Sandra’s Homemade Salsa Verde

Excellent as a dip with tortilla chips,
with tacos, enchiladas, or over eggs for breakfast, etc...

Yield: 2 ½ cups salsa

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds tomatillos (about 12 medium), husked and rinsed
1 to 2 medium jalapeños, stemmed, (depending on your desired spiciness)
½ cup chopped white onion
¼ cup packed fresh cilantro leaves
1 to 2 medium limes, juiced, to taste
½ to 1 teaspoon salt, to taste

Optional: 1 to 2 diced avocados, for creamy avocado salsa verde

Method

Preheat the broiler with a rack about 4 inches below the heat source.

Place the tomatillos and jalapeño(s) on a rimmed baking sheet and broil until they’re blackened in spots, about 5 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven, carefully flip over the tomatillos and pepper(s) with tongs and broil for 4 to 6 more minutes, until the tomatillos are splotchy-black and blistered.

Meanwhile, in a food processor or blender, combine the chopped onion, cilantro, 2 tablespoons lime juice and ½ teaspoon salt. Once the tomatillos are out of the oven, carefully transfer the hot tomatillos, pepper(s) and all of their juices into the food processor or blender.

Pulse until the mixture is mostly smooth and no big chunks of tomatillo remain, scraping down the sides as necessary. Season to taste with additional lime juice and salt, if desired.

The salsa will be thinner at first, but will thicken up after a few hours in the refrigerator, due to the naturally occurring pectin in the tomatillos.

Optional: If you’d like to make creamy avocado salsa verde, let the salsa cool down before blending in 1 to 2 diced avocados.

SANDRA'S LIP SMACKIN' ALASKA VENISON TACO SOUP

Nothing says 'comfort' more than this fun and delightful tasting soup
on a blustery winter day
that's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face!

Servings: (6 to 8)

Prep: 10 Mins.

Cook 25 Mins.

INGREDIENTS:

2 slices bacon, cut cross-wise into 1/4" strips

1/4 yellow onion, diced

1/4 red bell pepper, diced

1 fresh jalapeno, seeds and ribs removed, finely diced

1 (14.5 oz can) chili beans, undrained

1 (14.5 oz can) Mexican-style diced tomatoes, undrained

3 tablespoons taco seasoning

3 tablespoons medium Picante sauce (jarred salsa)

1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons ketchup

1-1/2 to 2 cups water (depending upon your desired consistency)

1 pound left over venison roast, finely diced

Garnish:

Tortilla Strips (our's are from Costco)

Shredded medium cheddar cheese

Roma tomatoes, diced

Sour Cream

METHOD:

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the bacon half way. Add onions, peppers, and jalapenos to the skillet; sauté for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients, (except diced venison and garnish toppings). Bring soup to a slight boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes.  Add diced venison, cover, and heat through for about 5 minutes.

To serve, place generous handfuls of crushed tortilla strips in bottom of bowls, ladle taco soup over crushed chips, top each serving with shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, and a dollop of sour cream.  Place whole tortilla chips in center of dining room table.  When eating, scoop up the soup using whole tortilla strips (along with a spoon if you wish) ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S LIGHT and HEALTHY QUINOA (“KEEN-WA”) FIESTA SALAD

Quinoa has more protein then other grains.

It is full of iron and B and E vitamins,

contains more calcium then milk,

and it’s easy to digest...

Serves: (4)

Prep: 5 Mins.

Cook: 15 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Quinoa:

1/2 cup organic whole-grain quinoa, washed and drained

1 cup water

Pinch of kosher salt

Salad additions:

1 fresh corn on the cob, cooked with kernels removed

1 avocado, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

1 green onion, sliced on the diagonal

1 tablespoon lime juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

¼ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

METHOD

Bring the water, salt, and quinoa to a boil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan.  Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes.  Place the quinoa in a medium bowl to cool, with a damp paper towel placed over top of bowl so the quinoa doesn’t dry out while steam escapes. 

Add the remaining salad ingredients to bowl, toss to combine, and serve. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S FIESTA TACO SALAD in BAKED TORTILLA BOWLS

It’s healthy and easy to create
lovely shell-shaped bowls for
taco salad that’s crispy and yummy...


I found my recipe and photograph 
featured on  6-17-12 @
http://whotalking.com/flickr/guacamole+recipe

Servings: 4

Prep:  15 Mins.

Bake/Cook: 10 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

Shells:

4 8” Flour Tortillas

Olive oil spray

Salad:

1 lb. extra-lean ground venison/moose/beef/buffalo

1 pkg. taco seasoning

¾ cup water

2 cups lettuce, chopped

1 medium tomato, chopped

1 (4 oz. can) sliced olives, drained

Homemade salsa and guacamole

¼ cup sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Fresh sprigs of fresh cilantro

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray tortillas on both sides with olive oil.  Gently push tortillas down into ovenproof bowls to form the shell shapes.

Bake for about 10 minutes, just until tortillas become rigid and lightly browned.  Remove tortillas from oven and let cool (shells will become a bit more crispy).

