Saturday, March 24, 2012

Pioneer Woman Restaurant Style Salsa

Ingredients

  • 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
  • 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
  • 1/4 cup Chopped Onion
  • 1 clove Garlic, Minced
  • 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
  • 1/4 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cumin
  • 1/2 cup Cilantro (more To Taste!)
  • 1/2 whole Lime Juice

Preparation Instructions

Note: this is a very large batch. Recommend using a 12-cup food processor, or you can process the ingredients in batches and then mix everything together in a large mixing bowl.

Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you'd like---I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.

Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips or cheese nachos.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Grilled Pizza

Grilled pizza instructions from ourbestbites.com

Spicy Honey Chicken

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 2lbs
everyone is always asking me if they can use breasts for this. Sure you can, but I’m tellin’
ya right now it’s better with thighs.

2 t vegetable oil

Rub

2 t granulated garlic
2 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t coriander
1 t kosher salt
1 t cumin
1/2 t chipotle chili powder

Glaze
1/2 C Honey
1T Cider Vinegar

Combine the rub spices in bowl and mix well.
Use kitchen shears (or a pair of clean scissors) to trim off any excess fat from the chicken pieces.Pat dry. Drizzle oil over chicken and rub in with your hands to lightly coat all the pieces. Then toss chicken with the spice rub to coat all sides well. Use your hands and get in there! Grill chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through.
While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it’s not so thick. Add the vinegar and combine well. Reserve 2T honey glaze for later. Take the rest and brush on chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling.
I’m gonna warn you that this can make a hot mess, literally. It’s sugar, and it’s gonna drip. But the smelly smoke is worth it for a minute or two. Just leave your grill on for a few minutes after the chicken is done to burn off any excess glaze. It’s totally worth it once you taste this stuff.
If you don’t have a bbq, try it on an indoor grill pan or use your broiler. Just be sure to open a window in case you burn your glaze!
Remember how I had you reserve that extra couple tablespoons of glaze? Ya, drizzle that on top now. Your taste buds will thank you.

Ham and Cheese Sliders

24 good white dinner rolls
24 pieces good honey ham
24 small slices Swiss cheese
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup miracle whip

Poppy seed sauce (you probably could half this...I had plenty extra)
1 Tablespoon poppyseeds
1 1/2 Tablespoons yellow mustard
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 Tablespoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.

In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all of the sandwiches. You do not have to use all of the sauce! Just use enough to cover the tops. Let sit 10 minutes or until butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for 2 additional minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.

** sandwiches can be assembled a day ahead and kept in the fridge ready to bake.

thegirlwhoateeverything.com

Guiltless Alfredo Sauce

2 C low-fat milk

1/3 C (3 oz) low fat cream cheese
2 T flour
1 t salt
1 T butter
3 garlic cloves
1 C grated Parmesan cheese

Place milk, cream cheese, flour, and salt in a blender and blend until smooth. In a non-stick sauce pan, melt butter on med-high heat and add garlic. Let the garlic saute for about 30 seconds, you don’t want to burn it.Then add milk mixture to the pan. Stir constantly for about 3 or 4 minutes or until it just comes to a simmer. Keep stirring and let it cook for a few minutes more. It should be much thicker now.

When it’s nice and thickened remove the pan from the heat. Add the cheese, stir it up and then cover immediately. Let stand for at least 10 minutes before using. It will continue to thicken upon standing. Also, if you have leftovers in the fridge, the sauce will thicken almost into a solid. Just re-heat and add a little milk and it will be back to normal again.

ourbestbites.com

Herb Tomato Soup

In a large sauce pan
Melt 1/4 c. butter
Cook 1 c. diced onions until tender
Add:
1 (20 oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, undrained
1 (6 oz.) can of tomato paste
1 Tbsp. snipped fresh basil or 1 tsp. dry basil
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
4 c. chicken broth

Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 30-40 minute. Remove from heat. Let cool and blend until puree. Return to sauce pan and heat through.

Southwest Taco Soup

3 chicken breasts
Valentina hot sauce
2 cans chicken broth
3 cans italian stewed tomatoes
1 bunch cilantro, with the stems removed
salt to taste
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans sweet corn, drained and rinsed

Stick the chicken breasts in a crock pot and smother with Valentina hot sauce. Cook on high for three hours or until you can shred up the chicken with a fork. Add the chicken broth. Blend the stewed tomatoes until smooth then add the cilantro and pulse a few times. Add the tomato mixture to the crock pot, then the corn and black beans and salt. I also like to add some more hot sauce here because I like it spicy, but this part is optional. Let cook for about 1 more hour. Serve in individual bowls. Top with cheddar cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips.

Makes a big batch. Freezes very well.

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

3/4 c. shortening
1 1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. milk
Beat until creamed then add:
3 cups quick oats
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
Mix at low speed just until blended. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls unto cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.
We add different extras to the cookie base, this time we did milk chocolate chips and toasted coconut and they were really yummy. Other yummy versions:
butterscotch chips
mini peanut butter cups
white chocolate chips with macadamia nuts
raisins
m&m’s
white chocolate and dried cranberry
chocolate, mini marshmallows, and chopped almonds
You really can’t go wrong. Enjoy!

Favoritefamilyrecipes.com