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...

Lemon Chicken with Cucumber Salsa This is a great meal for Spring or Summer.  My husband even likes to eat the cucumber salsa!!!  Chicken Breasts ___ 2 lemons (zest about a tablespoon and juice 1/2 C) 3 Garlic Cloves, chopped or minced 2 Tablespoons olive oil (or canola) 2 Tsp Dried Oregano 1Tsp Paprika 1/2 Tsp Salt 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper ___ 1/2 Medium cucumber (I use the English kind) 2 Tbs Chopped Red Onion 1/4 C Chopped Red Bell Pepper Marinade/Dressing Mix lemon zest, juice, garlic, oil and spices. Reserve 2 Tbs for the vegetables. Marinade Chicken in dressing. Grill chicken, mix vegetables with reserved marinade.

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...

Fantastically Yummy Red Pepper Tomato Soup I first made this soup maybe almost 10 years ago.  I really loved it and everyone else who tried it loved it too.  I think my memories of it taking a while to make and of how expensive red peppers can be made me not make it for a while.  But it is TOTALLY WORTH the cost for red peppers and the time it takes to make.  Growing up, I was never really a fan of tomato soup, but there is something about this that transcends the “tomato soup” you grew up with!  I can just see that in Indiana in the Fall, this could be a less expensive and extremely fresh endeavor.  Start planning your tomato plants, everyone! Fresh Rosemary, Thyme, and Basil would be awesome in this as well! I got this from the internet long before Pinterest and Facebook!  It originally came from the Junior League of Annapolis.  Can you just imagine some ladies sitting down to some soup and tea sandwiches?  Also, I noticed that I p...

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:         ...