End of Summer Salsa - So Addicting and Delicious!

I will add Photos later, but if I don't write this one down, I'm sure to forget it!  My friend suggested I try this, so I cannot in any way take the credit for this recipe.  I would have NEVER tried these ingredients together, but it's amazingly addicting!

A couple questions before we start:

1. Do you like Grapefruit?

2. Do you like Avacado?

3. Do you like Cilantro?

4. Do you like Onion?

Yes to all?  Then try this!!!

2 Large Grapefruit peeled, skinned, and chopped

1 large avocado - diced

1 small bunch of cilantro- finely chopped

1/4 Red onion, finely chopped

Mix together and serve over a white fish like Mahi Mahi, Tilapia, or Halibut.  Also good with chips as a regular salsa, or lime-grilled Chicken!

The grapefruit juice will keep the avocado green and letting it chill in the refrigerator over night is always a good idea to help the flavors meld together ever-so-nicely!

ENJOY! :)

Baked Lemon-Basil Pasta

I'll try to get pictures up on this!

In looking through my pantry and trying to figure out dinner, I came up with this recipe.  I'm sure there is something similar out there, but this is what I did and it was highly popular among all who tasted. :)

What You'll Need to feed 2-4 People:

While listening to songs like "Beds are Burning" by Midnight Oil, you'll want to gather up:

3 cups cooked pasta- something that will hold sauce like shells, rotini or even campanelle pasta

1-2 teaspoons Lemon Juice

1 handful Fresh Basil & Oregano chopped

3 Tablespoons Basil Pesto

Salt & Pepper to taste

1/2 Cup Chopped Artichoke Hearts

Shredded Mozzarella (I had some raw mozzarella that I sliced)

1   1/4  Cups whole milk

1 teaspoon Flour or cornstarch mixed with a 1/4 cup milk set aside

While Pasta is cooking, in a saucepan, mix all other ingredients except the 1 t flour or cornstarch mixed with 1/4 c of your milk.  Slowly bring to a simmer, stirring often.  When starting to simmer, add in rest of milk with the flour/cornstarch in it. This will thicken pretty quickly, so watch it!  It should be a cream sauce, similar to mac & cheese.  

Drain pasta and add the cream sauce stirring only enough to get it mixed.  Pour into an oven-save baking dish (I use my little ramekins. but oven safe bowls will do marvelously!)

Top with cheese and broil until cheese is brown and bubbly.  Serve hot! 

ENJOY! :)

Speaking of Salsa....

My mother's Summer Salsa is the best.   SO easy to make!  I hope you enjoy- feel free to leave comments! :)

I'm actually posting this recipe for my little sister who wants it!  Here you go little sis!

-1 Can Fire-roasted tomatoes with garlic

-1 Can "petite diced with chipotle chiles"

-1 bunch of cilantro

-1/2 sweet yellow or white onion

-1 red, orange or yellow sweet bell pepper

Chop all ingredients, add cans and maybe a couple extra tomatoes.   Enjoy!

A Twist on A summer Drink - Virgin Mojitos

This is in no way a real Mojito!  But it's been a great hit at every summer party I take it to! :)  It makes a quick, easy dessert/drink!

All I do is buy a Mojito mixer, 2 liters sprite (not 7-up... sprite is a little more tart) and Vanilla Ice Cream!  I usually use almost 1 full mixer to 4 liters of soda.

To start,  I get a HUGE punch bowl.  Take vanilla ice cream and add it in small chunks to a bowl, pouring the Mojito mixer over it and then the soda over that.  It fizzes up, but stirring it slightly will help.   The vanilla ice cream makes it creamy and delicious while add froth and volume to the mix.

(If you don't want to use a mixer, you could also take mint and boil it down into a simple syrup with 1 cup sugar/1 cup water.  Then use fresh-squeezed lime juice.  This tastes much better, but I end up using the easy version because we can't buy mint out here and I need a drink in a jiffy!)

Enjoy!

Southwestern Goodness Wraps!

Yummy!
About once a month a lady comes into my work and  sells the most amazing homemade tamales. They are delicious plain, but I really like to mix them with other ingredients.  My latest was by far the best! And I'll share it here...


You'll Need:
- 2 Tamales, unwrapped (I remove some, not all, of the corn flour) (the tamales can also be swapped out for grilled chicken, shredded pork or beef, even black beans!!!)
- 3-4 Large Pablano/Pasilla peppers
- 1 Jalapeno
- 2 Cloves Garlic
- 1/2 Onion
- 1/2 Cup Corn
- 1/2 or whole Red Bell Pepper
- Tortilla or wrap (I used the seasoned wrap Jalapeno & Cheese. It was perfect!)

Toppings: homemade Pico De Gallo or Salsa, Avocado, and Cilantro!

First, on a cookie/ jelly roll pan, lay a layer of aluminium foil and roast the pablano peppers on broil until they are nice and blistered.  When they start blackening (the skin) flip and roast like this on all sides.  The skin of the peppers should be bubbled up and very easy to peel off on all sides.  If the very thin outer layer of the peppers don't come off easily, you've not broiled them enough.  They should be on the top or second to top rack to get close to the heat.
*** Please don't let this intimidate you! This is really easy, and these peppers are so mild, smokey and delicious, you won't want to leave them out!!!  I like to even add extra pablanos in.. they are Mexico's favorite pepper, and mine too!***

When they are done, wrap them up in the aluminium foil and put in the fridge to cool enough to handle.

While peppers are in the oven roasting, prepare the rest of the filling for the wraps.
In a frying pan saute finely chopped garlic and jalapeno.  Add in chopped onion. When the onion is getting close to clear, add in corn and chopped red bell pepper.  Also add your tamales (chopped) or chicken, black beans... whatever you have selected to add.)

Salt and pepper filling to taste.  The tamales have cumin and other spices, but if you've only added plain meat or black beans, you may want to add a little other seasoning.  I would suggest a little cumin, cayenne (if you like more heat than the jalapeno gives) and even some citric flavor like lime zest!

While this mix is heating through, remove the pablano peppers from the aluminium foil and the skin will come right off.  Chop the peppers and add them into the mixture.

Burrito-style wrap your filling in a wrap or large tortilla.  Grill, bake or use a frying pan (like a grilled cheese sandwich) and cook the outside of the wrap.  I have a panini press and that is what I used.  It made the wrap nice and crispy!

Serve with Pico De Gallo or salsa, avocado and cilantro.  You may also want to add a little sour cream, but it's great just plain!

I will have to post a recipe for my homemade salsa.  Yummy!!!  But for now, enjoy the wraps and please post any comments or suggestions!

:)