cooking

I have been hungry for nachos. So last week I bought tortilla chips and the fixings for salsa. Today I had a chance to cook. While the skinned chicken thighs were simmering I made salsa. My recipe is a variation of one that I made while I was a cook in a night club.

Jack Mann's Salsa

3 lb jalapenos
3 lbs green peppers
3 lbs onion
1 No. 10 of stewed tomatoes

Trim tops off jalapenos, seed green peppers, remove onion peels. Cut everything to fit in the chute of a meat grinder. Grind in order of ingredients. CAUTION: Wear rubber gloves and DO NOT sniff fumes while grinding or mixing. Will make about two gallons.

A teaspoon is absolutely delicious on a bowl of chili.

My variation:

4 oz jalapenos
8 oz green peppers
8 oz onions
2 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp liquid mesquite smoke
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
1/2 - 1 tsp salt
2 15 1/2 oz cans stewed tomatoes or 2 - 3 lbs of fresh tomatoes if you have them

Seed green peppers. Chunk onions, garlic, green pepper and put in food processor; add liquid smoke, salt. Decide how hot you would like your salsa. I have people who don't like much heat(wusses) so I seed 3 of the 4 jalapenos before putting them in the food processor. Run food processor until everything is medium to finely chopped. Scrap into a medium bowl. Dump tomatoes and cilantro (if using) into food processor and give it a whirl. Scrape into the medium bowl; mix well. Get out chips and taste. Adjust salt and heat. Taste some more. Makes 1 to 1 1/2 quarts.

When we have friends over that I know like some heat I will use 8 oz. of jalapenos unseeded in one batch and then make the milder batch. If I am desperate for some extra heat I will chop some jalapenos in a separate small bowl to add to my bowl of salsa. My sister doesn't like the taste of cilantro so when she comes I leave it out.

Nachos were very good. They hit the spot. I have some left-over chicken and the broth, of course. So, some time next week I will probably make chicken-n-noodles because that is one of Hubby's favorite dishes.

I also baked an apple cake. I found Mayamade's recipe referenced on someone else blog (sorry I have forgotten who's) and it looked interesting.

One Bowl Apple Cake
Mayaluna

Ingredients:

* 2 cups finely diced, peeled and cored apples (about 2 apples)
* 1 cup sugar
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1 egg
* 1 tsp. baking soda
* 1 tsp. cinnamon
* 1/4 tsp. salt
* 1 tsp. vanilla
* 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
* 1 cup flour

Make:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
* Into large bowl add diced apples and sugar. Let stand for about 15 minutes.
* Pour in oil and egg. Stir.
* Add dry ingredients. Stir.
* Add vanilla and walnuts. Stir. It will be quite stiff, don't worry.
* Pour into a well greased and floured 8 inch square pan. Bake for 45 minutes @ 350 degrees.
* Cool in pan for 10 minutes on a cake rack.
* Dust top with confectioners sugar before serving.

I made it and it tasted good. I thought it was a little heavy and too moist but good. So me being me I made a few changes.

I cut the sugar to 1/2 cup and I added 1/2 tsp of powdered stevia extract.
The flour was cut to 1/2 cup and I added 1/2 cup of almond flour.
Instead of vegetable oil I used used ghee (clarified butter).
I used pecans instead of walnuts.
Then I tweaked the spices. I added a 1/4 tsp of nutmeg, 1/8 tsp of allspice, and 1/8 tsp of cardamom. (from about.com:Southern Foods)

Hubby, Sister Suzy and I really liked the changes. The cake was more cake-like, not as dense and moist. I tried to take a picture but they were way too fuzzy!

Have a good day!

Judy