Pico De Galla

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My brother "Choral Responses" posted his favorite salsa recipe. We have many salsa recipes that we like in our family, but here is our family staple. This recipe came from a friend from church who is Mexican. She doesn't measure, and neither do I. I'll give approximate amounts, but you can adjust to your liking.

2-3 Chopped large ripe tomatoes
1/2 Cup Chopped onion (white is best)
1/2 Cup chopped cilantro
3 large finely chopped/seeded fresh jalapeno peppers
1 tsp. cumin
2-3 cloves chopped garlic
the juice from half a lime
salt and pepper to taste

You could also add corn, or kidney beans if desired.

Chicken Croissant Sandwiches

1 Can of cubed chicken drained (or 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken)
1 package cream cheese room temperature
1/2 C chopped celery (or more, to your taste)
1/2 C cashews (not chopped too fine) (or more, to your taste)
Mayonaisse as needed
lettuce if desired
Croissant rolls (about 6 for this amount of filling)

Combine first 5 ingredients. Add mayonnaise as needed to help combine mixture
Slice croissant rolls in half and fill with meat mixture. (I don't slice all the way through)
Top with lettuce if desired. (I don't usually use it.)

Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

When my daughter was here for a short vacation last month she made these cookies. I don't know where the recipe came from, but I think she might have gotten it off the internet. To me these are PERFECT! I was concerned that the amount of flour might be too much, because I'm always having to adjust that in recipes. But these proportions worked great for me! This is going to be my new chocolate chip cookie recipe.

1 C butter softened
1 C white sugar
1 C brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 C flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp hot water
1/2 tsp salt
2 C chocolate chips
1 C chopped nuts

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2.) Cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar till smooth. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour. Add chocolate chips and nuts.
3.) Drop by large spoonful on to ungreased pans.
4.) Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are slightly brown. DON'T over cook!

Pancakes

Combine the following:
1 1/2 C. flour
3 Tb. sugar
1 3/4 TB baking powder
1 tsp. salt

In a separate bowl combine the following:
1 1/2 C. milk
3 TB melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Add dry mixture to liquid mixture. It will look a little bubbly, and it really spreads out after you put it on the pan.

For Buttermilk pancakes:
Add 1/2 tsp. baking soda. Decrese baking powder to 1 tsp. Substitute buttermilk for regular milk.