Fresh Cilantro Lime Salsa

Lindsey Scarber

Makes 3-4 quarts

12 med   tomatoes, finely diced (or use food processor)

2 cups   cold water

2 bunches   cilantro, de-stemmed and finely chopped (or use food processor w/ the cold water)   

16-20 cloves   garlic, minced (or use food processor w/ the cold water)   

4 cans   tomato sauce (8oz ea can)

1/4  - 1/2 cup  fresh lime juice or lemon juice (or ¼ cup white vinegar)

2 Tbsp   sugar

1 Tbsp   salt, add more to taste

1 Tbsp   crushed red pepper, add more to taste

4 cans   mild diced green chilies (7oz each can)

1-2 med   onions, finely diced (I start with 1 onion, if it's really strong, it might be all I need)

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Taste test with corn chips. When the salsa tastes good, transfer it to glass jars. You can use plastic containers if you don't mind your plastic container smelling like salsa for months after.

Let salsa sit in the fridge to allow the flavors to blend.  Sometimes is tastes even better the next day. Lasts 2-3 weeks refrigerated.

Make ahead directions:

Follow instructions above, except omit cilantro. 

Store in glass containers in fridge.  Add cilantro just before serving.

Moist Banana Muffins w/no added sugar

This is a yummy recipe for day-old bananas. Makes 24 muffins

1 ½ cups mashed banana, about 5 bananas

1 beaten egg

½ cup milk, or prepared powdered milk

½ cup oil

1-3/4 cup all-purpose flour, or whole wheat flour, or a mix of each

2 tsp baking powder

¼ tsp salt

½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

GREASE muffin tins. Do not use paper bake cups. 
PREHEAT oven to 375°

MIX WET INGREDIENTS: In a large bowl, mash the bananas. Add the egg, beat it into the mashed banana. Add milk and oil. Stir.  

MIX DRY INGREDIENTS: In a separate bowl, Mix together flour(s), baking powder, salt.

COMBINE.  Pour dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.  Add pecans (optional). Stir just until moistened. Spoon batter into greased muffin tin, filling each 1/2 full. 

BAKE in a 375° oven for 15 - 20 min, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 2 min. Remove from muffin cups. Serve warm.

Bok Choy, Carrot, and Apple Slaw

Use bok choy (also called Chinese white cabbage) to give slaw an Asian flair.

Season the lemony dressing with fresh grated ginger.

Thank you, Rebecca Heale, for sharing this lovely recipe!

PREP: 20 MINS

 TOTAL TIME: 20 MINS

 SERVINGS: 4

SOURCE: EVERYDAY FOOD, JUL/AUG 2004

SIGN ME UP

INGREDIENTS

·         1 pound baby bok choy (4 to 6 heads)

·         1 teaspoon coarse salt

·         1 peeled apple, cut into matchsticks

·         2 large shredded carrots

·         3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

·         1 tablespoon vegetable oil

·         1 teaspoon finely grated peeled fresh ginger

·         Coarse salt and ground pepper

·         Agave nectar or Sugar, to taste

DIRECTIONS

1.     Halve baby bok choy lengthwise; rinse under cold water to remove grit. Cut crosswise into thin strips; place in a large colander, and sprinkle with coarse salt. Toss to coat. Top with a plate that fits inside colander; weight with a heavy object (such as a skillet or canned goods). Set aside in sink to drain.

2.     In a large bowl, mix apple, carrots, lemon juice, vegetable oil, and peeled fresh ginger. Add bok choy; season with coarse salt and ground pepper. Toss.

COOK'S NOTES

Bok choy has a mild, sweet flavor, crisp stalks, and tender leaves. It‚'s rich in vitamin C, calcium, and folic acid.

Asian Chopped Salad

1/2 head  green cabbage, chopped

1  med  carrot, shredded

6 oz fresh  spinach or kale, chopped

2  Green onions, chopped

some   Cilantro, chopped

1/4 c.    toasted almonds, sliced

some   Sesame Ginger Asian dressing

1/2 c.   chicken chunks (optional)

some   Wonton noodles or Chinese noodles (optional)

Toss and mix well. Serve immediately.

Simple Spinach Dip!

by Adriana Burk

1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, well-drained

2 c. dairy sour cream (16 oz container)

1 c. mayonnaise

3 green onions, chopped to make about 1/2 cup

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup slivered almonds, optional

THAW spinach and squeeze out all liquid before mixing the dip.
COMBINE: In large bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir until blended.    

IMPORTANT: Refrigerate 4-6 hours or until ready to serve. This allows flavors to blend and it makes a big difference in taste! Taste test prior to serving. Add more onion powder, garlic powder, or salt if needed. 

SERVE: Serve with French Bread, crackers, corn chips, or assorted raw vegetables

I like this recipe because it has no 'Knorr® Vegetable recipe mix' and no water chestnuts as ingredients.  It's also a great party food.

