Salsa for Daddy

 Putting this recipe to paper in case Ed ever needs it.  He is loving my home made salsa!

12-14 roma tomatoes
2 heads of garlic
1 white onion
1 bunch of cilantro
2 limes juiced
4 jalapenos seeded
salt to taste

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies EVER!!!

These are by far the best cookies I have ever made!  I think what makes them so amazing is that you actually have to caramelize the butter and it makes the dough have such an amazing flavor!  Trust me, you won't regret trying this recipe! 

1 3/4 cups of unbleached all purpose four
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
14 tablespoons (1 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chunks--I like to cut up Hershey's Bliss chocolate
3/4 cups chopped pecans or walnuts, optional

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees.  Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.  Whick flour and baking soda together in medium bowl, set aside.

2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10 inch skillet over medium heat until melted, about 2 minutes.  Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes.  Remove skillet from heat and using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl.  Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

3. Add both sugars, salt and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated.  Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds.  Let mixture stand for 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds.  Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth, and shiny.  Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute.  Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

4. Drop dough on prepared baking sheets.

5. Bake cookies 1 tray and a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft., 9-11 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking.

Seafood Enchiladas

Grandma Gloria made these yummy enchiladas a few years back and I absolutely loved them. She shared the recipe with me so here it is:

Exported from Mastercook

1 pound raw medium shrimp peeled and deveined
1 can condensed cream of celery soup
3/4 cup sour cream
1 package 8 oz chunk style imitation crabmeat
1 box 9 oz frozen creamed spinach thawed
1 can 4 oz chopped green chile
1/3 cup scallions sliced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
12 corn tortillas
1 cup monterey jack cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly coat a medium nonstick skillet and a 13x9x2 baking dish with non-stick spray.

Add shrimp to skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring often, 2 to 3 minutes until pink. Cover, remove from heat and let stand 2 minutes or until shrimp are opaque at centers. Remove shrimp and put in a large bowl.

Add soup and sour cream to bowl with juices, stir until combined.

To bowl with shrimp, add crabmeat, spinach, chiles, scallions, cilantro, and 1/4 cup soup mixture; stir until blended.

Warm each tortilla in the microwave for about ten seconds to soften.

To assemble: Working with 1 warm tortilla at a time spoon 1/3 cup seafood mixture downt he center, then sprinkle with cheese mixture. Roll up and place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon the rest of the soup mixture on top of all tortillas. Cover tightly with foil. Bake 30-35 minutes until hot. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 5 more minutes until cheese melts.

I usually replace flour tortillas for the corn ones. Half the time I forget the cilantro and it is still good. I only like to use about half the amount of spinach it calls for. To make things quicker you can buy a pound of already cooked shrimp if you want, that is what I usually do.

Clam Chowder Recipe

I had the best clam chowder in Monterrey a few years ago. They made it in a bread bowl and put garlic butter and cheese on the bowl and broiled it. It was so tasty! So I decided to try to make it myself and it turned out great. Here is the recipe:

3 (6.5) ounces of minced clams

1 cup minced onion--or if you are like me and hate onion add one packet of Lipton onion soup mix

1 cup finally chopped celery

1 cup finally chopped carrot

2 cups chopped potatoes

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup flour

3/4 cup water

1 quart half and half cream

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup cooked bacon bits

1 tsp. salt

Put chopped onions, celery, carrots, and potatoes in a large frying pan. Drain clam juice over the vegetables in the frying pan. Add 3/4 cup of water to cover the vegetables. Place a lid over the frying pan and cook over medium heat until all of the vegetables are soft.

In a large pot melt butter, add flour and whisk. Whisk in cream stirring until smooth. Stir in vegetable mixture.

Stir in clam and bacon bits just before serving. That way your clams won't become hard and over cooked. Serve in a sourdough bread bowl.

Sour Dough Bread bowl recipe

1/2 cube of butter

6 garlic cloves minced

shredded cheese

Purchase sour dough bread bowls at the store. Mix softened butter with garlic. Spread in the inside of the sour dough bowls. Sprinkle cheese over the top of the garlic butter mixture. Broil on low for about 3-4 minutes. Serve immediately with clam chowder in the bowl.

Crockpot Chicken Tikka Masala

Wow, I am so thrilled to have tweaked my harder version of Chicken Tikka Masala and made it into an easy crock pot recipe! This is a bit spicy so my suggestion if you want to tame it down is to use mild curry powder instead of hot. I buy all of my spices in bulk at an Indian Food grocery store in Folsom.

