Roasted Salsa

Now, I've dabbled with a few different salsa recipes in the past. My fav was a pineapple and black bean that I made months ago. But I've never really made a "I think I could eat this on anything" kind of salsa. I mean, when you have pineapple and black beans in it, you limit your options just a bit...not much, but I'm not sure I would have put that on say...eggs. In my constantly renewed efforts to eat healthy, salsa is a real good go-to. Its so much better for you than most other condiments. Especially when homemade. You can control and/or omit things like salt and sugar. This recipe is super easy and does just that. No sugar and minimal salt. I'm sure you could actually omit the salt. When I think about it I probably should have since most often we go to town on salsa with tortilla chips that have salt on them. Note to self.

This. Is. Easy. And makes a hearty portion of salsa. I adapted it from a recipe that I saw online but can't currently find. I was eating this stuff when it was still hot, temp wise, cause I just didn't care. It was also hot, spice wise, but again, didn't care and I loooove spicy food. Roasting all the veggies gives it some awesome flavor. So here it is....uber good, roasted salsa.

INGREDIENTS:
14 roma tomatoes
2 yellow onions
10 serrano peppers
5 cloves garlic
1 bunch cilantro
1 teas salt

*Slice tomatoes in half and place cut side up on a sheet pan. Peel and slice onions in half and again, cut side up. Cut the caps off the peppers and peel the garlic and place both on the pan.
*Roast at 375 for 45 minutes, or until your peppers start to go black.
*Put in a food processor along with chopped cilantro and salt. Process until desired consistency.

Spicy Potstickers

Today I am thankful for my husband. I saved the best for last. Al is the most amazing person to ever come into my life. We are so close, I never imagined loving someone and sharing so much with someone. In the   15 months of dating, 6 months of engagement, and almost 11 months of marriage...I have found out more about who I am suppose to be, because of him. He's also hilarious, intelligent, considerate, and genuine.

Perhaps I'm thankful for him today too, cause I made dinner for one tonight. And I made something that Al looooves! I have some ready to go for a snack when he gets home from school. This is a favorite of mine too, I think its because it reminds me of being back in China. This was street food. I love street food!! Ha! The key to these bad boys is the crispy bottom. It makes the dish. I'm not gonna fry them in tons of oil to get it though. The way I have this recipe it makes about 20, depends on how much you stuff in, I usually shoot for about a tablespoon. Anyway, enough jabbering-lets get to the potstickers!! Oh! First, I will say that I usually pair it with a little dippin' sauce. I mix a couple tablespoons of low-sodium soy sauce with a dash of rice vinegar, a sprinkling of brown sugar and some crushed red pepper...it gets the job done. :)

INGREDIENTS:
potsticker wrappers
1/2 lb of ground pork
3 green onions, chopped
1 fresno pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
splash of rice vinegar
1 teas hoisin sauce
1/2 teas chinese five spice
cooking spray
water

*In a bowl mix pork, onions, pepper, garlic, vinegar, hoisin, and chinese five spice. Make sure everything is well incorporated.
*Take a wrapper, lay it flat in your hand. Pile in the middle, about a tablespoon of the pork mixture. Dab finger tip in water, wet the edge of half the wrapper. Fold in on itself and crimp the edges. Making sure it's all sealed. Place wrappers on a sheet with a damp towel and cover as you keep forming them.
*Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, spray cooking oil and then place in, edges up, your potstickers. Cook for about 4-5 mins cover on, making sure the bottom gets crispy brown, but not burnt. 30 seconds before removing from the skillet, pour a few tablespoons of water into the pan and cover quickly with a lid. Let the steam finish off the potstickers and then remove from skillet.
*Eat them right away, they don't hold heat too well, but trust me, they eat up fast anyways!

Lentil Loaf

Today I am thankful for my parents. I got to pick them up from the airport today, they were off escaping the winter by golfing in Arizona for the past week. I got to puppy sit for their dog-loved having another animal in the house. But back to what I'm thankful for, my parents...there really isn't much to say except that I was once an unruly teenager and now, finally, at the age of 25 I can say that I am friends with my parents.

I'm going to call this dish a work in progress. I loosely followed the recipe from this vegan blog. When I make this again in an (inevitable) week or two, I will most likely put 2/3 in a food processor and blend. This is because I had some consistency issues. I would also add a little more ketchup into the mix....I've accounted for that in this recipe. But taste wise...fantastic. Al asked if I put "meatloaf spice" on it. HA! Oh, he'll be a vegetarian yet! :]

INGREDIENTS:
1 bag lentils, cooked
1 onion, chopped
1/2 a sleeve of ritz crackers, crushed
1/2 bag of frozen veggie mix(carrots, peas, and beans)
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
1 teas garlic powder

*Heat oven to 350.
*Put lentils, onions, veggies, apple sauce, and ketchup in a large bowl. Mix well adding the garlic powder and crackers.
*Process a portion in the food processor. Mix back together.
*Pack in a loaf pan, top with ketchup. Cook in the oven for 45-50 min.
*Enjoy!

Tuesday Choupi

Last night proved to be a fun one in the kitchen. I've mentioned it before, but Tuesdays often end up being a soup day. Making something you can have over the next few days. This one ended up being spur of the moment, spontaneous if you will. I'm calling it the Tuesday Choupi. Choupi, being a cross between a chili and a soup. Its hearty like a chili, but not quite all there to put it in such a category. I was tossing in things left and right. "Oh, I have a few potatoes!" & "Lets put in carrots!!" may have been things I said. This dish has some kick to it, so feel free to modify the spice down to your liking. It makes a ton! My pot was simmering to the brim with this concoction. And not gonna lie, it turned out awesome. Once again, when Al came home, he inhaled a huge portion. Gotta love him.

TIP:
I am constantly using chipotle peppers in adobo sauce in my dishes. Not wanting the to waste a whole can, try this out for size. Take the whole can when you first need it and throw it in a food processor, process until nice and smooth. Use what you need the first time, and then put the rest in a ziplock baggie, place in the freezer. It makes it so easy to then, when you need it, break off a chunk and use! An extra step the first time around and a super time saver all subsequent times!

INGREDIENTS:
olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
1 bell pepper, chopped
salt and pepper
2 tbls chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, food processed
2 tbls ground cumin
1 tbls ground corriander
1 tbls chili powder
1 teas oregano
1 4 oz can diced jalapenos
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
water(refill the tomato can with water, dump in...twice)
4 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
2 cans of white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup bulgur

*In a LARGE pot, heat a bit of olive oil over medium-high. Add in the onion and garlic, sweat out for 3 or 4 mins. Throw in the carrot and bell pepper, throw in some s&p and cook until the veggies are tender. Sprinkle on all the seasonings and the chipotle peppers as well as the diced jalapenos. Work together so everything is covered in spicy goodness.
*Pour in the can of diced tomatoes in their juices. Refill the empty can with water, pour in and do it one more time. Adding in a total of 2 cans of water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add in the potatoes and let it boil for 5 min and then reduce heat to a solid simmer, place the cover over the pot, tilted.
*Add in the beans and continue to simmer for about 10 mins, again mostly covered. Then add in the bulger. Simmer for another 10 min with the cover fully on, check to see if the bulger and potatoes are done. As soon as they are...serve!