Cheesier-than-Kraft Mac N Cheese

1 box 7.25oz  generic brand Mac n Cheese (Walmart brand, Smith's brand, etc)

1 t. salt

¼ c. (or less) butter or margarine

¼ c. evaporated milk (secret ingredient)

In a small pot, bring water to a rolling boil.  Add salt.  Stir in macaroni.  Boil on Med High for no more than  3.5 - 4 min, stirring occasionally.  Drain.

Add butter/margarine to pot.  Return macaroni to pot.  Stir until butter melts.  Add evaporated milk.  Stir.  Add packet of powdered cheese. Stir until uniform color.  If too thick, add water or extra evaporated milk for desired consistency. Serve immediately.

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Pancake MIX

Whole Wheat Oatmeal

Pancake MIX

Speed up pancakes by

making a MIX ahead of time!

Served at Douglas Neighborhood July 4th Pancake Breakfast

The combination of wheat flour and

oatmeal is whole grain goodness!

Adding cooked oatmeal increases moisture.

Eat them with peanut butter to create a complete protein, w/o meat!

To make the MIX:

     Stores for 6+ months.

 8 c. whole wheat flour

1  c. dry powdered milk

¼ c. baking powder

½ c. sugar

2 t. salt

In a large mixing bowl, combine all

ingredients.  Transfer to a #10 can

or another airtight container.  

To make Pancakes:

     Use a medium mixing bowl.

2   eggs, beaten

¼  c.  oil

2  c. water

1  c. cooked oatmeal

2 ½ c. whole wheat pancake MIX

Using a wire whisk, combine ingredients in order, first

to last.  Cook on a hot griddle.

Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins w/ Chocolate Chips

3  1/3 c. whole wheat flour, fine ground

1  t. baking soda

2  t.  baking powder

1  t. salt

4   eggs

1 c. milk, or prepared powdered milk

1/2 c.  oil

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 c. cooked cream of wheat, oatmeal, or cracked-wheat cereal, warm (optional, adds moisture)

1  1/2 c. sugar

15 oz. can pumpkin, or 2 c. frozen pumpkin puree defrosted and drained

2  t. cinnamon

1/8  t. nutmeg and 1/8 t. cloves (optional)

12 oz. bag chocolate chips

Makes 24 tall muffins or 36 short muffins. 

Mix first 4 ingredients, then add the rest.  Grease muffin tin with oil, not with oil cooking spray. Put 1/2  to  2/3 full into the greased muffin tins.  

Bake 15-20 min at 350 degrees. The smell of autumn will fill your kitchen. Lightly touch the center of a few muffins, if it bounces back, they are done. Wait 2 min before removing from tin. Enjoy them hot! 

These muffins freeze very well. They make a great (somewhat healthy) after-school snack. We like to make '36 short muffins' because they cook fast, fit in kid-sized mouths, and if frozen defrost easy.

No need to spread extra butter on top of these babies.  The butter is already inside.

Pumpkin Nutrition:

Great source of  Vitamin A

Low in calories and fat

High in fiber

Can replace oil for pumpkin in many recipes.

The bright orange color of pumpkin is a dead giveaway that pumpkin is loaded with an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is one of the plant carotenoids converted to vitamin A in the body. In the conversion to vitamin A, beta carotene performs many important functions in overall health.

Current research indicates that a diet rich in foods containing beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and offers protect against heart disease. Beta-carotene offers protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of aging.

Japanese Restaurant Cucumber Salad

Japanese Restaurant Cucumber Salad

                          Lindsey Scarber 2013     

      Dressing Ingredients:

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 teaspoon Asian (toasted) sesame oil

1 teaspoon salt, or more to taste

      Veggies:

4 large cucumbers - peeled, cut into 1/4-inch slices

2 carrots - peeled, julienne cut into 1/4 x 1/4 inch strips  (I used the carrot peeler to make strips)

2 Green onions - sliced thin

Directions

Whisk sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and salt together in a bowl.

Add cucumbers, carrots and green onions.  Stir to coat.

Allow salad to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature before serving.

Blender Whole Wheat Pancakes

Do you have wheat but no wheat grinder? This is a wholesome delicious recipe just for you!  It is the Blender Wheat Pancakes recipe found in the LDS "Basic Food Storage Cookbook," only a little bit bigger portion. ~Lindsey Scarber

1 ½ c. dry wheat kernels

1 ½ c. cup milk  (Make your own: 1/3 c. non-fat dry milk + 1½c. water)

2 eggs                                          

2 Tbsp. sugar or honey

2 Tbsp. oil

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder (add last)                      

Put wheat and milk in blender.  Blend on highest speed for 4-5 minutes or until batter is smooth.  Blend on low speed while adding, in this order, eggs, sugar, oil, salt, baking powder.  

Bake on hot griddle.

Makes 12 to 14 pancakes. Do not double.

Black Bean and Couscous Salad

This recipe is delicious and it's all food storage and garden ingredients!

I like to make it ahead of time and pack it for a cold lunch to-go. 

