Melt In Your Mouth Southwestern Quiche

1 Tbs butter
1/2 sweet onion chopped
1/2 Green bell pepper chopped
1/4 jalapeno chopped fine
2 Tbs cilantro chopped fine
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup shreded jalapeno jack cheese
1 pie crust

4 egg and 3/4 Half and Half whipped together until frothy and set aside
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

In a sautee pan heat butter on med. Stir fry onion and peppers and jalapenos until tender. Add salt and pepper.
In one pie crust transfer the onion pepper mixture to the bottom and spread evenly.
Top with cheese and pat down firm. Pour whipped egg mixture over cheese.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.
Cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve with fruit.
Servings:6

Gavin's Tail Twister # 14 : Sammy The Great

On any given day Sammy(11) is usually pounding on Gavin(7). I try to punish Sammy and Gavin always says "It is OK mommy, I don't want Sammy to go to time out. It was probably my fault anyways." This is proof that if you tell someone especially a kid that they are guilty of doing something bad, they eventually agree and confess even if they didn't do it.

This event involved Gavin being unusually mean to his big brother Sammy. I sent Gavin to the step to for time out. After a minute on the step, I thought to myself: Hitting Sammy on the head with a closed fist was deserving of a harsher punishment. So, I went to Gavin and said in a low voice like I do to the dog when I really mean something: "Gavin, I am very dissappoined in your behavior. This is something that I will not tolerate again. I think your punishment should equal the bad behavoir so you will go to your room for 30 minutes and think about what you did. Then you will come down, shower and go straight to bed without getting to watch TV tonight with your Dad, Samuel and myself.
Gavin burst into tear and ran to his room. As usua,l I forgot about Gavin being in time out until I heard a small voice from way upstairs calling "ma..a..am?".

"Oh Gavin!" I said "I am so sorry I forgot about you. Come on down and hop in the shower."

Gavin came down and hung his head down while he make his way to the shower. He sobbed as he undressed and then uttered "I wish Sam was an only child".

I responded with "I don't think you know what your saying."

"Oh yes I do! If Sammy was alone he would not have me to be so mean to him. Then he would be Sammy The Great and he would be so happy!"

I don't know why younger siblings gauge their own self worth by how happy their older brothers and sisters are. Gavin(7) thinks Sammy(11) hung the moon and Sammy would kick Gavin to the curb every single day of the week. Sweet Gavin keeps coming back wanting to hang with his big brother or just be in his presence. Occasionally I overhear Gavin saying under his breath "Sammy loves me, he just doesn't know it yet!"

Gavin Tail Twister #13 : changes Twas the night before school

Setting this up: Every night I lay on a tennis ball to work the knots out of my back. Every night Gavin asks "can I do that?" and Every night I eventually give him the ball.

Twas the night before the first day of school, when all through the house,

Everyone was still stirring, even the dog Maggie, no sign of any mouse.

The back pack were hung by the door in the mud room,

Mama was growing inpatient and about to lower the great big boom.

The children tip toed around or so they thought,

I heard every sound even the sound of that x-box we just bought.

The children should have been all snug in their beds,

They were up laughing and playing with Maggie instead.

Dad already showered and I on the net.
I could hear all the excitement over our pet.

I yelled up the stairs, "it's time to go to bed!"

"Are you listening, did you even hear what I just said?"

I finally went to see Gavin as he laid down to sleep.
I leaned over, kissed him and said " not a peep".
The start of a new school year, Gavin knew what he had to do.

As he looked up at me, I knew he still did not want to.

Longing for his mom to lay down and chat,
It was important to him that I do just that.
So, He reached behind his back to get a special present,
And asked with such sweetness, "mom don't you want to get in the tent?"

He scooted over and gave me most of the bed
Even offered to share his pillow with my head.
And "here you go mom, it's a ball for your back.
It will make you feel better now let's hit the sack."

Recipe #17: Avocado Salad Dip

1 ripe avocado (soft to the touch like a peach)
1 tsp red onion, chopped fine
1Tbs cilantro, chopped fine
¼ tsp minced jalapeno
½ juice of lime, seeds removed
¼ tsp sea salt
Dash of pepper

Cut around avocado lengthwise taking care not to cut through the seed. Split apart half of the avocado and scoop the seed out with a spoon. Then scoop the inside of the avocado out with a spoon and put in a serving bowl. Cut the avocado in small chunks. Add the remainder of ingredients. Toss with a fork and slightly mash some of the avocado. Top off with a sprinkle of sea salt and garnish with cilantro.
Serve with chips and salsa or as a side with Mexican food. Do not make too far in advance or it will turn brown. If you have to prepare ahead squeeze additional lime on top of finished salad and cover tightly with saran wrap.
Yields: 2 servings

Recipe #16: Mom’s Indian Yogurt Rice (Musiru Anah)

1 uncooked rice (long grain rice) I use Mahatma brand for this recipe
2 cup water