Ingredients:

6 chicken breasts cut up in cube size pieces

2 cups heavy whipping cream

12 ounces of Tomato Paste

1/2 cube of butter

1 tblsp. Paprika

1 tblsp. Curry Powder Hot

1 tblsp. Garam Masala

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ginger

1 tsp. black pepper

4-6 cloves garlic minced

Combine all ingredients in crock pot and put on low for 6-8 hours. Make a side of rice and some garlic naan bread. This is so good and a great dish to put leftovers in the freezer to take for lunch. For garnish you can add cilantro just before serving.

Home Made pizza at least once a week!

Ever since I learned how to make bread I started making pizza dough. The whole family loves it, including KK which is a big surprise! Do you know KK is the biggest pizza snob? She would only eat Round Table Pizza but now that she has had mine she is eating it all the time! I have to admit I make it at least once or twice a week! Do you know it only costs about $1.00 to make? I buy the cheese and pepperoni in bulk at Costco or Sam's Club. It is really easy to make too. I use my kitchen aide electric mixer and let it do all the work! The cheese is already shredded and for now I have been buying Ragu pizza sauce for the girls. For hubby and I, we use ranch dressing and add almost an entire head of minced garlic! Yummy! Anyway, here is the recipe if you would like it. I personally just stick all the ingredients at once in the bowl, turn the mixer on for 5-10 minutes, let it rise for an hour, roll it out, let it rise for about 15 more minutes, and then add my sauce, cheese and toppings!

Classic-Crust Pizza Dough Recipe

This recipe will make enough pizza dough for two, 12" deluxe pizzas. It's a good place to start if you've never hand-made dough before. It's not too much to work with at one time and requires no special machinery, (except your hands).

Ingredients:

1 1/4 oz. - Active dry yeast, (or 2 1/4 tsp.)
1 1/2 cups - Warm water (110°F -115°F)
4 cups - White, all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. - Salt
2 tbsp. - Olive oil
2 tbsp. - Sugar

Extra flour
Extra Olive Oil

Preparation:

Pour the warm water in a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar and package of yeast. Stir the mixture slowly until yeast and sugar are dissolved. Let sit to allow the mixture to "mature" for about ten minutes or so. The mixture will begin to react; clouding and forming a foamy "head" on the surface of the mixture.

Add the salt and olive oil and stir again to combine and dissolve the ingredients. Add 1 cup of flour and whisk in until dissolved. Add the second cup of flour and whisk it in. Add the 3rd cup of flour and combine. By now the dough mixture should be fairly thick. Add the last cup of flour and, with your hands, begin to combine and knead the dough.

Remove the dough ball to a tabletop to knead it. You may need to add a dusting of flour from time to time to reduce the stickiness of the dough. Be patient, folding the dough ball in half and then quarters, over and over again for about 8 to 10 minutes, (or about 100 "cycles".) Kneading by hand is laborious, but very important. Better to over-knead than under-knead. You'll know you've done well when the ball no longer sticks to your hands. It will become a smoothly-textured ball slightly larger than a large grapefruit.

Coat the dough ball with a thin layer of olive oil, and place it in the bottom of a large mixing bowl which has also been coated on the inside with olive oil. Stretch a piece of kitchen film over the top of the bowl and set it in a warm place such an as un-lit oven, (ambient temperature of 70°F to 80°F). Allow the dough to rise, undisturbed, for 60 to 75 minutes. The dough will have grown to at least twice its original size.

Take the dough out of the bowl and cut in half with a knife. You now have two pizza dough balls, enough to make two (2) 12" deluxe pizzas. Take each raw dough portion and hand-mold them into balls. Press each doughball flat to squeeze and release any air trapped inside. Form the portions back into balls, smoothing the outer surface and tucking each ball "into itself" from underneath, (like folding a sock into itself), before storing or going on with the next step.

Baking my own sandwich rolls

Wow, it only took me three tries but I finally got it right! I have never made my own bread before so I needed to experience a learning curve. The first try my yeast was bad. The second try I didn't let it rise enough, but by the third try I had it right!

Here is try number three. I made whole wheat sandwich rolls and brushed them with garlic olive oil and added italian herbs. Check out my sandwich. It was so good!

