Monday, March 28, 2011

Charred Red Salsa Recipe from the Four Seasons in Phoenix

Best charred salsa that I have ever had.

1/4 Cup Olive Oil
3 large vine ripe tomatoes
1 yellow onion
2 jalapenos
1 bunch of cilantro
1 Chipotle pepper (canned)
2 cups V-8 juice
3 whole limes (juiced - no seeds)
1 tsp. dry oregano
1 tbsp. ground cumin
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dry thyme
1 tbsp. ground black pepper
Salt to taste

De-stem tomatoes and jalepenos as well as tips. Run with olive oil to coat skin. *Grill tomatoes and jalapenos until outer skin begins to blacken. Set aside to cool. Cut onion in half and discard outer skin. Lightly *grill the onion until soft, set aside to cool. When tomatoes, jalapenos and onion have been cooled, place all ingredients in blender. Lightly pulse until ingredients have been incorporated. Salt to taste.

Make 3-4 cups of salsa.

*If grill is unavailable, use a stovetop burner on low heat to attain the char method for tomatoes and jalapenos. Place onion in oven heated to 300 degrees for 15 minutes to allow to soften.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Cinnamon Friendship Bread

Do NOT use any type of metal spoon or bowl for mixing. Do NOT refrigerate. It is normal for the batter to rise, bubble and ferment. Burp Ziploc bag as needed.

Day 1: Do nothing.
Day 2: Mush the bag.
Day 3: Mush the bag.
Day 4: Mush the bag.
Day 5: Mush the bag.
Day 6: Add to the bag 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Mush the bag.
Day 7: Mush the bag.
Day 8: Mush the bag.
Day 9: Mush the bag.
Day 10: Follow the instructions below:

1. Pour entire content of the bag into a NON-METAL bowl.
2. Add 1 and 1/2 cups flour, 1 and 1/2 cups sugar and 1 and 1/2 cups milk. Mix with a wooden spoon.
3. Measure 1 cup batter into each of four 1 -gallon Ziploc bags labeled with the date. Keep a started for yourself and give the other three bags to friends, along with a copy of the recipe.
4. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
5. To the remaining batter add the following:
3 eggs
1 cup oil
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups flour
1 large box instant vanilla pudding mix
1/2 tsp salt
6. Grease two large loaf pans or place cups in muffin tins. Muffins bake in 30 minutes.
7. In a small bowl mix together 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Dust the greased pans the mixture. Use remaining mixture to top batter once in pans.
8. Pour batter evenly into the two pans and top with remaining sugar and cinnamon mixture.
9. Bake for 1 hour. Cool the bread until it loosens evenly from the pans (about 10 minutes).
10. Serve warm or cold.

If you keep a starter for yourself, you will be baking every 10 days.