Pico De Gallo

I LOVE pico! So does my 7 year old daughter. In fact when I made steak fajitas last week, we ate all of the pico before dinner was served and ended up having to make another batch! lol For that reason I doubled my original recipe so that you will have plenty for the family. But you could also half it to serve 2-3 people. Super simple. You can also add a chopped garlic clove if you'd like. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. 

Simple Pico de Gallo
makes about 3 cups 

6 medium Roma tomatoes
1 small white onion (or red)
1 jalapeno pepper
juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup or so of chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste

Cut the tomatoes in half and take out the seeds under running water. Cut the tomatoes into small pieces, and add to a mixing bowl. Finely dice the onion and the jalapeno (remove the seeds if desired). Toss the onion and jalapeno in the bowl with the tomatoes. Add the chopped cilantro and mix well finishing up with the lime juice and salt and pepper. It's better if you can refrigerate it for about 15-20 minutes so the flavors will settle. 

Note: When I want a "kicked up" guacamole, I will make a half a batch of this pico and mix it with 3-4 mashed avocados. Heavenly.

Bruschetta with Balsamic Drizzle

I posted this on my sister's site today, but it's just too good not to share with the dairy free world! The original recipe called for just a 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese, and I know it is just as delicious without any cheese, so here you go! Heaven! Seriously, I could eat it every day! :)

A few notes: I used a grande ciabatta baguette from Sams Club, but any of those baguette type of breads will work. Last night for dinner I sliced the entire baguette, but for the leftovers today I cut off a 6 inch piece and then sliced it lengthwise. I'm telling you this because if you like your bread really thick-do it this way, and if you like thinner bread and heavy on the tomatoes-slice a bunch of thin slices. (If you are confused I have a pic at the end to show the difference). Also only make as much as you will eat because the bread will go soggy. So make what you want and then put the rest of the tomato mixture in the fridge and when you want more, pull it out and slice up more bread. The drizzle is quite rich so use it sparingly (but it is amazing!), and next time I'm going to half the below recipe because I had way too much. Even though it says to drizzle before you toast, next time I will drizzle after so that it looks fancy on the serving platter. :)

Bruschetta with Balsamic Drizzle:
Recipe adapted from Neighbor Julia

Bruschetta:
6 roma tomatoes- chopped (firmer tomatoes are better for this recipe)
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
2 cloves fresh garlic (use the real thing! minced)
2 T. Balsamic Vinegar
1 T olive oil
salt and pepper (to taste)
1 long skinny baguette sliced thinly (I used chibata, but sour dough or any would work)

Mix all ingredients (except for bread) in a medium sized bowl. Allow to chill in fridge for at least 2 hours for best flavor. (I like to make mine a day ahead if I have time). When ready to serve slice bread and toast bread slightly in oven. Top each piece of toast with bruschetta, drizzle recipe below, and toast again. 

Balsamic Drizzle:
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 T. corn starch

Stir all ingredients together in a small saucepan. Boil until slightly thickened (add extra corn starch if needed). Let cool 5 min. or until thickened to consistency you would like (don't let it get too thick). Drizzle over bruschetta and toast. Enjoy!

Hopefully you can tell the difference between the slices- the first is for a thinner, more traditional bruschetta

 This one is for a thicker bread- slicing the baguette lengthwise and opening it up

Original Chex Party Mix

Chex mix is such a great snack, especially for the kids. The orginal chex mix bag that you buy does have dairy warnings on the label, so a while back I found this recipe and was so excited to make my own dairy free. When I was living in Utah I actually borrowed the equipment from the cannery, made huge batches of this stuff and canned them in #10 size cans. Just in time for the super bowl- enjoy!

