30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30: Salsa Two Ways

Homemade salsa is the first item I get to cross of my list of 30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30. I decided to make two different types of salsa for Superbowl Sunday. The first recipe is from my Dearest Auntie Chris, who is a phenomenal cook. This salsa recipe is super easy and only requires throwing a bunch of things together, so it really isn't a true testimony to the excellent cook my Aunt Chris is. Regardless, this salsa is always a hit at our family get togethers. People chow down on it and the people in my Mom's family love to eat!! I love how the fresh chopped cilantro really shines through in this salsa and the crunch of the onion is a great balance to the corn and black beans.

Aunt Chris's Black Bean & Corn Salsa

Ingredients

1 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 small purple onion, chopped

Chopped garlic to taste (I used three cloves because we are big garlic fans)

1/2 bunch chopped cilantro

1 jar of salsa

Directions

Mix all ingredients together. Chopped avocado may be added too, but the salsa will not last as long. 

The second salsa that I made was an adaptation of a salsa recipe that the mom of a former student, Jody, sent me. It's a bunch of fresh ingredients that make the salsa super delicious.  Another great thing about this salsa is that it keeps for up to 8 days.

Mexican Salsa

Ingredients

32 ounces of canned tomatoes

3 jalapeno peppers (I took the seeds out, but if you like heat, keep them in)

1/4 teaspoon of salt

3 cloves of garlic

2 tablespoons of olive oil

1 diced onion
1/2 tablespoon fresh oregano 

1/2 bunch cilantro

Directions

Blend all ingredients but the cilantro together in blender or food processor. Add in cilantro last. 

Quick Turkey Swedish Meatballs

This is another recipe from the cookbook the women in my mom's family put together.  Aunt Marlene shared this recipe for Swedish Meatballs and I've made it a couple times. The husband loves it, probably because there is so much meat! This recipe simmers the meatballs in alfredo sauce, but Aunt Marlene told me she also puts the meatballs on hoagies and covers them in marina sauce for a delicious meatball sandwich. The meatballs are super easy and quick and I like them on whole wheat egg noodles, but they would be great with spaghetti or covered with BBQ sauce for an easy appetizer.

Aunt Marlene's Quick Turkey Swedish Meatballs

Ingredients:

1 20 oz package of ground turkey

1 egg

2 tablespoons of dried onion bits

1/2 cup of old fashioned oats

Dash of pepper

1 teaspoon garlic salt - I used more since we love garlic

1 teaspoon salt

Mix all together in large bowl and form into 20 meatballs

In a large heavy pan slowly heat 2 15 ounce jars of alfredo sauce (since I couldn't find mushroom alfredo sauce, I also added in 2 cans of mushrooms) Drop meatballs into sauce and simmer gently for about 30 minutes, keeping the pan covered. Turn the meatballs every 10 minutes to cook evenly.

Serve over cooked noodles or rice.

**Note: the meatballs can be made the night before for better firmness. Cover and refrigerate until ready for sauce. 

30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30

I am borrowing this idea from one of my favorite food bloggers, Kelsey at Apple A Day. Kelsey recently turned thirty and made a list of thirty things she wants to make to celebrate being thirty. How cool is that? Since I will be 30 in a little over a year I decided to make my own list. I do not know where life will take the husband and I by the time I am 30. We are hoping the Navy will send us to Japan (where I can take authentic sushi making classes!!!), hence, my list! These thirty things are recipes I've either always wanted to make or think are very challenging. My husband told me that I have an adventurous spirit in the kitchen so I've decided to prove him right. I want to attempt some recipes that right now seem out of my league. Please share with me your suggestions, ideas, favorite recipes, or dishes that were triumphs for you. I have ten items left blank on my list and would love your input! I'll keep you updated on the progress. This is sure to be an adventure.

30 Things to Make Before I Turn 30

1. Cornish Hens [Check!]

2. Homemade Salsa [Check!]

3. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies [Check!]