Meanwhile, place a skillet over medium-high heat and brown the burger, add the taco seasoning and water, then simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Fill the shells by alternating layers of taco seasoned meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and olives.  Top each off with spoonfuls of salsa, guacamole, and sour cream.  Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, and fresh cilantro sprigs. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA’S FEISTY FIESTA MEXICAN RICE BOWL

A super hearty meal that is
without a doubt feisty with a fiesta
style in a snap!

Servings: (6 to 8)
Prep: 5 Mins. |
Cook: 30 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. lean burger (moose, venison, beef, or buffalo)
½ red bell pepper, chopped
½ spanish onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup water
1 tablespoon, canned diced hot jalapenos (less if you like it less spicy)
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1 (14.5 oz. can) diced tomatoes, retain juice
1 (14.5 oz. can) tomato sauce
1 pkg. dry original ranch dressing
1 pkg. dry taco seasoning
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (divided)

Garnish:
--Medium cheddar cheese, shredded
--Remaining cilantro

--Prepared steamed brown rice

METHOD

Note: Start the rice about an hour prior to serving.

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown burger ½ way, add the bell pepper, onion, and celery and cook until onion is translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the water, jalapenos, corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, ranch dressing, and taco seasoning; mixing to combine. Bring to boil, and reduce to low to simmer for 20 minutes. Add the ½ of the cilantro and cook for 1 more minute.

To serve, mound rice in the center of each bowl, spoon the fiesta sauce around its diameter, and sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese and the remaining cilantro. – Enjoy!

SANDRA’S SOUTH-OF-THE-BORDER CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP

A tried and true fiesta comfort soup...


[Featured on 3-19-12 at:
http://cook.sevnav.com/we-cook-soup/
sandras-fresh-tomato-basil-soup]

Serves: (4)
Prep/Cook: 25 Mins.

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons light olive oil
2 ribs celery, chopped
½ red bell pepper
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
¼ teaspoon sriracha sauce (or your preferred hot sauce)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1-1/2 cups water
2 fresh corn on the cob, kernels removed, (or 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed)
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cups skinless, cooked chicken, roughly shredded
1 (14.5 oz. can) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed (creamy white beans)
2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
2 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 avocado, seeded, and chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Garnish:
--4 lemon wedges
--tortilla chips

METHOD

In medium saucepan, heat oil over medium heat until hot. Add celery, bell pepper, onion, and garlic, and cook, covered, 8 to 10 minutes, until vegetables are tender while frequently stirring. Add cumin, chili powder, and sriracha sauce, and cook 30 seconds, while stirring. Add broth, water, corn kernels, and lemon juice to vegetable mixture; cover saucepot and heat to boiling over high heat.

Add chicken pieces, chopped cilantro, and cannellini beans into broth mixture in saucepan; heat to boiling, covered, over high heat for 3 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in chopped tomatoes. Taste for seasonings, adding sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, if desired.

Place a handful of crushed tortillas in bottom of each bowl, and ladle soup over top, and then sprinkle each bowl with avocado pieces. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over soup just prior to eating. Place additional whole tortilla chips along side for scooping. ~ Enjoy!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tip:  This soup is fabulous using lime instead of lemon as well (I just happened to have fresh lemons on-hand today.

SANDRA'S FIESTA FAJITAS

This fajita recipes goes well with
a host of meat types, including seafood
and shellfish (I just happened
to have a ribeye steak on-hand
when making these)...

Servings: (4)
Prep. 10 Mins. |
Cook: About 15 Mins.

Posted: by Sandra

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. beef, moose, or venison, cut into thin strips against the grain
--(or shrimp/prawns)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, julienned
½ yellow bell pepper, julienned
½ red bell pepper, julienned
½ green bell pepper, julienned
6 crimini mushrooms, sliced
1 clove of garlic, chopped
½ cup water
3 tablespoons fajita seasoning
--(or click here for my recipe: Sandra's Fajita Seasoning Blend)
4 (10”) flour tortillas

Topping options:
--cheddar cheese, shredded
--mozzarella cheese, shredded
--1 roma tomato, chopped

Sandra's Fajita
Seasoning Blend

--sour cream
--slices of jarred pickled jalapenos

METHOD

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound chicken, beef, (or shrimp that takes even less time than meat), etc., and sear until meat (or seafood) is cooked through, and then remove to a plate, and set aside.

Add yellow, red, and green julienned bell pepper, 1 julienned onion, and 6 sliced crimini mushrooms, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, tossing to combine and cook for 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup water and 3 tablespoons of  Sandra's Fajita Seasoning Blend to the skillet, and bring to a boil, and then let the sauce reduce by half. Add the meat back to the skillet and cook for 2 more minutes to heat through.

Serve filling wrapped in tortillas that have been heated (I just place mine on my electric burner set to low for a couple of seconds per side), and then add your desired toppings. – Enjoy!

SANDRA'S FIESTA GRILLED SHRIMP with a KICK

This is a perfect entree, side dish, or appetizer...

Servings: (6 to 8)

Prep: 15 Mins. |
Marinate: 1 Hr. |
Grill: 4 to 6 mins.

