Cucumber Salad

I found this yummy, healthy snack recipe in Self magazine today.  Forget the fact that I had a sausage, egg, & cheese McGriddle meal with hash browns this am before class.  This was my after class "healthy" snack and was delicious as well.  

Recipe:

In a bowl, combine:

 1/2 c nonfat plain Greek yogurt

 1/2 c diced cucumber

1/2 c diced tomatoes

1/2 c diced avocado

sprinkle with sea salt and fresh ground black pepper

watch-party appetizers

So, my latest obsession is pinterest...if you haven't discovered it yet, proceed with caution.  It's very addicting.  Think: fantasy world for women- home decor, fashion, diy ideas, and recipes.  Below are a couple of ideas from pinterest that I just HAD to try for OSU's 1st BCS bowl watch party! Go pokes!  They would also be fab for Super Bowl watch parties coming up in February.  

1. I call them "bullets". Watch out folks, they're loaded.

First fry center-cut bacon and chop...

 Secondly, remove all seeds and white membranes from fresh jalapenos and chop (I recommend wearing rubber gloves or else your fingers will ache with a vengeance) 

 Add to unrolled crescent rolls with a slab of cream cheese

 Roll up and bake at 350 for ~15-20 mins or until golden brown on top.  Yum. 

 2.  I also made this "cowboy caviar" which was a huge hit

Recipe:

1 can shoepeg corn

1 can chipotle corn

1 cup triple cheddar

1 cup pepper jack

1 can rotel 

1/2 c chopped jalapeno

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup cream cheese

(or you can sub in plain greek yogurt to save on fat)

Mix all together and serve with fritos or tortilla chips or even crostinis.

I also made a specialty drink for the occasion and called it "orange power"- it even won the drink contest!

Orange Power:

5 cups orange juice

2 cups sprite

1 1/2 cups vanilla vodka

1/4 cup maraschino cherry juice

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Serve over ice: tastes like an orange dream. 

ebelskivers

I know it has been a while since my last post- I have been uber busy.  I thought I should start the new year off right with a post about my New 


Years gift from the hubs.  I have been wanting an 
"ebelskiver" pan ever since my friend Candice made these delicious filled pancakes for us during a girl's weekend in Dallas.  You can fill them with whatever you wish- strawberries & cream cheese, blueberries, or one of my favs- strawberry-rhubarb jam! My husband had the idea to fill them with scrambled egg & bacon, yum.  On medium heat, you fill the pan with a dab of butter per hole, drop 1 Tbsp of pancake batter in and cook for ~3 mins.  Insert a dollop of your favorite filling and top with another 1Tbsp of batter.  Flip the filled pancakes with these handy little turners and cook for ~3 mins on the other side.  Voila! Serve with a side of warm maple syrup for dipping.  Ebelskiver pan and turners available from Williams-Sonoma.  

{salsa fresca}

I love making fresh salsa.  It's so much better than the store bought kind.  This recipe is just fantastic. Enjoy!

I start with fresh ingredients....the colors are so beautiful, don't you think?

I get these "sunbursts" at Sam's in bulk.  They're great in salads or with hummus too

These are the tools I use

This vegetable chop from williams-sonoma is handy

I love my citrus reamer from williams-sonoma; it gets all the juice and the pulp.  If you're into that sort of thing. 

Wash and spin your cilantro leaves in a salad & herb spinner

So fresh; I heart cilantro

Cut a jalapeno in half and remove seeds & white membranes- leave a few if you think you can take the heat and add to blender or food processor  

Add 1 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves to your blender

Yum

Add 2 cups yellow cherry tomatoes

1/3 cup chopped yellow onion

Press 2-3 cloves of garlic and add 

Getting close...

I just love the vibrant colors

After combining your ingredients- pulse a few times (not too much)

Allow foam to settle from the pulsing

taste test...mmm

ladle with funnel into a pretty jar

Secure with lid & ring.  You can eat right away or refrigerate for up to 1 week.  XOXO

Salsa Fresca

1/3 yellow onion

2 c yellow cherry tomatoes

1 jalapano

1/2 lime with pulp

4 campari tomatoes

1 c cilantro

2-3 cloves garlic

makes 1.5 pints

{strawberry-rhubarb jam}

I made this jam based on my strawberry rhubarb pie recipe.  It's sweet & tart & perfectly spiced.  I love to put it on mini pillsbury buttermilk biscuits or a whole wheat english muffin.  

First start with fresh strawberries...

I really like to use ball brand pint & half pint jars

I got this handy canning kit at target along with my jars; you can choose regular or wide mouth jars.  You will need 2 boxes of fruit pectin- I like ball brand fruit pectin but grabbed these boxes from whole foods. 

You will need a canner or stock pot to process your jars after they're filled and another pot to make the jam

slice the strawberries

and wash your jars and lids in HOT soapy water

squeeze 1/2 c lemon juice (it helps activate the pectin)

and add it to your pot

bring your stock pot or "canner" to a boil 

add the strawberries

add the {frozen} rhubarb on med-high heat

add the sugar and pectin stirring constantly

now bring to a rumbling boil for approximately 1 minute; you can add 1tbsp of butter to decrease foaming

remove from heat and ladle jam into your clean, sanitized jars using the funnel provided in ball canning kit

wipe the rim of the jar before applying lid and securing with ring; place in pot and process {boil} for 10 minutes making sure water covers jars

remove from boiling pot using jar lifter provided in canning kit and allow to cool at least 24 hours; you should hear the lids "pop" in as the jars cool.  This is part of the sealing process. If any lids pop up and down when pressed, they are not sealed and should be refrigerated. 

Ta-da, darling jam!

recipe: {darling strawberry-rhubarb jam}

6 c sliced strawberries

4 c frozen rhubarb

1/2 c lemon juice

6 c sugar

2 boxes pectin

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp butter

makes 6.5 pints of darling jam