4.  Noodles from scratch (Recipe from Jody) [Check!]

5. Cheese Souffle [Check!]

6. Blueberry Pie [Check!]

7. Homemade Marshmallows [Check!]

8. She Crab Soup [Check!]

9. Beef Pot Roast [Check!]

10. Julia Childs' Bearnaise Sauce [Check!]

11. Monkey Bread [Check!]

12. Yeast Bread

13. Sweet Potato Soup [Check!]

14. Julia Childs' Poulet au Porto [Check!]
15. Homemade Pretzels with Homemade Mustard Dip [Check!]

16. Scones [Check!]

17. Beer battered fish [Check!]

18. Homemade Granola [Check!]

19. Rack of lamb [Check!]

20. Pasties (Recipe from A. Chris)  [Check!]
21. Pioneer Woman's Rosemary Rolls [Check!]
22. Lasanga [Check!]
23. Eggplant Parmesean [Check!]
24. Fettucine Alfredo (Recipe from Mary) [Check!]
25. English Muffins  [Check!]
26. German Potato Salad[Check!]
27. Giada De Laurentiis's Basil Pesto Sauce [Check!]
28. Rib Eye Steak with Pan Jus [Check!]
29. Chicken Braised in Red Wine [Check!]

30. Bean Burgers (Recipe from Margaret) [Check!]

Southern Turnip Supreme

My husband and I signed up for the winter CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) at our local Farmer's Market and received several large turnips in our last goodie bag. I wanted to find an new turnip recipe, as even though the Turnip Gratin I made was absolutely delicious, it's not on our Spring Break healthy eating diet. I came across this recipe on  All Recipes, a super cool website that has a ton of recipes that are reviewed by home cooks who have actually tried it. I love that! This Southern Turnip Supreme recipe received 4 out of 5 stars and looked very easy and quick. Plus, with a name like, "Southern Supreme" I knew it was going to be belly warming good! So I went for it and am glad that I did! I don't know if it was this certain batch of turnips or the method that I cooked them, but they seemed sweeter in this recipe than in the gratin. My husband commented that he really liked the texture of the turnips in this dish. Since you boil and simmer them for 20 minutes they come out perfect...not too mushy, not too crunchy. The best part of this dish is the ooey gooey cheddar cheese that melts on the top. You only need half a cup, so this recipe is for the most part very healthy!

Southern Turnip Supreme

Ingredients:

• 1 cube vegetable bouillon
• 1 cup water
• 3 cups peeled, cubed turnips
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sour cream - I completely forgot this and the recipe was still fantastic!
• 1/2 cup shredded sharp white Cheddar cheese
• chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

Directions: 

Place the vegetable bouillon cube into a saucepan with the water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until the bouillon cube dissolves, about 1 minute. Stir in the turnips, onion, and garlic, return to a boil, and cook the mixture until the turnips are tender, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook until most of the liquid has been evaporated, 10 to 15 more minutes.

Lightly stir in the sour cream to coat the turnips. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with shredded Cheddar cheese and parsley.

Sesame Noodles

I've been wanting to try a recipe with tahini for a while now. Tahini is a Middle Eastern paste made from sesame seeds and olive oil. After two failed attempts and scouring every aisle in my local grocery stores, I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to find any tahini, but thankfully I enlisted the help of a employee at Harris Teeter who found it among the Jewish food. It is a large jar that is fairly expensive...I think we paid around $8, but wow, is it worth it!! It is like a runny peanut butter, but with a rich sesame taste and it was definitely the star in this recipe. This is one of my favorite things I have made so far in my food blogging career. The blend of peanut butter, tahini, sesame oil, and rice vinegar make a smooth and creamy sauce and the crunch of the green onions and sesame seeds on top of the carrots and pasta make this dish delicious comfort food. 

I whole heartedly recommend that the next time you are at the grocery you ask where the tahini is. Definitely ask - don't waste a ton of time searching for it like me! Now that I have a whole lot of leftover tahini, I am going to try to find  more recipes that use it, , so if you have any suggestions, please let me know!!

Sesame Noodles

From Good Things Catered

Ingredients:
1 (8oz) package whole wheat thin spaghetti
1 large carrot, ends removed and sliced into thin matchsticks
1 heaping Tbsp tahini
1 Tbsp creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp good quality sesame oil
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
1 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
6 green onions, sliced thinly, dark green ends removed
2 Tbsp sesame seeds

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine tahini, peanut butter, sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce and green onions. Stir to combine well and set aside. In last 2 minutes of cooking time, add carrot pieces to boiling water. Remove 1 c. pasta water from pan and set aside. Drain pasta and carrots and place into large bowl along with other ingredients. Add 1/2 of reserved pasta water and toss to combine all ingredients. Add sesame seeds, let sit for 1 minute and add additional pasta water to obtain desired consistency. Serve warm or cold.