d's delights- cooking and crafts

Bi-coastal Salsa Chop up these ingredients and put in a big bowl: 3 cloves garlic 3 green onions 1 small or ½ large red onion 1 small or 1 large Vidalia or sweet onion (1/2 jalepeno) 3-5 Tomatoes 1 green bell pepper 1 red bell pepper 1 orange bell pepper 1 yellow bell pepper (purple bell peppers are nice too, if available) ½ bunch chopped cilantro Mix together: 1-2 tbs red wine vinegar ¼ C lime juice (juice of 1 large  lime or two small ones) Grated lime peel Pepper ¼ tbs ground cumin 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp olive oil (or other salad oil of your choice) I adapted this recipe from two different salsa recipes.   One was from an LA Weigh Loss cook book, and another was from the South Beach cookbook… so, I named this “Bi-Coastal Salsa”! There is no cooking involved here, but the cutting can be tedious if it’s not your favorite thing to do. I like the peppers and onions to be chopped quite fine.   Putting them through a processor is a...

Rio Black Beans This tuned out a happy accident because I started to use an unintended Pinterest recipe before finding the one that I had planned to make. Garlic, chopped Olive Oil 2 cans of black beans (not rinsed or drained 1 6 oz can tomato juice 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp dried oregano Salt and pepper Fresh cilantro Saute the garlic in oil. Add beans, tomato juice, cumin and oregano, salt and pepper.   Bring to boil.   Simmer until thick.   Add cilantro before serving.

Grilled Honey Lime Chicken Chicken Breasts ___ Juice of 1 Lime 2 Tbs Honey 1 Tsp-ish cumin Handful of chopped Cilantro 2 Tbs Olive Oil ___ Montreal Seasoning Mix juice, honey, cumin, cilantro and oil to make marinade.  Marinate chicken at least 10 minutes. Add seasoning on marinated chicken and grill. Great with Mexican Chunk Salad.

Marinade 2 tablespoon olive oil  2 tablespoons white wine vinegar some chopped fresh cilantro (about a tablespoon) pinch of salt and fresh ground pepper 1/2 teaspoon cumin Fresh oregano (1 teaspoon) Brown porkchops on each side, brush on marinade. Grill or pan cook Porkchops. Dressing for corn salsa 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar  2 tablespoons olive oil  1 teaspoon sugar  pinch of salt, fresh ground pepper  1/2 teaspoon cumin  Fresh oregano Salsa  one can of whole kernel corn  3 to 4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped 3 to 5 chopped green onions (1/2 c)  a handful of cilantro, chopped Mix dressing with salsa. Serve with pork chops and a bed of fresh greens.

Calico Coleslaw   This is a recipe that I made way back in 2005, on May 7.  This year, I made it for our Mother’s Day BBQ at my brother-in-law and new sister-in-law’s house.  I made note that it was really good, but that it took a lot of prep work.  Well, I was able to cut down the prep work by using my big food processor that I did not have way back then.   It’s very colorful, and tastes as beautiful as it is!   First, make the dressing: DRESSING 1 orange (zest and juice) ¼ C Rice vinegar (I used a mix of apple cider and white wine because my rice vinegar was expired) 1 ½ tablespoon vegetable oil 2 tablespoons honey (umm, I always add more honey…) 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro  (ok, just do like Rachael Ray and eyeball it!) ½ teaspoon salt.   Zest the orange (about a teaspoon worth), and juice to measure at least 2 tablespoons worth. (I just use what it gives me, even if it’s more!)  Mix the ingredients together and...

Curried Chicken Salad 1 ½ C Mayonnaise 1 Tbs Curry Powder ½ Tsp Ground Ginger 3 Chicken Breasts, cooked, shredded* 3 stalks celery, chopped ½ small red onion, chopped ¼ C (A handful) chopped fresh cilantro   Mix mayo, curry and ginger in a small bowl. Put chicken, celery, onion and cilantro in a big bowl. Add mayo mixture and mix until evenly spread.   This is definitely not your momma’s chicken salad! I found this in a South Beach Diet cookbook.   Instead of the mayo, it had yogurt. I remember trying it that way, and thinking it was ok, but not what I wanted.   So, I thought I would reboot it with mayonnaise instead.   I love the nutty flavor of the curry and celery!   It might be nice to add some crunchy almond on top.   I could even see adding some dried apricot…or cherries? *I cooked my chicken in the crock pot with a little salt and pepper so it would cook while I was away.   You could also boil or bake...

We all have pitch-ins to go to- whether it’s with church, friends, family… We all have to go to them at some time.   I confess that I want the dish that I bring to be ALL GONE when we are done.   This means it was good.   I also hate it when someone else brings a similar dish, and so mine doesn’t get eaten as much!   One way to avoid that is by bringing unusual dishes to a pitch-in.   (But not too unusual- because then no one will eat it!) However, you really don’t want to be slaving over this dish for hours.   So, here are two favorite side dishes that are easy to whip up and always yummy!   In my next post, I will share two fruit dishes that you can take to pitch ins. Apple-Sweet Potato Salad 1 ½ Lb. Sweet Potato 1-2 Large Apples (Granny Smiths work great!   Or use one red apple and one green one for color and taste variety.   I leave the skin on) 1-2 Large Celery Ribs Dressing:         ...