Archive for the ‘CONDIMENTS’ Category
Fast & Simple Fresh Salsa II
This is another salsa recipe as I needed a fresh salsa with a bit of juice in it for use in a slow cooker. This recipe uses basic canned tomatoes, whole and peeled instead of fresh, but when you think of a jarred salsa, that is cooked as well, so this recipe is more like the jarred type. Photos are mine, I just made this on 25 Mar 2016. This is now my go to salsa recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, this is the 565 gram can
- ½ onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, smashed and minced
- 3-4 spring onions, diced, white and green parts
- 1 large green chili, diced
- juice from one small lime
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon salt
- handful fresh cilantro, chopped
- zest from the lime, just a bit is good
Instructions
- Drain the juice from the can of tomatoes and set aside. Pour the tomatoes into a good sized mixing bowl. This can had 4 tomatoes and a good sized glass of juice.
- Use a a knife and fork and chop the tomatoes up, takes all of 2 minutes, if that, the tomatoes contain some juice as well, that is the reason to drain first. Photo shows done chopping.
- Chop all other ingredients and add to the bowl, as shown here. This is with the spring onion, garlic, onion, chilis, salt and cumin added. Mix well. Add the tomato juice to your needed consistency. If needing a thicker salsa, use less juice. If needing this for slow cooker use, use more juice.
- Squeeze in the juice from 1 lime (Thai lime, the small ones) and mix a bit more. Refrigerate until use.
Notes
Easy recipe that has the juice needed for slow cooker recipes. The salsa should keep for 2-3 days in a fridge, and is probable better the day after you make it, this lets the flavors blend together.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
- Pork Chop Santa Fe.
- Easy Mexicali Pork Chops.
- Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas.
- Mexican Tortilla Casserole.
- Mexican Corn.
- Fish Tacos, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Pork Tacos.
- Bacon-Wrapped Steak Breakfast Burritos.
- Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken.
- Salsa Chicken.
- 2 Ingredient Salsa Chicken, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili I.
- Chicken Chimichangas in 30 Minutes.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs, Tex-Mex Style.
- Baked Cream Cheese Chicken Taquitos.
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Slow Cooked Tex Mex Chicken and Beans.
- One Skillet Cheesy Taco Pasta.
- Slow Cooker Chicken Chili II.
- Fiesta Cilantro Fondue.
- Beer-braised Chili.
- Manwich Chicken (Slow Cooker).
- Chicken Casserole (Slow Cooker).
KFC Gravy
KFC does have some tasty gravy, but more than likely the ingredient list is as long as my arm, so here is a shortcut. I have not tried this yet but on my list of things to do.
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 5 tablespoons flour
- 1/4 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cube beef boullion, OR use the powder
- 1 cube chicken buollion, OR use the powder
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil and add the bouillon or powder and stir until dissolved, set aside.
- In another small pot, melt the butter on low heat, stir as needed. Mix the sage, black pepper, and garlic powder with the flour.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the melted butter and whisk continuously, until the mixture takes on a golden brown color.
- At this point, slowly stir in the bouillon mixture, continuing to whisk. One the mixture is whisked in, turn up the heat to medium until some of the water evaporates and leaves a creamy and pourable gravy.
- Serve while hot over mashed potatoes.
Notes
Adapted from an internet recipe.
Basic BBQ Sauce
Easy to make sauce great for BBQs or using in other recipes that call for BBQ sauce. The yield from this recipe is about 2 cups. I made this on 14 Dec 2016, recipe modified slightly, my report below.
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1½ cups ketchup
- ½ cup water
- 1 tablespoon Worcherstershire sauce
- 2½ tablespoons dry mustard
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons black pepper
- 2-4 dashes hot pepper sauce
- ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Whisk together all ingredients in a large bowl until completely mixed and smooth. This is the ingredients before I added the water.
- I was making BBQ Beans & Weenies, this photo just shows the sauce after it was cooked and refrigerated when I added it to the beans recipes.
- Pour into a pot and bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly, then remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Pour into a sealable container and refrigerate overnight before use.