~ Lindsey Scarber

3/4 c.   couscous, or whole wheat couscous

1  1/4 c.   chicken broth, or water + 1t. chicken bullion

6 T.   olive oil

6 T.   lime or lemon juice ( I like lime juice)

2 t.   Balsamic vinegar

1 t.   cumin

8   green onions, finely sliced

1 c.   dried cranberries

2 c. cooked black beans, drained, rinsed

Bring chicken broth to a boil in a 2-quart pot.  Stir in the couscous.  Cover and remove from heat.  Let stand for 5 min.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together olive oil, lime juice, vinegar, and cumin.

Add green onions, cranberries, and black beans. Toss to coat.

Fluff the couscous well, breaking up all the chunks.  Add it to the beans and cranberry mixture and mix well.  Refrigerate. Serve cold.

Whole Wheat Cornbread

by Lindsey Scarber

2  beaten eggs

1  c.  milk

1/ 4  c.  cooking oil, OR shortening, OR bacon grease

1  c.  whole wheat flour, OR half wheat flour + half white flour

3/4 c. cornmeal

1/4 c. white sugar, OR brown sugar

2  T.  baking powder

3/4  t. salt

1  T.  butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In a med bowl, beat the eggs.  Add milk and oil.  
Without stirring, place flour and cornmeal on top.  Make a little bathtub in the flours for the sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Stir the bathtub ingredients into the flours without getting them wet.  Then mix the dry ingredients into the wet.  Stir just until moistened.

Add the 1 T. butter to a 10-inch cast iron skillet or a 9x1-1/2-inch round baking pan.  Place in a 400 oven about 3 minutes or until butter melts.  Remove pan from oven.  Swirl butter in pan to coat bottom and sides of pan. Pour batter into hot, buttered skillet or pan.  Bake for 15 or 18 min. or until a wooden toothpick or butter knife poked into the middle comes out clean.  Serve warm.

Dinner Variations:  Add 1/2 c. grated cheese before baking.  OR add 1/2 cup crisp bacon pieces before baking.

Breakfast Variation:  Serve cornbread with a bowl and spoon.  Spread jam on the top, then pour milk over it.

Cornbread Muffins Variation: Spoon batter into greased 12-muffin pan. Bake 350 for 8-11 min. To check for doneness, tap the top of a muffin, if it bounces back they are done. 

Behunin Family Honey Butter Variation:   In a microwave dish, combine 1/2 cup butter + 1/2 cup honey. Melt in microwave. When cornbread is out of the oven, poke the cornbread all over with a fork. Pour honey butter on cornbread. Heavenly delicious! 

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

by Lindsey Scarber

Makes 1 gallon.  

8 med   tomatoes, finely diced

4 cans   tomato sauce 8 oz, OR 1 quart jar

1 bunch   cilantro, finely chopped

2 cups   cold water

3-4 cans   mild diced green chilies 7 oz, OR 3 cups

1-3 med   onions, finely diced (I start with 1 onion, if it's really strong, it might be all I need)

1/4  - 1/2 cup   lime juice, lemon juice, or white vinegar (I like fresh lime juice)

2 Tbsp   garlic powder

2 Tbsp   salt

2 Tbsp   sugar

1-2 Tbsp   crushed red pepper, OR 1-2 tsp cayenne pepper (a little spice to keep the kids out)

1 can black beans 14.5 oz, drained and rinsed

1 can corn 14.5 oz, drained

Combine all ingredients in a large plastic or glass mixing bowl, not metal. Using a metal mixing bowl starts a chemical reaction with the acids, the citrus juices/vinegar.

When the salsa tastes good, transfer it to glass quart jars. You can use plastic containers if you don't mind your container smelling like salsa for months after.

Let it sit in the fridge to allow the flavors to blend.  Sometimes is tastes better the day after. Serve with corn chips.  Lasts 2-3 weeks refrigerated.

This recipe is yummy with or without the black beans and corn.  However, they do add healthy protein and make it last a longer in a happy tummy. 

Scarber Kettle Corn

Not too sweet, not too salty, but just right! 

1/3 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. sugar

3/4 tsp. salt

3/4 c. popcorn

1   "Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper 6qt"

In a small bowl, mix sugar and salt.  Set aside.

Plug in the "Stir Crazy 6 qt Popcorn Popper." Add 1/3 c. oil and 2 popcorn kernels. Once the 2 kernels pop, the popper is hot enough for the rest of the popcorn.  Add the 3/4 popcorn, then quickly add the sugar/salt mixture and close the lid. 

Stay close and listen carefully; it can burn easily.  When pops slow to 1 pop per second, pull the plug.  Grab hold of the unit and its lid, and quickly tip it upside-down.  Remove unit, being cautious of escaping steam. To prevent kettle corn from sticking to itself, transfer it to a different serving bowl.

While the popper is still somewhat hot, wipe out the oil/sugar stickiness with a slightly damp paper towel.  Enjoy! :)