Pioneer Woman's Restaurant-Style Salsa

Inspiration:
I love restaurant-style salsa, so when I saw Pioneer Woman's recipe on my friend Sarah's blog, I had to make it immediately!


Ingredients:

• 1 can (28 Ounce) Whole Tomatoes With Juice
• 2 cans (10 Ounce) Rotel (diced Tomatoes And Green Chilies)
• ¼ cups Chopped Onion
• 1 clove Garlic, Minced
• 1 whole Jalapeno, Quartered And Sliced Thin
• ¼ teaspoons Sugar
• ¼ teaspoons Salt
• ¼ teaspoons Ground Cumin
• ½ cups Cilantro (more To Taste!)
• ½ whole Lime Juice

Instructions:

1. Combine whole tomatoes, Rotel, onion, jalapeno, garlic, sugar, salt, cumin, lime juice, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Pulse until you get the salsa to the consistency you’d like—I do about 10 to 15 pulses. Test seasonings with a tortilla chip and adjust as needed.

2. Refrigerate salsa for at least an hour. Serve with tortilla chips or cheese nachos.

Notes: I used one large jalapeño, including the ribs and seeds. I would describe the salsa as medium-hot. Tim loves spicy food, so I'll probably use two next time. This makes a lot, but we ate the entire batch within a week.

I make my own salsa in summer using fresh tomatoes, but I never had made it in winter. This recipe is so good! I think it may be my favorite salsa of all time.


Liz's Rating: 10/10
Tim's Rating: 9.5/10

Aji Sauce

Inspiration:
Bon Appétit


Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped seeded jalapeño chiles (about 4 large)
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped green onions (about 2 large)
• 1/3 cup coarsely chopped sweet onion (such as Maui or Vidalia)
• 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons (or more) red wine vinegar or fresh lime juice
• 3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Combine jalapeño chiles, green onions, sweet onion, and cilantro in processor; puree until paste forms, scraping down sides of bowl with rubber spatula several times. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and blend until mixture is pourable but some texture still remains.
   
2. Transfer to small bowl. Stir in 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and more vinegar to taste, if desired.
3. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.

Notes:
This sauce tasted really spicy alone, but it was a delicious accompaniment to grilled meat. Will definitely make again.


Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10

Bánh Mì

Inspiration:
My love for bánh mì and a marinade from Cooking Light, seen on Elizabeth's blog.


Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon sugar
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce
  
• 1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
  
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
• 1 pound flank steak, trimmed
• sliced fresh jalapeños, shredded carrots, and cilantro
• baguette

Instructions:

1. To prepare steak, combine first 6 ingredients in a large flat dish. Add steak; cover and marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes, turning occasionally.

2. Prepare grill or broiler.

3. Remove steak from refrigerator; discard marinade. Place steak on grill rack or broiler pan lightly coated with oil; cook until desired doneness.
   
   
4. Slice steak against the grain; pile on baguette with veggies. Top with fish sauce or a combination of fish sauce, fresh ginger, garlic, rice vinegar, lime juice, and sugar.

Notes: These were delicious, but I probably won't make them again. Why? Because we are lucky enough to be able to purchase bánh mì from many nearby Vietnamese-owned restaurants for about $2.50 each. If I didn't have that option, I would be making this often.


Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10

TWD: Savory Corn and Pepper Muffins

Inspiration:
A Tuesdays with Dorie recipe chosen by Rebecca of Ezra Pound Cake and found on page 6 of Baking: From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan.

Notes:
These were really, really good. A bit crumbly. I omitted the bell pepper and added extra corn. We enjoyed them with big bowls of Cumin Chili.
Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 8.5/10

Indian Split-Pea and Vegetable Soup

Inspiration:
The Amazing Race's second pit stop in India
as well as a jalapeño and potatoes from our CSA
and this recipe from Food & Wine


Ingredients:

• 1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach
• 1 cup yellow or green split peas
• 9 cups water, more if needed
• 2 1-inch pieces fresh ginger, peeled, 1 piece chopped
• 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeds and ribs removed, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 4 carrots, cut into 1/4-inch slices
• 1 pound boiling potatoes (about 3), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Instructions:

1. Remove the spinach from the freezer. In a medium saucepan, combine the split peas, 3 cups of the water, the unchopped piece of ginger, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, stirring frequently, until the split peas are tender, about 30 minutes. Add more water if necessary to keep the peas from sticking to the pan.
2. Meanwhile, in a large pot, melt the butter over moderately low heat. Stir in the chopped ginger, the jalapeño, turmeric, coriander, cumin, carrots, potatoes, and the remaining 1 1/4 teaspoons salt. Add the remaining 6 cups water. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are almost tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the spinach and simmer 5 minutes longer.
3. Remove the whole piece of ginger from the cooked split peas and then stir the split peas into the soup. Simmer the soup for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Food & Wine's suggested beverage: "A simple, straightforward, fruity Beaujolais will make a fine accompaniment to this soup. Its vivid cherry and berry flavors will contrast and highlight, not compete with, the earthiness of the dish."