The Original Chex Party Mix
Recipe from Chex
Makes 24 1/2 cup servings (or 12 1 cup servings)

3 cups corn chex cereal
3 cups rice chex cereal
3 cups wheat chex cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bit size bagel chips or regular ones broken up
6 Tbsp dairy free butter or margarine
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp seasoned salt
3/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder

In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter/margarine uncovered on high about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
Microwave uncovered on high 5-6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

No-Bake Energy Bites

My sister posted these on our other blog we have and I tried them today. They are super yummy and quite addicting I might say! I thought they would also be a nice healthy snack for the kids since I'm trying to sugar-detox the whole family after the holidays :) Perfect for allergies since there's no dairy and no egg. The Enjoy Life dairy free chocolate chips are perfect for this because they are already mini.

No Bake Energy Bites
Recipe from Brooke Salcido @ Four Sisters' Kitchens

1 cup oatmeal
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup mini dairy free chocolate chips
2 tsp vanilla

Mix everything together really well. Let chill for about 30 minutes. Roll into balls and enjoy! Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container (they'll keep about a week)

Hotdog Mummies

I'm sure you've seen this idea before because it's been around a long time, but I just had to share anyways. I started making these when I was student teaching a high school cooking class. The high school students loved them just as much as my little kids do. I made them tonight with refrigerated bread sticks, but they didn't taste as good as when I make them with crescents. You can also just use your favorite roll or bread stick recipe as well if you are worried about different allergens in the prepared stuff.

Mummy Hotdogs

package of hot dogs

refrigerated crescent rolls

ketchup and mustard

If you are using the crescent rolls take them out of the package (they will be in the triangles but still together) and press the seams so you have one big sheet. Take a pizza cutter or a knife and cut strips about 1/2-1 inch wide. Take one strip at a time and wrap around each hot dog leaving a little spot for the head and eyes to stand out. Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes until the dough starts to brown. Once you take them out of the oven you can make little eyes with some mustard. (I used a toothpick)

DIY Salsa

This recipe was in my magazine this month, so I figured I would give it a try. I've canned salsa a few times in college, but let's face it-it's much easier to buy the jarred stuff! (especially with 3 little tykes running around). When I thought about how much sodium the store bought salsa has compared to this easy stuff, I might start making it myself just for my kids' health. I'm sure there are a million salsa recipes out there! This one was super easy and really mild for kids. It's more of a pico de gallo type of salsa if you ask me. If you like it with more heat, add more chile. If you don't have a food processor, just get out your sharp knife and get to work. I think the biggest perk to doing it yourself, besides it being low sodium, is that you can choose your chunkiness. I did mine really fine so the kids devoured it!

DIY Salsa
Recipe from Good Housekeeping June 2010
Makes 3 cups

15 sprigs cilantro
1 serrano chile, ribs and seeds discarded
1 small clove garlic
1/2 small white onion, cut in quarters
6 rips plum tomatoes (about 1 pound) cored and cut into quarters
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
salt

In food processor, with knife blade attached, pulse cilantro, chile, and garlic until very finely chopped. Transfer mixture to large bowl.
Place onion in food processor; pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to bowl with the cilantro.
Place tomatoes in food processor; pulse until chopped. Transfer to bowl with onion. Add lime juice and salt, and stir until well mixed. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

Black Bean Salsa

I call this "summer salsa" because it uses all the yummy foods you can grow in a garden or buy fresh at the grocery store in the summertime. I am forever grateful to my friend Lyndsie for entertaining us one night with this salsa among other delicious foods, and for sharing the recipe with me! Since then I have made this salsa many times with quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, and just for a fun snack. I am in love with this salsa, and so are my kids. They don't even realize all the veggies they are eating! A few notes: you can also add green, yellow or red peppers or chopped up avocado, but I think it's tasty as is. F.Y.I- "Good Seasons" is made by Kraft Foods and I gave them a phone call just to double check their product. They say there is absolutely no dairy in their Italian Dressing Packet.

Black Bean Salsa
Recipe from Lyndsie Field

5 roma tomatoes, chopped
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 ears of corn, cooked and cut off the cob
4 green onions
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
squeeze of lime

Dressing:
1 pkg "Good Seasons" Italian Dressing
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar

Mix everything together in a big bowl and then pour dressing over the top. Stir well because the dressing will settle at the bottom.