Homemade Salsa

Posted in 2019 Recipes, Adventures in the Kitchen, Inspirations in Life and in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Homemade Salsa is the best! I love making it at home because you can keep it simple or add new ingredients for a different flavor. It is never the same but always tastes delicious.

The inspiration for this recipe started with a precious friend of mine that I have known for over 30 years. I met her as a teenager and she has inspired me in many ways;
~as a young mom she inspired me to love my children and teach them well
~as a wife to be patient and put my husband first
~as a Christian to seek the Lord daily
~and in the kitchen to challenge myself to make healthy, fun and delicious meals.

I guess that is a lot of inspiration from a salsa recipe! While the recipe has evolved over the years, what I have learned from her has remained the same, steady and true.

I hope you are inspired to try this recipe. Make it your own. Enjoy!

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Salsa

1 white onion
1 bunch cilantro
3 Jalapeno peppers (seeded) add a few seeds for spicy flavor
5 Roma Tomatoes
1 can petite diced tomatoes 14.5 oz
1/4 Red onion
1 clove garlic
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp chili powder

Mix together in blender. Don’t puree, just pulse if you want it to have some texture.
Sometimes I just add a larger can whole tomatoes if I don’t have fresh ones. Still delicious it just has a lot more sodium.

You can keep it real simple and just blend together…white onion, peppers, cilantro, and can tomatoes. About as simple as you can get but so tasty! Just add chips. You can’t go wrong.

17Apr2019

Healthy Homemade Hummus

Posted in 2019 Recipes, Adventures in the Kitchen, Uncategorized by Kristy Rhine

This is a basic hummus recipe that I enjoy making because it is easy, quick and healthy. I don’t add a lot of salt, so you may want to add more to yours. My daughter actually likes this version better than the ones I have made with a lot more salt and olive oil. Give it a try and let me know if you like it or share your favorite recipe!

Homemade Hummus:
Ingredients:
1 garlic clove
1 can drained chickpeas or cook your own (garbanzo beans) according to package directions
1 lemon freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon Tahini paste
1/2 tsp salt (or 1 tsp if you prefer)
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 Tblsp olive oil
Fresh parsley and paprika

Instructions:
In food processor pulse the garlic then add the chickpeas, lemon juice, salt, tahini paste, cumin and cayenne pepper.
While this is processing, add the olive oil in a stream. If you need more to make it smooth, continue adding. (I added a little extra lemon juice)
Place on plate or bowl and garnish with the parsley and paprika. I used smoked paprika and it added a nice flavor. Swirl olive oil on top also. Eat with veggies, pita chips, crackers, etc.

ENJOY!

9Dec2018

Pecan Brittle in the microwave

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Homemade Pecan Brittle in the microwave…so easy.

I am posting the recipe for you. Keep in mind you really must adjust to your microwave, as some microwaves cook faster than others. Mine tended to cook a little faster as I have my setting at 100%.

This is my copy of the recipe…

If you find that copy hard to read, I added it below! Try this recipe! It really is easy once you know your microwave temps. I adjusted mine a bit over the years. I usually make 2 batches as the first one comes out a little dark.

PECAN BRITTLE
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup of lite Karo syrup
1 cup pecan pieces or halves
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda

Instructions:
Microwave the 1 cup sugar and 1/2 cup of Karo on high for 4 minutes using a clear medium glass bowl (I did it for 3 in my microwave)

Take out then stir in pecans. Put back in microwave for 5-7 minutes or until lightly brown. My microwave took about 4 minutes to get light brown.

Remove and stir in butter, vanilla and microwave for 1 more minute.

Remove and add in the baking soda. Stir together then quickly put on baking sheet. I let the brittle slide from side to side until it evens out. In a few minutes you will have pecan brittle that is easy to break and serve to your friends!

Enjoy!

3Dec2018

Gingerbread Loaf

Posted in 2018 Food, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

My daughter came home this weekend from Dallas and we decided to try making a Gingerbread Loaf. I found this recipe which was fairly easy and quick and I had all the ingredients so it was the winner!

I may have baked it a bit too long, (as it was a bit dry) but other than that, it turned out tasty and it made the house smell amazing.

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup molasses
1/2 cup boiling water
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×5 loaf pan and set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Stir well.
In a small bowl, add molasses and boiling water. Stir until combined. Add to wet ingredients.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add wet ingredients. Stir.
Pour batter into loaf pan. Cover loaf pan lightly with foil (remove foil halfway through baking. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
My oven tends to cook fast, so I only baked for about 40 minutes. Check it often after 40 minutes.
Sprinkle the top with powdered sugar.

11Jul2017

Cilantro Lime Chicken

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

My daughter is home for the summer from College..WHOOP! As we are trying to eat better and cook at home, we have discovered many recipes from other bloggers, TV personalities and our own recipes here at home.

We found this delightful recipe and it looked like the perfect summer dish. Here is the recipe…give it a try and let me know what you think! Cilantro Lime Avocado Chicken

20Dec2016

Thankfulness…not just for November

Posted in Adventures in the Kitchen, Halloween/Fall by Kristy Rhine

I am thankful for my family. What a gift from God.

I am thankful for friends joining us around the table for Thanksgiving

I am thankful for Pecan Pie and Rosemary Cornbread and friends who give me great recipes!

I am thankful for finding wonderful bloggers who share their favorite recipes. I love these cookies from Sally’s Baking Addiction. Delicious!

17Nov2016

Just a walk in the park…

Posted in 2016 Travel Adventures by Kristy Rhine

I could spend every day in this wonderful place called Central Park.

If I can ever get up the courage, I would like to spend one or two days alone in New York. I would love to go the park each day and read, eat a cupcake, sit and listen to that young girl playing her cello or the old man playing his guitar to “Imagine” and just enjoy my surroundings.

This year I had to wait for my sisters for a few hours, so I did at least get to walk around, find a great bench and read for a little while alone. Not to adventurous, but one step at a time! Not a bad view at all!

I did find a few cupcakes along the way each day. I love trying new bakeries as well as returning to my tried and true favorites!

APPLE SPICE CUPCAKE
from The Food Hall in the Plaza

11Jul2016

Take me out to the Ball Game

Posted in 2016 Travel Adventures, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

Travel adventures so far are still in Texas, but at least we get to catch a game!

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I grew up in Arlington…and on baseball. We do try to catch a game each year as a family and maybe squeeze in a couple more throughout the season with friends.

Family….

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Food….

Fun!

We hope someday to catch a Range game at Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago…maybe next year! At least our travels will extend beyond the great state of Texas!!

8Apr2016

Bluebonnets in Texas

Posted in 2016 Travel Adventures, Adventures in the Kitchen by Kristy Rhine

IMG_3050[1] We love our bluebonnets in Texas! They line the highways. People line the highways to stop and take a family photo. In fact, if you are from Texas, you have a family photo in the middle of bluebonnets. It’s just what we do.

My girls are grown, but we still stop and look at the bluebonnets when we are traveling. This year, I took a picture of my daughter, holding one of my pretzels, in the middle of this field of blue. I thought it was the right thing to do! I’m not sure that she felt this way, but she was a good sport.

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I could not resist this photo with the Texas and Aggie flag waiving in the background! This was one of my Easter pretzels..I wish I had made a bluebonnet pretzel for the photo…maybe next year!

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