Fresh Salsa

I used to HATE the taste of cilantro. Boy am I glad that my tastes buds changed during my first pregnancy, because now I LOVE cilantro. This salsa will disappear fast! This is just a basic recipe and can be altered very easily according to your preference.

3 large tomatoes (you can use a 29oz can of tomatoes if you must, but isn't as good as fresh)
1/2 onion
3 jalapenos (or more if you want it hotter)*
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
1-2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
2 tsp salt (or to taste)

Use a food processor or knife to finely dice all ingredients. Combine in a bowl and serve with tortilla chips or with any other Mexican dish!

Yields: 6 cups

*Tip - The heat of the jalapenos is found mostly in the veins (the white inside part) and the seeds. If you don't want it as hot, then strip out and discard the veins and seeds before dicing.

Cool and Creamy Cucumber Salad

This dish is so yummy, my Austrian family would serve it as a side dish often in the summer. (I lived near Vienna, Austria as a nanny in 2000). I brought this recipe home with me because I loved it so much.

My girls have been eating ever since they were babies and gobble it up.

2 cucumbers
½ cup fat free plain yogurt
½ cup fat free sour cream (or low fat)
2 TB (at least) fresh dill, diced (only use fresh)
2 TB white vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar

Peel cucumbers and slice thin and set aside. Stir all remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Add cucumbers to the creamy mixture and stir until cucumbers are completely covered. Serve cold immediately or after a few hours in the refrigerator for it to taste even better!

Mom Whiting's Pumpkin Pie

Made from pumpkins grown in Trevor's childhood home garden, and lovingly canned by his mother. This was my first pumpkin pie I've ever made and it just screamed of Fall goodness.



Pumpkin Pie by Karen Whiting
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tsp. cinnnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs
1 1/2 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 c. milk, scalded

Unbaked 9" pie shell (make ahead from scratch or from store)

Mix all dry ingredients in large bowl.

Add scalded milk and stir to dissolve sugar.

Add slightly beaten eggs, pumpkin and vanilla. Blend well.

Pour into unbaked 9" pie shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 5 minutes, then lower to 325. Bake 50 to 60 minutes, until knife comes out clean.

Yield: 1 pie

Banana Bread

We often enjoy this moist banana bread recipe that my sis in law, Kari, shared with me. The smell of banana bread baking in the oven... Ahhh, just heavenly.


3 bananas
1/2 cup butter, slightly softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
3 tblsp buttermilk* (see below how to make your own)
2 cups flour


In a small bowl, mash bananas and set aside. Mix butter and sugar together until creamy. Add in eggs, vanilla and buttermilk, mixing well. Add dry ingredients and the mashed bananas alternatively to the batter, until completely combined.

Grease a bread loaf pan and pour batter in. I find that this recipe make one LARGE loaf, or one regular sized one and a mini loaf. I like to make the latter because the girls get a kick out of the mini loaf. (okay, so do I).

Bake 325 F for 1 hour or until when toothpick inserted comes out dry. The mini loaf will be done sooner, around 30 minutes or so.

*If you don't have any buttermilk on hand (I never do), you can make your own!

Buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup milk

Combine and let sit for 15 minutes. The milk will start to curdle and there you go...buttermilk!

Black Bean Salsa

I just discovered this tasty salsa last weekend at a party for the first time. Then again at a baby shower today! My friend Nicole was kind enough to let me take some extra home! I'm addicted. This recipe is from Julie Clark.

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

2 tomatoes, chopped in chunks

1 avacado, chopped in chunks

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro

chopped green onions (to taste)

1 envelope italian dressing

Mix italian dressing according to packet directions in medium bowl. Add remaning ingredients and serve with tortilla chips!

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Just about everyone knows and loves croissant sandwiches,

found at practically every baby shower or brunch party.

But why wait for those special occasions?

You can make them NOW

with regular bread if you don't have croissants

and they're still really yummy!

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

1 canned chicken, fully cooked (found near tuna section)
1-2 celery stalks, chopped
Mayo or Miracle Whip
Grapes sliced in half (optional)
Walnuts or cashews, chopped (optional)
Bread or croissant
Pepper (optional)

Open can of chicken, drain out liquid. Empty chicken into a medium bowl. Add chopped celery, grapes, nuts and desired amount of either mayonnaise or miracle whip to make a creamy mixture. Slather onto a slice of bread or croissant and add fresh ground pepper on top if you’d like!

Sliced Baked Potatoes

Sliced Baked Potatoes

4 medium potatoes with skins, washed (or however many you need)
1 tsp salt
3-4 tblsp melted butter
2-3 tsp Thyme (or other herbs of your choice)
4 tblsp grated mozzarella cheese

1. Cut potatoes into thin slices but not ALL the way through. Use a handle of a spoon to prevent knife from cutting all the way.

2. Put potatoes in a baking dish. Fan them open slightly.

3. Drizzle melted butter evenly over the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt and herbs.

4. Bake potatoes at 425 F for 50 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese. Bake for another 10-15 minutes until potatoes are soft when tested with a fork.

Enjoy!

These are a superb side dish to homemade chicken nuggets, and just about any other meal too.