Canned Salsa

This is a recipe I requested from my good friend Julie. I am going to make some this summer because with the weather the way it has been for the last 2 years I will never get enough tomatoes from our garden to make salsa. I figure why not make it easy with tomatoes already processed. Thanks Julie!

1 #10 can diced tomatoes

1/2 #10 can crushed tomatoes

1/8 #10 can tomato paste

2 onions, diced

2-4 cans green chilies

2 green peppers-diced

3 heaping tbsp minced garlic

1 bunch cilantro-chopped

jalapenos to taste (I usually use 3-4 per batch) minced

1/4 c lemon juice or vinegar

1 tbsp pepper

1 1/2 tbsp sea salt

1 1/2 tsp cumin

To spread the jalapeno around, I usually take about 1 cup of crushed tomatoes and the jalapenos and blend them all together in the blender, then pour into the rest of the salsa. That way no one gets a big chunk of jalapeno in their bite of salsa

Bottle in pints or quarts, process for 20 minutes.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortiall Soup

I found this:
http://allrecipes.com/CustomRecipe/61559653/Healthier-Slow-Cooker-Chicken-Tortilla-Soup/Detail.aspx
recipe on allrecipes.com and it is healthy, inexpensive, yummy, and done in the slow cooker. It is a perfect addition to our family menu plan. Well, at lease it was until my slow cooker lid got bumped onto the floor and shattered on the floor.

Skillet Lasagna

I got this recipe from my friend Betsy. She is seriously a GREAT cook. If I am in a hurry I will use quick cook noodles and cut the cooking time by 10+ minutes.
1/2 lb ground beef
1/ c. chopped onion
2 minced garlic cloves
6-12 uncooked mini noodles
26-28 oz tomato+basil spaghetti sauce
1 1/2 c. water
12 oz cottage cheese
4 oz cream cheese
1/3 c. parmesan cheese
1/4 c. sliced green onions
1 tbsp parsley flakes
1 c. shredded Italian cheese blend

-Brown meat and drain off fat. Add onion and garlic and cook until tender. Add noodles, sauce, and water. Mix well. bring to a boil then reduce heat and cook covered about 15 minutes until noodles are done.
-Combine cream parmesan, and cottage, cheeses green onion, and parsley. Mix well
-Spoon cheese mixture over pasta. Sprinkle with Italian cheese. Cover and cook until cheese is melted.

Oatmeal Bread

My cousin Roxanne submitted this to the family cookbook. I have adapted it a little. I love it because it uses leftover oatmeal. I will make a few loafs and freeze when I have a bunch of left over oatmeal. DB took some to work and this coworkers wanted the recipe. Here it is:
Mix together:
1c leftover oatmeal
1c boiling water
1/2c oil
1c brown sugar
1c white sugar
2 beaten eggs

Add:
1tsp baking soda
1 1/3c flour plus 3Tbsp
1 tsp cinnamon
1c nuts (optional)

Bake 30 to 50 minutes in oiled loaf pan until toothpick comes out clean (time varies by size of loaf pan). Put loaf pans on a cookie sheet as once the topping is added it tends to go over the side of the pan.

While baking mix together topping:
3 Tbsp butter
1c coconut
1c brown sugar
3Tbsp cream
Put topping on loaf and cook 10 minutes more.

Marvelous Meatloaf

My all time favorite meatloaf recipe. It's a recipe from Cristine, my BFF and supplier of all super yummy foodie recipes. My neighbor and walking friend asked for a recipe after I brought her a raw loaf to cook at her convenience. Nothing says friend like raw meat...

1 egg
1 piece bread
1/2 c. catsup
3/4 c chopped fresh basil (if I don't have fresh I use dried but the fresh really does taste better)
1/2 c chopped onion
2 garlic clover, minced
1/2 c provolone cheese
1 lb ground beef
Mix all ingredients together. Shape into loaf. Place on a broiler pan. Cook at 350 for 1 hour. This is a great freezer meal.

Sicilian Pizza Crust

This is a crust that is super bready so we use it when we are in the mood for a real carb. bomb.
1 1/2 c. warm water
4 c. flour
1 tbsp salt
4 tbsp oil
2 packages (or 5 tsp) yeast
-combine yeast, 1/2 c flour, and water. Rise 15 minutes
-add 2 c. flour and 1 c cool water, and oil. Mix with wooden spoon.
-add remaining flour
-kneed 15 minutes
-rise to double
-punch down and either use or store in refrigerator or freezer until ready to use. If frozen thaw before using.
-roll out, dress pizza and cook 450 degrees for 25 minutes.

Granola

I am posting this after a trip the the Winco grocery store with my friend Leslie. We stoped there just to check it out after a shopping trip to IKEA. Nerdy I know but it was sure fun! We were talking about the bulk food and I promised I would share my favorite granola recipe. Here it is:

1 c. oil (canola or olive)

1 c. honey

1 c. brown sugar

15 c. oats (one dry pack cannery)
1 1/2 c. powdered milk
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
Put wet ingredients in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.

While wet ingredients are cooking mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients coating evenly. Spread the mixture over a cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 12 minutes.
You can add raisins, nuts, etc before baking.
**If you don't want to use sugar you could use 2 cups honey instead