Garden Tomato Salsa

This is a very simple salsa that is spicy and full of flavor, especially if you can get your tomatoes from the backyard. 

Ingredients:

1 medium onion

3 cloves garlic

3-4 jalapeños

5 large tomatoes

1/2 - 1 cup cilantro (or a handful)

juice of 2 limes

1 tablespoon salt

1 tsp pepper

Preparation:

Chop onion, garlic, tomato into chunks. Remove stems from jalapeños, de-seed and chop up. Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend until combined and a little chunky (salsa will be fairly smooth).

Serving sugestions:

Scoop it up with tortilla chips, top of tacos, tostadas, burgers or anything else you want to add a little kick to. I love mixing this salsa in with eggs and serving with warm corn tortillas.

Notes:

This makes a full blender of salsa. Freeze half of it for later or serve it at a party!

Vegan Chocolate Mousse Parfait

This delicious dessert will fool just about anyone.  It is Vegan, Gluten Free and healthy all while being chocolate?  The secret ingredient for the creamy texture?  Avocado.  Ssssshhh, don't tell.

Ingredients:

2 large ripe avocados

1/2 cup raw cacao powder or unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 cup raw agave or brown rice syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup ground flaxseeds

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

2 dates. pitted and chopped

2 Tbl unsweetened shedded coconut

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Pinch of sea salt

Fresh fruit (raspberries or strawberries are best)

Directions;

1. In a food processor or coffee grinder* combine flaxseeds, walnuts, dates, coconut, cinnamon, and salt.  Pulse until the texture is to your liking.  You can store up to a week in a sealed container.  If you have extra is would be great in yogurt or ice cream.

2. Puree avocado,  agave or syrup, and vanilla in a food processor or blender* until smooth.  Refrigerate until chilled.  It will keep for up to 3 days in a tightly sealed container.

3. Using a wine glass, martini glass or a small ice cream dish layer the mousse and the dry topping until the glass is full.  Add your fruit on top.

Notes:

*Serves 4

*A food processor works best, but a blender will do. 

*I have also used a Zyliss chopper and it worked fine

*Vegan and Gluten Free



Chocolate Marshmallow Treats

I love this super easy but impressive dessert and

it won't take you more than 20 minutes!

Ingredients:

Bag of large marshmallows

Bag of chocolate chips (I prefer dark chocolate)

Topping of your choice (ideas include Heath toffee bits, pretzels, almonds or peanuts) the options are endless

Directions:

 Chop your desired toppings and set aside.  Pour desired amount of chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl.*   Heat according to package directions but usually 30 second intervals and stir until smooth.  Dip marshmallow into chocolate about half way and then place on your serving dish or into roomy storage container.  Before the chocolate starts to harden sprinkle on a small amount of your chosen topping.  Refrigerate until chocolate is matte and firm (usually about 20 minutes). 

Notes:

*You can make this dessert any size based on the occassion

* Make sure with the quantity of chips and your bowl selection you can dip the marshmellow in about a 1/2 inch.

*Have your serving dish or roomy container ready before you start so the chocolate can solidify without being disturbed.

Cucumber Feta Salad

I was starting to out together a salad with dinner last night and realized the lettuce had gone bad.  I had a cucumber and some grape tomatoes so I put this together and it tasted great!  Make this in any size you need.  For a side for 2 we used a 1/2 of a cucumber 1/3 of a package of grape tomatoes.

Ingredients:

Cucumber, sliced

Grape or Cherry Tomatoes, halved

Feta Crumbles

Balsamic Vinegar

White Vinegar

Powdered Garlic

Sea Salt

Directions:

• Combine equal parts cucumbers and tomatoes onto a plate or in a shallow bowl
• Drizzle evenly with white vinegar to your liking
• Drizzle evenly with balsamic vinegar
• Sprinkle garlic powder  and sea salt over top
• Add feta crumbles

•                                                                                                                                                  Notes

Serve immediately or within 1 day of preparation. 

Great for lunch or as a side for dinner.

Easy to make for various serving sizes