I made them again today and used some flour I bought from costco. It says it is unbleached flour with whole grains and has all the same nutritional value as whole wheat. They were so yummy! Now I need some company to come over and try out my sandwich rolls! Here is the recipe I am using if you want to give it a try:

2 1/2 teaspoons dry instant yeast

1 1/3 cup water

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup honey, molasses, or maple syrup

3 1/2 cups whole wheat bread flour (more if needed)

1/4 cup nonfat dried milk

1 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Place all ingredients in the container of your bread machine, or into the bowl of a heavy duty mix master. For bread machine follow the instructions for making dough. For mix master, mix with a spoon until dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. Now using the dough hooks knead dough for 6 to 8 minutes or until it becomes smooth and supple. Place dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover and place in a warm place rises and becomes puffy about 60 minutes. Dough may not double in size this is ok. Transfer dough to a lightly oiled surface and shape into a log about 8 1/2 inches long. Place log into a bread pan, cover loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap and allow bread to rise for 1 hour or until crowned about 1 inch above edge of pan. Bake bread in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes, or it sounds hollow when thumped on bottom of loaf.

I actually didn't have any dried milk so I made the recipe without it. Since I was doing sandwich rolls instead of bread I divided the mixture into six balls and stretched out the dough to form the rolls. I then brushed them with olive oil and added italian herbs. I baked them at 375 degrees for twenty minutes.

Taco Stew

O.k., I know, my pictures aren't great. This probably doesn't even look appetizing but let me assure you, it is! Not only does it taste great but it is super easy to make! I make mine in a stew version because hubby is not so fond of soup. If you end up wanting it soupy, just double the chicken broth and taco seasoning.

3 chicken breast diced up
1 15 oz can of corn
1 can of black beans
1 15 oz can petite cut diced tomatoes with jalapenos
2 14 oz cans of chicken broth
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese--you may wish to add more
2 tbsp taco season--you may wish to add more to make it more spicy

Directions:
cut up 3 large chicken breasts and put in the crock pot. Add the 2 cans of chicken broth. Set crock pot timer on the lowest setting for about two hours. Add the corn, black beans, tomatoes, and taco seasoning. Let simmer on low for another hour or two. Add the shredded cheese, let melt and serve. Some people like to add sour cream.
1 4oz can diced green chilis

Apricot Squares

Here is the recipe for the yummiest cookies ever! BTW I use butter instead of shortening and I used more than 3/4 c. apricot jam. I didn't even measure the jam I just spread it over the dough and a reasonable thickness that I would like.



2 c. flour
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1/4 c. shortening
1 egg
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 c. apricot jam



Cream butter, shortening, and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Stir in flour and baking powder and mix thoroughly. Put dough in the fridge for two hours. Cut dough evenly into two parts. Spread first part evenly in the bottom of a cookie sheet. Spread jam over it. Roll out the second part of the dough into 1/2 inch strips. Lay strips criss cross on top of the jam layer. Bake @ 375 for 20-25 minutes.

My Favorite Cookie Recipe

A number of years ago I got my favorite cookie recipe from my Grandma. Unfortunately through the years I lost it. However, recently my Mom and I were talking and she had it! Lucky me, and she emailed me the recipe. So if you are a ginger snap cookie lover this is a great recipe!

Green Mt. Ginger Snaps

3/4 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 cups Flour
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cloves
1 tsp ginger

Cream shortening, sugar, molasses and egg. Sift remaining ingredients together. Roll into balls and dip into sugar and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.

Whole wheat pumpkin muffins recipe

These muffins are very yummy, as a matter of fact I had a hard time not eating the whole pan!

Ingredients

1 and 3/4 cups of whole wheat flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. allspice

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cloves

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup honey

1/2 cup canola oil

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix thoroughly sugar, honey, canola oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl. Add flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, salt, baking soda, and cloves. Once thoroughly mixed add in raisins. Put in muffin pans. Makes 12 large or 15-18 small muffins.

Chicken Tikka Masala recipe

I just recently started liking Indian food and this dish is my favorite. I took a couple of recipes, combined ideas and tweeked them! Great dish with a nice creamy sauce with a medium spicey flavor. Tastes great with rice and garlic naan bread.

(Marinade)

1 cup yogurt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tblsp Garam Masala

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

2 teaspoons black pepper

1 tablespoon minced ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

6 breasts of chicken cut into bite size pieces

wooden skewers

(Sauce)

2 tablespoons butter

6-8 cloves of minced garlic

2 jalapenos seeded and finely chopped (you can leave the seeds for a hot, spicey sauce)

4 teaspoons ground cumin

4 teaspoons paprika

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

12 ounces of tomato paste

2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:

In large bowl combine all the ingredients for the marinade. Cover and refridgerate a minimum of one hour. I like to do at least 3-4 hours myself.