Notes
If using as a sauce say in a bean recipe, the sugar amount is spot on, if using for grilled anything, feel free to increase the sugar a bit. Keep in mind the sugar is what caramelizes and makes that gooey goodness on say BBQ Chicken. This is my Go-to Recipe now.
Used in Recipe Listed on this Site:
- BBQ Chicken Pizza.
- BBQ Beans & Weenies, made it.
- Bock BBQ Bean Salad.
- Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin.
- Easy BBQ Beans.
- Cowboy Stew, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Pork Ribs (Pressure Cooker), made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Slow Cooker Little Smokies, made it, GO-TO recipe.
Fast and Simple Fresh Salsa I
I have not made this yet but seems quite easy. Not exactly sure how much this makes, I will say 4 cups for now.
Ingredients
- 6 tomatoes, large, chopped, maybe use 10 plum tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3-4 spring onions, chopped, whites and greens
- ¾ cup fresh green chili peppers, chopped
- handful fresh cilantro, chopped
- juice from one lime
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
Instructions
- Combine everything in a bowl except the vinegar and salt, drain briefly in a colander. Return the mixture to the bowl and stir in the vinegar and salt into the tomato mixture. Done, see, that was easy.
Notes
I have never seen "large" tomatoes in Thailand, so maybe use 10 or so plum tomatoes. I will have to experiment with this recipe.
Quick Fridge Dill Pickles
This is a brine-based pickle. The reason why they are called quick is because they are ready in about 2 days. They get a bit better if you wait, but they are very pickle-ish then.
Ingredients
- 1 empty pint jar with lid, mason or reused olive or mayo jar is perfect
- 2 tablespoons sea salt
- 1 handful fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fresh peppercorns
- cucumbers, small and short
Instructions
- Fill the jar about halfway with very hot water and dissolve the salt in the water. Add part of the peppercorns, dill, and vinegar to the hot saltwater and stir.
- Cut cucumbers lengthwise if you're making pickle spears, obviously if you want make chipped pickles just cut normally. Squeeze as many cucumbers as you can into the jar. Allow for a bit more liquid to be added if the cucumbers are not completely submerged.
- Add the rest of the dill and peppercorns.
- Let it cool down to room temperature. Put the lid on a shake it. Make sure the cucumbers are not poking up above the water. If they are, open the jar and push them back down. I made a jar of chips and a jar of spears.
- Put in the fridge... done... it's just that easy.
Notes
Low cost. I normally make two pints at a time, one spears, one chips.
Variants: 1. Add a few chili peppers to spice it up. 2. Add a teaspoon of mustard seed. 3. Add a teaspoon of pickling spice mix you can find in the spice row of most grocery stores.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
- Chicken Olivye (Chicken Potato Salad), made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Dill Pickle Dip, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Pickle Deviled Eggs, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Sardine Salad Sandwich, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Ham & Cheese Pasta Salad, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Classic Tuna Salad Sandwiches, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Dill Pickle Bacon Grilled Cheese, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Dill Pickle Cream Cheese Sandwich, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Dill Pickle Bread.
- Russian Beet Salad.
Gravy Mix
Homemade gravy mix, very basic recipe, made as chicken or beef.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoon beef bouillon powder, or chicken bouillon powder
- ¾ cup flour
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, heaping
Instructions
- Mix together and store in airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 6 months. Makes 1 cup gravy mix; which will make 8 batches gravy.
- To prepare a batch of gravy, melt 2 Tablespoons butter in a small saucepan. Add 2 Tablespoons gravy mix. Cook until lightly browned, about 1 minute, stirring constantly. Whisk in 3/4 cup water until smooth.
- May add mushrooms, sautéed onions, and or left over roast beef to gravy. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes or so.
Notes
Cost for this is minimal. I use a Thai brand beef or chicken stock powder for this, works great.
Used in Recipes Listed on this Site:
- Giant Meatball I.
- Turkey Meatballs with Summer Squash, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Beef & Noodles IV, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Meatball Dinner, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Gravy II, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Pork & Noodles, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Chicken with Noodles & Gravy, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- BJ's Rice A Roni, made it, GO-TO recipe.
- Homemade Beef Barley Soup, made it, GO-TO recipe.
