Garden Fresh Canned Salsa

With the help of my friend Katie, I just canned my first batch of homemade garden fresh salsa. We got a lot of our ingredients from the local farmer's market. This recipe is wonderful! Enjoy with your favorite tortilla chips, in taco soup, enchiladas or just straight from the jar (yes, it's that good!).







2 gallons of tomatoes, peeled and quartered
(Boil for 10-15 seconds, then run under cold water to peel)
4-6 large green peppers-chopped
4-6 large red or yellow peppers-chopped
4-6 large onions-chopped
2 cups white vinegar
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 cup salt (1/3 is probably enough)
2 Tbsp. chili powder
(2) 4 oz. cans diced green chilies
2-3 jalapenos diced (we used only 1, the seeds are what makes it hot)

In a large heavy duty kettle cook all ingredients on medium heat for 2 hours until thickened, stirring occasionally. Liquid will come to the top. Skim off as much liquid as you desire, and save for soup broth. Using a funnel, pour salsa into jars and wipe the rim clean with a paper towel. Place flat lids in hot water before putting on jars, then screw on lid firmly but not too tight. Place jars in your water bath canner. Processing time starts when the water begins to boil.

Processing times:

Pint jar: 15-20 minutes
Quart jar: 20-25 minutes

After removing jars from canner, place them on a towel on the counter and cover with the towel. Do not move for 24 hours. You will start to hear a popping sound indicating the seal. You can check the seal by pushing on the lid.

*This recipe requires a lot of chopping, so to save time I would definitely recommend using a food processor.

Amazing German Chocolate Cake

This german chocolate cake recipe actually bakes with the frosting in the cake! I liked it because it toned down the sweetness of the frosting and made the cake moister.

1 package (18.25 ounces) plain German chocolate cake mix
1 container (15 ounces) coconut pecan frosting
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs

1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly mist a 12-cup Bundt pan with vegetable oil spray, then dust with flour. Shake out the excess flour. Set the pan aside.

2. Place the cake mix, frosting, water, oil, and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven.

3. Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger, 48 to 52 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes. Run a long, sharp knife around the edge of the cake and invert it onto a rack to cool completely, 20 minutes more.

4. Slide the cake onto a serving platter and slice.

Spicy Honey-Glazed Chicken

The recipe has a little sweet and a little spice, and can be made in 15 minutes!

1/4 cup honey

2 T frozen orange juice concentrate
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1/8 t red pepper flakes
1 T butter
1/2 t olive oil
boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste
cilantro, chopped
green onions, chopped

In a small bowl, combine honey, orange juice, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

In a skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium heat, add chicken, salt and pepper to taste, and brown, about 4 minutes on each side. Add honey mixture to skillet and cook, turning to thoroughly cook the chicken. Cook 2 more minutes until sauce begins to thicken.

To serve, place chicken on plate, spoon sauce over the top and sprinkle with cilantro and green onions.

Serving suggestion: serve with rice!

Oreo Milkshakes

I know, you're probably wondering who needs a recipe for oreo milkshakes... well, I do! Here's one I tried tonight. It was yummy :-)

12 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
1-1/2 cups milk
1 pt. (2 cups) vanilla ice cream, softened
2 Tbsp. chocolate syrup

Chop or coarsely break cookies. Place milk, ice cream and chocolate syrup in blender. Add chopped cookies; cover. Blend on high speed until smooth.

Tomato Basil Pasta

I love this recipe! It's so easy to make and has excellent flavor. Today I made this pasta with garden fresh basil and tomatoes. Mmmm, mmmm, good! Here's how you make it:

pasta cooked - I like penne pasta
crumbled tomato basil feta cheese
grape or cherry tomatoes (you can use larger - just cut them)
basil - fresh or dried
olive oil

Mix all ingredients and serve!

Fall Off The Bone BBQ Ribs

I tried this recipe tonight, and the meat really did fall right off the bones! I love BBQ ribs, and always figured they would be hard to make. This recipe is super easy, and the meat was delicious!!!

Ingredients:
2 racks/slabs pork baby back ribs
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
8 ounces barbeque sauce

Instructions:
Cut each rack/slab of ribs in half; sprinkle salt, pepper and garlic powder on each side; place in large broiler pan. Turn oven on to broil, 500°; broil ribs on top rack for five minutes on each side (this will seal in the juices). Then turn oven down to 250°; wrap ribs in heavy-duty foil; place back in pan in the oven for 4 hours.

Have grill ready; take ribs out of oven lather them with barbeque sauce on both sides; grill each side for 8 to 10 minutes and serve.

Note: If you don't have a grill then just take ribs out of pan and lather them with BBQ sauce; heat oven back up to 500°. Place ribs uncovered on top rack for 7 to 8 minutes on each side.

Broccoli Salad

2 heads of broccoli, chopped finely
1 lb bacon, fried and crumbled
1 small package(2 oz) almonds, toasted
1/2 small red onion chopped finely
1/2 pkg. light golden raisins
1 cup frozen petite peas

Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sugar
2 T vinegar
salt and pepper

I love this salad. I've seen lots of alterations, but this way is my favorite. Some omit the peas and almonds and add sunflower seeds, others use grapes instead of raisins. I usually use rice vinegar and add the almond accents and bacon just before serving. I don't like soggy bacon. Suit yourself.

Em

Cafe Rio Rice

Here's a recipe to go with the Sweet Pork Salad recipe below :-) I made Sweet Pork Salad with this rice for my family tonight and they LOVED it!

3 c water
4 t chicken bouillon
4 t garlic –minced
½ bunch cilantro
1 can green chiles—or equivalent fresh
¾ t salt
1 T butter
½ onion
3 c rice (see note)

Blend cilantro, green chiles and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes.

NOTE: This recipe makes a lot of rice. You may consider cutting everything in half for smaller groups.