Sunday, November 7, 2010

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

3 comments:

Gypsy said...

It all sounds so good! I don't have a food processor so I quit trying to chop everything for salsa a long time ago. I just buy a jar of Drew's organic, hot.

Judy said...

Next time we are in town at the local organic grocery store (I live fifty miles from it) I will look for it and give it a try.

Kristin said...

Judy,
I saw your T-shirt quilt on Carzy Shortcut QUilts. I wanted to know if you liked doing it that way. I make T-shirt quilts and have never done a "quilt as you go" quilt but saw this and thought it might work. How did it do for you? How does the back end up turning out? They only have one picture posted. If you have more I would love to see them. Also if you have any advise for doing a quilt as you for T-shirt quilt that would be GREAT! Please e-mail me at KRHinKY@aol.com.
Thanks!
Kristin