Posted: by Sandra

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. raw shrimp/prawns, peeled and deveined (tails on)
2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 teaspoons cilantro, chopped, (+ more for garnish)
1 teaspoon sugar
kosher salt
ground black pepper

***Garnish:
-- 1 teaspoon cilantro, chopped
-- 1 fresh lime, cut into wedges

METHOD

Whisk together the sriracha, olive oil, worcestershire sauce, garlic, cilantro and sugar, adding kosher salt and ground pepper to taste. Put in a 1-gallon plastic bag, add toss to ensure all the shrimp are coated with the marinade, and place in refrigerator for 1 hour.

Meanwhile, heat a grill to medium-high heat (have a mitt ready because skewers will get hot). Skewer the shrimp (5 shrimp per 10” metal skewer) and grill until pink for about 2 to 3 minutes per side just when they will have a 'loose curl' - do not overcook. Remove the skewered shrimp from the grill using mitts. Slide the shrimp off of the skewers using a fork, and place them on a serving platter. Sprinkle with freshly chopped cilantro, and wedges of fresh lime. ~ Enjoy!

SANDRA'S FIESTA NACHOS GRANDE

You will be amazed at how quickly
these Fiesta Nachos Grande are going
to disappear...

[Recipe profiled on Alaska Outdoors TV
on October 28, 2012
@ http://www.alaskaoutdoorstelevision.com/cooking/]

Servings: (4)
Prep: 20 mins. |
Cook Meat and Seasoning: 7 to 10 Mins.|
Bake Nachos: 7 to 10 Mins.

Posted: by Sandra

INGREDIENTS:

***Nachos:
1 lb. lean beef/moose/venison/buffalo burger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
5 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
--(reserving 1 cup for top)
1 large bag restaurant-style flour tortilla chips

***Salsa (Yields about 4 cups)
6 roma tomatoes, finely chopped
½ spanish onion, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chopped jarred-pickled-jalapeno slices
Handful of fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
1 lime, juiced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

***Guacamole (Yields about 2 cups)
2 large, ripe avacados, peeled, de-seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon sour cream
2 heaping tablespoons of freshly prepared salsa

***Garnish:
2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
2 scallions (green onions), finely sliced
1 tablespoon jarred-pickled-jalapeno slices (More, or less)
1 sm. can sliced black olives, drained
Handful of cilantro leaves, chopped

METHOD

In a medium skillet, brown the burger over medium-high heat, add the taco seasonings and water and cook according to directions, and set aside.

Prepare salsa by adding to a medium bowl the chopped onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and cilantro. Add the lime juice, and kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste, and set aside.

Prepare the guacamole by mashing the avocados, adding 1 tablespoon sour cream, and 2 heaping tablespoons of salsa mixture; combine, and set aside.

To build the nachos, begin by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. On a very large ovenproof dish; layer a few handfuls of tortilla chips, followed with 1/4 of the meat mixture, 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese, ½ cup of salsa, and repeat making 4 total layers; ending with 1 cup reserved cheddar cheese on top. Place platter of nachos on a foil-lined baking sheet, and bake for 7 to 10 minutes until most of the cheese is melted. Remove from oven.

Meanwhile, while nachos are baking, prepare the sides in three separate, small bowls of remaining salsa, sour cream, and guacamole, and set aside.

Sprinkle all of the garnish ingredients in the order listed over the hot nachos grande, and remove dish from baking pan. Carefully place dish of nachos in the middle of table over a hot pad (warn guests that platter is hot!). Place the three bowls of sides near serving platter of nachos. – Dig in and Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tip: You can also make this with cooked and coarsely shredded store-bought whole-roasted chicken that has been de-skinned and de-boned.

SANDRA'S FIESTA TACO SALAD

A fiesta explosion of flavors that will
quickly become one of your
family's favorite
go-to salads...

Servings: (8)

Posted by Sandra
Prep Time: 15 min |
Cook Time: 15 min.

INGREDIENTS

1 lb. lean beef burger (or moose/venison)
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large jar of medium spiced Picante Salsa (divided)
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 head of iceberg lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
1 green bell pepper
1 pint of cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters
2 sm. cans of sliced black olives, drained
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 regular-size bag Nacho Cheese Doritos chips, slightly crushed
1/2 bottle of Russian (or French) Dressing
--[or click for: Homemade Russian Dressing (make double batch)]

Garnish Options:
Sour cream
Green onion, sliced
Jarred pickled jalapeno slices

METHOD

In a large skillet, brown the lean burger 3/4's of the way, and add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the taco seasoning, and a ½ cup of the salsa and simmer for 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and let cool.

Meanwhile, tear the lettuce, and chop the bell pepper. Add them to a large bowl; plus the tomatoes, olives, and cheese. Once cooled, add the meat mixture.

Just before serving add the crushed Doritos (to maintain their crunchiness), and pour in the remaining salsa, and the 1/2 bottle of Russian dressing (or more if you like).

Toss to combine. Serve with a dollop of sour cream, sprinkle with green onions, and pickled jalapeno slices.