My Notes:
I thought this soup was a bit thin, but the flavors were great. If I make this again, I'll use less water, maybe 2 cups less.

Liz's Rating: 8/10
Tim's Rating: TBD

Next Week on The Amazing Race: Kazakhstan

Brazilian Chicken Stew

Inspiration:
In honor of our favorite reality TV show, The Amazing Race, I am going to attempt a new recipe inspired by the country/countries visited each week. This week, the race begins in California, and they head to Brazil.

I found this recipe for Brazilian Chicken Stew from Food & Wine, which incorporated tomatoes, onions, garlic, and cilantro from our CSA.


Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup peeled and thinly sliced ginger (3 ounces)
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 jalapeños, seeded and chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 medium onions, coarsely chopped
• 2 cups drained canned plum tomatoes, coarsely chopped, juices reserved
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
• 1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
• 3 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• Steamed rice and lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

1. In a food processor, pulse the ginger with the garlic, jalapeños, lemon juice and paprika until finely chopped. Add the water and process to a paste.
2. In a large saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil until shimmering. Add the onions and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the ginger paste and cook until it begins to brown, about 3 minutes. Add half of the tomatoes along with the coconut milk, peanuts, 1/4 cup of the shredded coconut and 2 tablespoons of the cilantro and cook until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
3. Scrape the sauce into a food processor or blender and puree. Return the sauce to the saucepan. Add the stock and the remaining tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of cilantro and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper and simmer over moderate heat until reduced to 5 cups, about 20 minutes. Keep warm.
4. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil until shimmering. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and sauté over moderately high heat until golden and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
5. Add the chicken; season with salt and pepper. Spoon into bowls and garnish with coconut and cilantro. Serve with steamed rice and lemon wedges.

My Notes:
Ideally, we'd have started off with a caipirinha, but alas, we cannot purchase alcohol on Sundays in Minnesota (!), and I didn't plan ahead.

I have to laugh at the "fast" description Food & Wine gives this recipe. I would not describe it as fast, and I wouldn't suggest it to a beginner cook. However, if you have a food processor and some time, this recipe is worth it. The flavors remind us more of Thai food (probably the chili/garlic/ginger combination) than anything I'd expect from South America. It's delicious!


Photography Note:
I am experimenting with taking passable photos in incandescent light as we head into Minnesota darkness for the next few months. I have the best luck when adjusting the "white balance" on my dSLR to incandescent, +2 or +3, and using a tripod. If you have additional suggestions, please share!


Tim's Rating: 9/10
Liz's Rating: 9/10


Next week on The Amazing Race: Brazil (again!)

One-Minute Salsa

Inspiration:
A Cook's Illustrated recipe featured in my CSA newsletter
as well as tomatoes, serrano pepper, onion, garlic, and cilantro from my CSA. (Everything except lime, salt, and ground pepper- I love it when that happens.)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 small serano or jalapeño chile or 1/2 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced
• 1/4 small red onion , peeled and root end removed
• 1 small clove garlic , minced or pressed
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro leaves
  
• 1/4 teaspoon table salt
• pinch ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons lime juice from 1 lime
• 2 small tomatoes (about 3/4 pound), ripe, each cored and cut into eighths, or one (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
  

Instructions:

1. Pulse all ingredients except tomatoes in food processor until minced, about five 1-second pulses, scraping sides of bowl as necessary. Add tomatoes and pulse until roughly chopped, about two 1-second pulses.
   
   To Make Ahead:
   The salsa can be refrigerated, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for up to 2 days. Season with additional lime juice and salt before serving.

Notes:
This took me five minutes, not one minute to make. However, it's worth it because it's SO GOOD. Next time I will add an entire serrano pepper, because we love spicy food.

Liz's Rating: 9/10
Tim's Rating: 9/10

Zucchini, Bean, and Cheese Burritos

Inspiration:
The Saint Paul Farmers' Market Cookbook
as well as zucchini and summer squash from our CSA


Ingredients:

• 2 6-inch zucchini
• 4 wheat tortillas
• 1 cup seasoned refried beans
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup salsa

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Trim the stems of zucchini and cut each one in half lengthwise. Steam zucchini halves, cut side down, until tender, about 6 minutes. They may also be microwaved in a covered dish, with 2 tbsp. water, until tender, about 3 minutes. On each tortilla spread 1/4 cup beans. Place a zucchini half, cut side up, on top of beans. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese and fold up. Place burritos seam side down in a greased baking dish. Top with salsa and more cheese. Bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is bubbly.

Recipe Notes:
"The zucchini inside these will surprise them!"

My Notes:
This was an ok vegetarian recipe. I think it could be improved to a very good vegetarian recipe with a few modifications. I would sauté onions with jalapeño and either taco seasoning or cumin and add it to the burritos. It just needed a bit more zip. I would also use some Monterey jack along with the cheddar cheese.

