Friday, August 19, 2011

Candela's Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups oatmeal
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
(wheat germ)
(flax seed meal)
2 cups chocolate chips (1 12-oz package)

Directions:
Cream butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Add oatmeal, flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; mix well. (You can add the wheat germ and flax meal to make these slightly more healthy.) Stir in chocolate chips. Bake 6-10 minutes at 375 degrees. Makes a lot!

Notes:
These really are very good! The original recipe is actually double all these ingredients, so it really makes a lot, but I figure it would be more convenient for me to see it this way. I may even halve this recipe at times. Otherwise, you can roll cookie logs and put them in the freezer for later baking.

Source:
Candela Rice

Monday, August 15, 2011

Pico de Gallo

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped
3/4 cup white onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons minced, seeded jalapeno or serrano chiles (about 2 medium)

1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir well. Allow to rest at room temperature for an hour for flavors to blend.

Source: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/pico-de-gallo-with-homemade-tortilla-chips-recipe/index.html

Mom's Taco Salad

Ingredients:
rice (I use brown)
1 lb. ground beef
1 package taco seasoning mix
1 can black or kidney beans, heated
1 can corn, heated
shredded lettuce
grated cheese
salsa or pico de gallo
tortilla chips, slightly crushed
fresh tomatoes (optional)
olives (optional)

Directions:
Start the rice in rice cooker. Brown ground beef and add seasoning mix, following directions on envelope. Cut, grate, heat, and prepare all remaining ingredients. Pile on according to your liking for a delicious salad.

Notes:
I prefer to make my homemade pico de gallo recipe, so I don't do fresh tomatoes. Also, it's really good with the creamy tomatillo dressing from Cafe Rio. I often just pick that up to spice up my dinner.

Source:
Shari Lindsay