Once chicken has been marinated long enough stick chicken on skewers and grill on medium heat for five minutes on each side. Let cool.

For the sauce melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. SAute garlic and jalapeno for about a minute. Add remaining seasonings, tomato paste, and cream. Simmer on low heat. Add grilled chicken and simmer for about ten minutes. Put on a plate and add fresh cilantro if desired.

mexican omlet

Here is one of my favorite breakfast recipes. I had it at a local restaurant and recreated it myself. It is so good. The first few times I made it with chorrizo but now I am making it with ground meat as I read what chorrizo is made out of and I don't think I will ever eat it again. This recipe serves two people.

One 12 oz. package of chorrizo prepared or one pound ground beef prepared as taco meat.

2 flour tortillas

Four eggs cooked sunny side up

1 cup of grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 avocado cut up
1/2 cup salsa
2 tablespoons sour cream

Cook chorrizo or taco meat. Cook 4 eggs sunny side up. Grate 1 cup cheddar cheese. Cut up one avocado. Once the meat and eggs are cooked begin assembly. Heat up flour tortilla and place on plate. Put half of the meat on each tortilla. Put two cooked eggs ontop of the meat. Put half of the avocado on the meat. Put 1/4 cup of salsa on top of that. Finish with 1 tablespoon of sour cream. Grab your fork and knife and enjoy!

Meatloaf recipe

I recently discovered this meatloaf recipe from Deceptively Delicious but of course I had to change it and make it my own. Here is my version:

1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs

1/2 cup milk

1 package lipton onion soup mix

1 pound lean ground turkey

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup raw carrot finely chopped or pureed

1/4 cup cooked bacon bits

1/4 cup ketchup

1 tsp salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9x5 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In large bowl combine all ingredients mixing thoroughly.

Put the mixture into loaf pan and add some ketchup on top. Bake until center of meatloaf is no longer pink, approximately 45-60 minutes depending on your oven. Cut and serve.

Pancakes for breakfast anyone?

Last Monday at preschool one of the mom's made pancakes with chocolate chips for snack. Aly was so excited and has been begging me ever since to make the same thing. Of course since I am on such a whole wheat kick I had to look up a recipe to make a healthier version.

Our friend Terry gave us the airplane and train shapes to make pancakes with for Christmas. Aly was really excited and chose the train. We gave KK the airplane although she wouldn't even try a bite. I made regular pancakes for me, hubby didn't want any because he doesn't like to eat carbs.

Aly loved her pancake and ate the whole thing! I made mine with strawberries and whipped cream. It was so good I had a second one!

Here is the recipe if you are interested in making them:

Whole Wheat Pancakes

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup of sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, well beaten

2 cups of milk

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Stir together dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, and oil. Stir until dry ingredients are moistened (batter may be lumpy). Add chocolate chips. Cook on preheated griddle or frying pan until bubbles form and edges start to dry. Flip and cook until lightly browned.

Easy Chili recipe

Here is an easy yet very delicious chili recipe. I personally love a 3 bean chili and hubby prefers an all meat chili so I took both of our preferences and made it into one! I personally like to use the crock pot but if you are in a hurry you could use the stove top method as well.

1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can enchilada sauce
1 pound ground beef
1 pound cut up cooked steak meat
red pepper

Brown the ground beef and put into crock pot. Use a pound of your choice of meat and cut up in bite sized pieces and brown, add to crock pot. Add all three cans of beans and the can of enchilada sauce. Cook in crock pot on high for four hours. Use red pepper to season to the desired spicy taste you can handle.

Family Dinner for $5 or less

This past Thanksgiving I discovered this receipe and have been using it ever since. It is a family favorite and even after trying similar receipes we like this one the best.

Turkey Stuffing Dinner

1 package stove top stuffing mix prepared

2 cups cooked broccoli

2 cups cooked turkey--or chicken

1 can Cream of Celery Soup

1/2 cup of milk

1 cup of shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

Prepare stuffing mix and spoon into a 9x9 glass baking dish. Arrange the turkey and broccoli ontop of the stuffing mix. In small bowl comine soup, milk, and 1/2 cup of cheese. Pour the mixture over the turkey and broccoli. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until hot. Serves 4.

This is a very easy receipe to make. When I don't have leftover turkey or chicken, I take two chicken breasts and boil them in hot water until they are fully cooked.