Tim's Rating: 7.5/10
Liz's Rating: 7.5/10

Tortilla and Black Bean Pie

Inspiration:
Everyday Food

Ingredients:

• 4 (10-inch) flour tortillas
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 jalapeno chile, minced (remove seeds and ribs for less heat)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 cans (15 ounces each) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 12 ounces beer, or 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced, plus more for garnish
• 2 1/2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• sour cream and salsa, for serving
  

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a paring knife, trim tortillas to fit a 9-inch springform pan, using the bottom of the pan as a guide. Set aside.
2. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Add onion, jalapeno, garlic, and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
3. Add beans and beer to skillet, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until liquid has almost evaporated, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in corn and scallions, and remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Fit a trimmed tortilla in bottom of springform pan; layer with 1/4 of the beans and 1/2 cup cheese. Repeat three times, using 1 cup cheese on top layer. Bake until hot and cheese is melted, 20 to 25 minutes. Unmold pie; sprinkle with scallions. To serve, slice into wedges and serve with sour cream and salsa.
   

Recipe Notes:
"Serve this brightly colored, layered tortilla pie with salsa and sour cream on the side. You can assemble the pie ahead of time, then bake it just before serving."


My Notes:
We loved this, as we pretty do much any recipe with Mexican flavors. This would be a good vegetarian recipe to serve to guests (as long as they love cheese!), although I would have made more effort for it to look pretty. Sorry the photos aren't great; I made it too late to have any natural light. Here is a picture of it once I cut out a slice:

Liz's Rating: 8.5/10
Tim's Rating: 10/10 (He actually flashed me five fingers twice as he was shoveling it in. I said, "Are you rating it a 10?" He said, "Mmmm-Hmmm.")

Chicken, Rice, and Black-Bean Salad

Inspiration:
I like to take pasta salads to work during the week. I had this recipe from Martha Stewart sitting in my recipe binder and finally got around to making it (with some modifications).


Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown (or white) rice
• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked with olive oil, kosher salt, Adobo Seasoning from Penzeys, cooled and diced
  
• 1 can (15 1/2 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2-4 on-the-vine tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 3-4 scallions and 1 garlic scape (optional), thinly sliced
  
• 1 jalapeno chile (seeds and ribs removed for less heat, if desired), minced
• 1/4 cup white-wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Coarse salt and ground pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook rice according to package instructions. Spread on a baking sheet; refrigerate until cool.
2. Place cooled rice in a large bowl; add chicken, beans, tomatoes, scallions, jalapeno, vinegar, oil, and cumin. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Serve immediately, or refrigerate, covered, up to 1 day.

Recipe Notes: To make a Southwestern-style salad that's a meal in itself, toss together chicken, rice, beans, and tomatoes with a light, spicy dressing. Serves 4.

My Notes: I loved this recipe--what a great summer dish! I love the flavors, and it has a nice kick. If you don't like spicy food, cut back or eliminate the jalepeño. I absolutely love the Adobo Seasoning from Penzeys and highly recommend it. Although this isn't really a Mexican recipe, I am tagging it as such due to its flavor profile. I am already looking forward to tomorrow's lunch.


Liz's Rating: 10/10
Tim's Rating: 9.5/10

Raw Corn and Radish Salad with Spicy Lime Dressing

Inspiration:
A need to bring a salad to book club tomorrow, and this recipe from Food and Wine.


Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 small jalapeño, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 1 1/2 teaspoons honey
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 cups fresh corn kernels (from 4 ears)
• 6 medium radishes, halved and thinly sliced crosswise
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

Instructions:

1. In a blender, puree the lime juice, jalapeño, honey and cumin. With the machine on, add the oil. Season with salt and pepper.
2. In a large bowl, toss the corn with the radishes, parsley, red onion and dressing. Season the salad with salt and pepper, transfer to plates and serve.

Suggested Beverage: Hmm... not sure. Beer?

Notes: This is ok, but I much prefer the Black Bean and Corn Salad.

Tim's Rating: n/a (Not a member of book club)
Liz's Rating: 7.5/10

Pho, Rachael Ray Style

Inspiration:
Rachael Ray

Ingredients:

• 5 ounces rice noodles
• 2 cups bean sprouts
• 1 pound deli roast beef, cut in 1/2-inch strips
• 1 tbs. vegetable oil
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and thinly sliced crosswise
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
• 2 cups beef broth (or one can)
• salt
• 1/3 cup cilantro leaves
• lime wedges

Instructions:

1. Add the rice noodles to a medium saucepan filled with water and bring to a boil. Cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and drain again.
   
2. Divide the cooked rice noodles, bean sprouts and roast beef strips among 4 soup bowls.
3. Heat the oil in the same pan over medium heat. Add the jalapeño and scallions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the beef broth and 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Cook, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Season the soup with salt and divide among the bowls.
   
4. Garnish with the cilantro leaves and lime wedges.

Notes: Next time, I will use all beef broth (instead of using water for part of it) and leave the seeds in the jalapeño. I might also add garlic, ginger or something else to the broth to make it richer. We also only used half of the beef.

Tim's Rating: 8/10
Liz's Rating: 8/10