe School of Cooking.  There are some delicious looking recipes in here for traditional salsa, as well as mango, pineapple and other yummy varieties that I am sure I will be testing out sooner or later.  They said that they would help me out with finding some of the ingredients, which I am certain I will need since they don't sell some of these crazy chiles here in Arkansas.  But, since they are 1,500 miles away, it could be a challenge.  Oh, well.  Enough on that.

I was inspired by this new book to make some homemade salsa for a potluck that I have this week.  I've never made it before, but think I have been converted to a homemade salsa only girl.

I didn't follow the recipe in the book exactly, since, well, the chili that it called for was $3.50 each, and it needed two.  So, I went for the chipotle chili in adobo sauce, which has a yummy spicy and smokey flavor. It's buried under the cilantro above.

I dumped it all in my food processor and pulsed it about 15 times to get it all combined while still leaving some chunks.

It made so much.  I love it!  I mean this stuff was so good that my friend and I kept eating it even after having a full dinner.  It was hard to stop.  Now I want to figure out how to seal these jars so that I can store it in my pantry.  I mean I could eat it all, but I don't need the tortilla chips...

So, I have picked up a habit of not always measuring ingredients out and the same recipe may not taste the same from one time to the next.  Experimental cooking, perhaps?  I try to be good and write it down if I really like something, but it doesn't always happen.  But, I was excited about this one and so I did write it down, and I'll share it with you!

Fresh Salsa

2 large cans of whole tomatoes, drained (1 lbs. 12 oz size)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Half of a small red onion, diced (about 1/2 cup)

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon cumin

The juice of 1 lime

Half a small bunch of cilantro

1 chipotle pepper with a bit of the adobo sauce (start with a little and add more according to your taste)

Place all ingredients in the food processor.  Pulse about 15 times until mixed, but still chunky.  Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Cupcakes!

Tomorrow night marks the first night of AWANA, the scripture memory program at church.  My friend and I help out with the 5th and 6th grade girls.  It's such a great age to work with.

I worked with this age group last year and had a blast.  The girls are so sweet and just want to have a good time.

So, anyway, there's nothing special about these cupcakes.  They're just funfetti with vanilla and chocolate frosting.  But, my friend and I found some super girly cupcake liners to make things more fun, because girls just wanna have fun!  Ok... I'll stop the cheese.

I think these girls are going to have a sugar high tomorrow night.  There's nothing better than giving kids lots of sugar in the evening and sending them home to their parents. ;)

Strawberry Pancakes

I recently went on a trip and had some delicious strawberry pancakes.  I love pancakes.  But, this took it to a whole new level!

Better yet, they were healthy.  They were so yummy, I had to come home and figure out how to make them.  I looked up a few recipes and made a few modifications.  So, here's what I did.

Strawberry Pancakes

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon Splenda
1 large egg
1 1/4 cup milk (I used skim)
1 medium banana, mashed
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1 tablespoon canola oil

Additional sliced strawberries for garnishing

Mash the banana until it is liquefied.  Next, mix in all the wet ingredients.  Once the wet ingredients are well combined, add the dry ingredients.  Finally, add the sliced strawberries.  Cook the pancakes on a griddle or a skillet over medium heat.

This will make 8 - 10 very thick and fluffy pancakes.

I love thick pancakes.  Do you?  Or are you on the other side of the fence and like thin ones?  If you are, I'll work on converting you to the good side.