Homemade Chunky Salsa & Tomato Chicken Soup

My homemade salsa, cranberry sauce, and cranberry creamy sauce.

Homemade chunky salsa :)  I made this today and it is so yummy. Serve cold with tortilla chips. Perfect. My husband says to me, " No need to buy store bought salsa anymore."

1 can diced tomatoes

6 ripe fresh tomatoes, chopped

1 large green bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

3 clove garlic, minced

1 can sweet corn kernel (Green Giant)

1-2 small jalapeno, seeded and diced

chopped avocados (optional)

handful fresh cilantro

1 pk Santa Maria taco seasoning or make your own tex mex seasoning

salt and pepper for taste

1 tablespoon cumin

about a tablespoon red whine vinegar (optional)

4 tablespoons fresh lime juice

Tex mex seasoning:

2 teaspoons chili powder

1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 pinch red pepper flakes

Mix chili powder, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.

Instructions for making salsa:

In a large mixing bowl add can tomato with juice, chopped tomatoes, diced green bell pepper, diced onions, minced garlic,corn kernel, chopped jalepenos, chopped avocados.

Season with tex mex seasoning, fresh chopped cilantro, cumin, lime juice, and salt&pepper. Mix all ingredients well (taste for seasoning and adjust as needed). Serve with chips, tacos or other Mexican entrees, as a baked potato or omelet topping, soup garnish, etc. 

My homemade tomato chicken soup

I seasoned my whole chicken and roast in the oven for 1 1/2 hour. Shredded and cut meat into bite size with fork and knife. Set that aside.

Chopped celery, onions, garlic, red bell pepper, and tomatoes. Set aside.

1 can small fresh corn kernels.

Freshly chopped coriander leaves.

In a soup pot on high heat. Added tablespoons olive oil.

Then I add in onions and garlic. Saute them for 4 minutes.

I added the rest of my veggies and saute them for another 3-4 minutes.

I added my chicken. Stirred everything together well. Low heat to medium. 

Added 2 quarts water, 4 cubes of chicken bouillon, 1 can tomato, 1 cup of my homemade salsa............ 

Added 2 tablespoons lime juice

Boiled for 5 minutes. Then cover and let simmer for about half hour.

Half hour later, added fresh chopped coriander leaves. Simmer for 12 minutes.

Serve hot. Topped with cheddar mozzarella cheese. Could also topped with tortilla chips or could of add long grain rice.

Chocolate Chip Cookie & Sweet Oat Biscuit Cheesecake bars

After making and eating my homemade red pork buns. For dessert I made homemade chocolate chip cookie/sweet oat biscuit cheesecake bars. These are heaven in your mouth.

I crushed sweet oat biscuits and Norwegian sweet biscuits with 1/2 cup melted butter and 3 tablespoon sugar

I spread biscuit mixture in a baking sheet. I baked for 10 minutes in the oven on 350 degrees F.

Then I added homemade chocolate chip cookie dough on top.....

Then spread on top cookie dough with homemade chocolate chip cheese cake filling and baked in oven 375 degrees F for 40 minutes.

Place in a cool place to cool down.

 Here is my homemade chocolate chip cookie/sweet oat biscuit cheesecake bars:)

Red Pork Buns

I have been feeling homesick for a while and I was craving for these pork buns. There isn't any China town in Norway or any Chinese bakery that I know of either.  So I made my own version of Red Pork Buns. These taste just like the ones I would buy in China town, Boston. My dad loves pork buns too. I remember as a kid he would make these buns. It's pretty easy to make and he would be very proud that I have made my own. I wanted to share this recipe so here it is........

In a bowl mix 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 package instant dry yeast, and 1 cup water.

Mix all ingredients with hand. Knead until slightly smooth dough.

 Red Lotus special flour I bought at my local Asian market

In another bowl add 1 cup of red lotus brand (special white flour), 2 teaspoon baking powder, 1 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 egg white, and 3 tablespoon butter. 

Add the flour dough into this mixture and knead.

Knead and form into a large ball. Set in a bowl, cover. Let rest until double size.

While dough is rising. For my filing mixed together in a bowl a pound ground pork, salt, pepper, seasoning sauce (like maggi or golden mountain soy sauce)red pork seasoning (have the recipe on my other blog called Fried Rice and Asian red prok), chopped 1 small onion, 3-4 clove minced garlic, 2 stalk chopped green onion. Mix all ingredients well and set a side.

I also added on the side of my filling sausages (Chinese sausages) and sliced boil eggs to go with my filling. You can also add other veggies like chinese cabbage, shitake mushrooms, diced carrots. Any veggies you perfer.

After dough has double it size. I cut dough into 12 portions.

I knead each dough and shape them into ball shape. Then flour surface with special white flour. Used my rolling pin and flat each into circles with the edge thinner than the middle

Then in the center of dough I add ground red pork mixture, eggs, and sausages.

Then pinched the seams tightly forming into a bun. Placed small square baking paper underneath prevent them from sticking in the steamer.

These are ready to be steamed.

Place buns in a bamboo steamer and add water to the pot water can not touch the bambo steamer and steamed buns on medium/high heat for 12-14 minutes. Turn off heat and let rest for 5-7 minutes. Serve hot.

After steaming. These taste exactly like those in the Chinese bakery.

Dark Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Pretzel Balls

I had to make these and it is so addicting, yummy, and filling. My kids love these.  

 In a bowl I mixed 1 cup crushed pretzel sticks and 1 1/2 cups peanut butter mixed well with fork. I put in the freezer for half hour so it would be easier to shape as balls.

I heated up 1 milk chocolate bar with 1 tablespoon butter, 1 tablespoon good quality dark chocolate powder and 3 tablespoons heavy cream. Set aside.

Half hour later I took my peanut butter and pretzel mixture out and roll them with spoon and hand, form into bite size balls.

Then I rolled my peanut butter pretzel balls into my melted chocolate. 

Set to cool or in refrigerator for about half hour until chocolate has become solid and enjoy.

It's optional to add shredded coconut on top. It taste really good with it.