It's funny because it's SO true!

Homemade CHILI'S Salsa

The Superbowl is always a big deal at my house. I always try something new, and it's normally a big hit....

All except for the time I made some chocolate peanut butter surprise cookies-- chocolate on the inside with a peanut butter cookie in the center-- that was the same year as the peanut butter/salmonella fiasco and yes, my husband and I both got slightly sick from the cookies. But we didn't realize it was from the cookies, so after we got better, we ate more cookies, which made us sick again. I've never made those cookies again, although they were good.  BUT, I DIGRESS...

This year my husband-- whose favorite snack is a plate of nachos-- wanted a Mexican theme. He also wanted the yummy taste of the salsa from the chain restaurant Chili's, which we frequent from time to time, so he scoured the internet, and fount a mock version of it. I wrote a few extra articles for work, and saved enough money to get a new food processor, my 1-cup size processor just wouldn't work for this recipe.

Here's my adjustments to the yummy recipe he found online:

(1) 14.5 oz can tomatoes with green chilies (with juice)
(1) 14.5 oz can tomatoes (with juice)
4 teaspoons (or to taste) canned--not pickled-- jalapenos
(1) 4.5 oz can of green chilies
1/4 cup yellow onion, diced
1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/3 garlic clove (optional)
2 teaspoon fresh cilantro


1. Place jalapenos, onions and garlic in food processor for a few seconds, until blended.
2. Add both cans of tomatoes, green chilies, lime juice, cilantro, salt, sugar and cumin.
3. Process until blended, but do not puree.
4. Cover and chill for a few hours, or over night, to let the flavors blend.
5. Serve with thin corn tortilla chips.


...... Now if we could just find (and perfect) Chili's beefy cheese Skillet Queso dip I'd be in Heaven!

Potato Diet

So my husband heard about "The Potato Diet" on the radio and diet and decided to give it a whirl at the beginning of the new year.  So much for me testing out recipes on him, now, (well... at least for breakfast and lunch.)

So far he hasn't gotten sick of all the potatoes (that he's admitted) and lost 2 1/2 pounds in the first week alone. I guess that's something at least! I've eaten potatoes a few times, but not consistency. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE spuds, but I don't want to get overloaded on them.

**** UPDATE***
He lost 3 pounds the second week for a total of 5 1/2 pounds!!!

Sunflower Seeds

I must confess that I haven't ever picked or roasted sunflower seeds myself, but sunflowers are among my favorite flowers-- they're just so beautiful and full of personality- and the seeds are just so yummy, that when I had the opportunity to write an article for eHow for how to prepare sunflower seeds I jumped at it, and wrote several articles about it, actually.

Follow this link for information on how long you should soak seeds in salty water, and how long they should be kept in the roasting oven for yummy nut perfection.

Just "Eat It"

Thank goodness for Dr. Seus' "Green Eggs and Ham" book. I've used it for quality time around the house, but I also quote it from time to time when introducing a new food, or when trying to convince one of my three children that we REALLY have had a certain food for dinner before! My two favorite quotes"EAT THEM, EAT THEM, YOU WILL SEE!"  & "TRY THEM, TRY THEM, AND YOU MAY I SAY!" (Thankfully my other children normally chime in and encourage the obstinate child at this point.)

This comes to mind because yesterday as I was in the grocery store, in a flurry of things to get done that day, I decided to get the simply standby for the kids' lunch- hot dogs.  What kid doesn't like hot dogs.... um, apparently my 4 y.o. son. In the car he informed me that if I "put hot dogs on his plate" he would cry. Yes, he told me this, in no uncertain terms.

Perhaps I should introduce the kids to the Michael Jackson-inspired, Weird Al Yankovic song "Eat It"

Some of my favorite lyrics from his song are:

"Don't want to argue, I don't want to debate

Don't want to hear about what kind of food you hate

You won't get no dessert 'till you clean off your plate

So eat it

Don't you tell me you're full

Just eat it, eat it, eat it, eat it" 

Taste of Home Cooking School

Last night I attended a Taste of Home Cooking School, hosted at the Gwinnett Civic Center. This was my 3rd time attending the show, and just as enjoyable as ever! Everyone who attends received a goody bag filled with magazines, coupons, flyers and samples of products- this time we got a 4 oz. sample of Mahatma brown rice, and a 8 oz (juice box sized) of Kitchen Basics Chicken Stock.

The highlight of the night for me, was watching our ever- hilarious instructor, Michelle Roberts demonstrate how to cook about 10 items from the "Brand Name Cookbook" magazine that as included in our goody bag. Here's what Michelle demonstrated this year:

Buffalo Chex Mix
Upside Down Banana Pecan French Toast
Gingered Carrot Soup
Bacon, Cheddar and Chive Scones
Apricot Beef Stir Fry
Corn Bread Stuffed Turkey Breast
Sausage Stuffed Red Bell Peppers
Chicken Balsamico
Cookie Dough Truffles
French Cranberry-Apple Pie



By far, the most tempting treat of the night was the Cookie Dough Truffles.... the tip here (if you don't have a fancy schmancy candy-fork is to use a plastic fork and pop off the two middle tines so that the chocolate can drip down carefully.  (Truffle photo taken from the TOH website)


** I searched the TOH website for all these recipes, but only found a few so far, I'm assuming they'll publish the recipes after the cooking school tour, but I'm not sure.

Happy Cooking!

Tortilla Pinwheels

As I gazed into my seemingly empty refrigerator I was reminded of a recipe my mom had made AGES ago when I was growing up. My mom was making appetizers for a party, and needed something small, simple, and spectacular looking. I'm not sure where she saw the recipe or got the idea from, but since then I've seen the same basic recipe on the internet and in cookbooks.

Take room temperature tortillas and slather on some cream cheese to the edges. Layer on some deli meats and baby spinach, cheese, or any other toppings you'd like, and then roll the tortilla up. My mom then sliced the tortilla into "coins" (no tooth pick necessary since the cream cheese kept it all together) but I ate it the other day just as a delicious wrap-- mine wasn't quit so colorful as the examples below (mine was only cream cheese, ham, and american cheese) but it really hit the spot!

Ironically on the same day I recreated this long-forgotten creation a friend blogged about a similar dish she'd made (thanks SCHPINKY) and so-doing she gave me the courage to blog about this simple, yet delightful treat. The photo is neither HERS nor mine, I found it online- but it gives you an idea as to how you can take the basic tortilla pinwheel and make it your own, with various deli meats and flavored tortillas. One recipe I found (while looking for photos) suggested avocado dip instead of the cream cheese, and another recipe added powdered ranch mix to the cream cheese.... YUM-O! Experiment away my friends, and let me know what you think.