1 tbs corn oil
2 tsp Split Urid Dal, also called Matpe Beans (hulled and split)
10 curry leaves (if available)
½ tsp black mustard seeds
½ tsp cumin seed
1 medium Serrano or jalapeno chili finely chopped
½ large red onion chopped fine
½ cup fresh cilantro chopped fine

2 cup non-fat plain yogurt
1 cup butter milk
¼ cup sour cream

Cook ahead the Rice- in a double boiler:
If you don’t own one you can easily set one up by putting a metal mixing bowl that fits inside a covered pot. Fill covered pot with 1-2 inches of water. Heat water on medium heat so water gets hot and creates steam but not so it is boiling. Put uncooked rice and 2 cups water in the metal mixing bowl. Set metal mixing bowl into the pot of heating water. The water should not come above the half way point of the mixing bowl. Cover and cook for 40 minutes. It should appear wet but cooked when you uncover lid. Turn burner off and let rice cool completely in the pot with the lid on.
Prepare Yogurt:
Combine yogur, butter milk, and sour cream and set aside.
Prepare Masala:
Heat oil on med-hi, add Urid Dahl, stir 1 min. Add curry leaves and mustard seeds and cover immediately so oil does not splatter. Turn heat to med . Add cumin seeds and stir. Add Serrano chili and onions. Cook 2 minutes and turn off burner. Add cilantro and stir.
Final Preparation:
Combine Cooled Rice with Prepared Yogurt. Then fold in prepared masala. Sprinkel ½ tsp salt and fold in. Garnish with cilantro.
Variation: Add diced red bell peppers and more urid dahl if you like the hard crunch. After sitting over night the dahl is not crunchy. I like crunchy.
Serve immediately or refrigerate and serve later.
Yields: 4 servings

Recipe #15: Usha's Grilled Spicy Jack and Tomato Sandwich

2 slices seedless rye bread
1 tablespoon butter
1/3 cup grated Jalapeno Jack Cheese
2 slices firm but ripe tomato

Heat griddle to medium high. Spread butter on rye bread and seer the bread on the butter side. Turn griddle on Low. Divide cheese on each piece of bread . Lay the tomato slices on top of the cheese on one piece of bread. Once the cheese starts to melt, flip the second piece of bread over onto the tomatoes. Heat until cheese is completely melted. You may need to flip the sandwich 2 or 3 times to prevent burning. Sharp cheddar works well if you don't like the spicy Jalapeno Jack.
Serve with a cup of tomato soup.
Yields: 1 Sandwich

Recipe #14: Salsa Good Enough to Drink

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1 Cup Fresh Cilantro, divided in half (washed and 1/2 grossly chopped, other 1/2 chopped fine)
½-1 large Jalapeno, seeds removed (taste the Jalapeno if it is spicy add 1/2 if mild add whole)
¼ medium White Onion, grossly chopped
1/8 medium White Onion, hand cut into small pieces and set aside
1 (11.5oz) can Original Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilies drained
1 (14 oz) cans Whole Peeled Tomatoes drained (reserve 2 Tbs juice)
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbs reserve juice of tomato from the can of whole peeled tomatoes can
1 fresh Lime Juice, squeezed (about 4Tbs)

Set aside in 1/8 white onion with 1/2 cup cilantro chopped fine in a plate. Squeeze 1 Tbs lime over onion and cilantro.

In a food processor add cilantro, jalapeno and 1/4 onion. Pulse 4 times until all items are chopped into small chunks. Transfer into serving bowl. Pour drained Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilies into food processor pulse 3 times until tomatoes are in small chunks (but not pureed). Transfer into serving bowl with the cilantro jalapeno onion mixture. Pour drained whole Peeled Tomatoes into food processor pulse 4-5 times until tomatoes are in small chunks (but not pureed). Transfer into serving bowl with the cilantro jalapeno onion mixture. In a small microwavable dish combine 2 Tbs reserve tomato juice with the sugar and salt. Heat in microwave until sugar and salt are dissolved (about 15 sec). Pour over tomato mixture. Fold in the set aside finely chopped onion and cilantro. Squeeze lime about 3 Tbs. over tomato mixture. Stir to mix. Serve with chips. I use Tostito Scoops. If salsa is too spicy add additional 1/4 tsp salt and 1Tbs lime. You can also serve with sour cream on the side.
Salsa will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Yields: 4 Cups Salsa

Recipe #13: Really Good Spaghetti Sauce -Simple and Spicy

4 tablespoons Olive Oil
½ large Sweet Onion, Chopped
1 tablespoons Garlic Minced
½ teaspoons Dried Basil
1 tablespoons Dried Oregano
1 (11.5oz) can Original Rotel Tomatoes
2 (14 oz) cans Petit Diced Tomatoes

In a medium sauce pan, heat olive oil on Medium High. Add onion and stir for 1 min. Add Garlic and stir for 1 min. Add Basil and Oregano and stir for 1 min. Add Rotel and stir for 1 min. Add Diced Tomatoes and stir for 1 min. Reduce heat to Med-Low for 20 min. stirring occasionally. Serve over pasta. Garnish with Grated Pecorino Romano Cheese.
Yields: 6 one cup servings.