Fred's State Fair Salsa

 We call it this because I was at the State Fair one day and came home to Fred making this.  Kind of random!  It's so easy and it has a good flavor. 
12 tomatoes
1 onion
4 cloves of garlic (NOT full bulbs)
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1 tsp cumin
3 Tb lime juice
1 Jalepeno pepper (add more if you like it hot!)

I'll break this down as simple as I can. 
Cut tomatoes in half, run thumb through them getting rid of most of the seeds.  Put them face down in a 9x13 cake pan.  Cut the onion into quarters, place on top of tomatoes.  Add the garlic cloves and as many jalepeno peppers as you'd like.  Spray with some cooking spray (easier than drizzling oil). Put in the broiler for 10 minutes. 



Ta da!

Then, we use our food processor to do the dicing for us.  **Note the plastic baggy turned inside out, then put on top of the hole.  Lucky for me, Fred found ways to not make my kitchen as messy while making this.   The baggy stops the juice from going down the hole, all over the processor and all over the counter.   (Remember to remove it before putting the lid on - though I left it on this last time and nothing happened.  Perhaps our blade needs to be sharpened!)
I usually throw the cilantro in,  then spoon the charred tomatoes, garlic, onion and peppers in - so I don't have to chop it by hand.
Blend to the consistency you like. 
 
Then add the cumin and lime juice.  
Mix throughly.    I usually make a few batches at once and dumb everything into a large bowl. 

We bottle ours and water bath process them for 15 minutes.  

Apple Porkchops (w/ overnight marinade)

This is more of a fall recipe, so I'll give you 2 ways to do this...

Overnight, Marinade porkchops in 2:1 Applejuice to Soy sauce (this combines the Sweet & salty & keeps the porkchops moist.) Sometimes I'll just marinade for 2 hours.

Cook porkchops in skillet for 5-6 minutes.

1) The healthier way:  cook porkchops and top with a bottle of apple pie filling. 

2) The fresh apple, caramel way:  cook porkchops, then
In a small bowl combine:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
8 Tbls. melted butter
2 tart apples - peeled, cored and sliced

Add mixture to skillet with porkchops.  Cover and cook until apples are barely tender. 
The recipe says to remove the apples and porkchops and thicken the sauce, but I just go ahead and serve it, making sure to spoon sauce over. 
This is actually pretty filling just the porkchop and apples, so pick something light to serve with it!

Tangy Peach Chicken

I know the flavors together sound questionable, but it turns out great!
One of the easiest recipes ever!  

Grill, bake, broil, however you want to cook 4 chicken breasts. 
2 cups salsa & 2 cups jam (I use Nectarine or peach- and one day I promise to post my husband's salsa recipe.  For now, use whatever brand you like.)

Mix the salsa & jam and pour over chicken.  Heat throughly. 

I served it over bowtie pasta and just let the sauce flavor the pasta a little.

Potato Bar w/ cheese sauce

Definitely a comfort food in our house! 
4 Baked potatoes
1 cup diced ham (I like to cook it a little)
2 cups broccoli florets, steamed
Diced onion

Top with Cheese Sauce: 
4 TB butter melted
4 TB flour
Whisk until smooth.
Add 2 tsp Chicken bullion granules
Add 2 cups milk. 
Microwave 1-2 minutes at a time, stirring often to keep it smooth.  
* Make sure you use a big enough bowl, if you're not watching it will boil over. 
When thickened, add:
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

I usually serve it with some slices of French Bread.

20 minute Chili

1 lb. hamburger
1/2 onion chopped
2 cans of tomatoes (I used Stewed & crushed)
2 cans of beans (I used 1 can of pintos & 1 can of red)
1 pkt of chili seasoning (found near the gravy packets)
1 Tb unsweetened cocoa powder (NOT the drink kind)
1 cup salsa (to add a little spice)

Brown hamburger and onion. Dump everything in and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with breadsticks!