the one with the taste-bud obsession

Fact: I love salsa. 

Fact: I don't really like the stuff from the jar. 

Hence, restaurant-perfect salsa at home!! I never thought I would be the kind of wife that makes my own salsa and yet here I am, food-processing with the best of them. Watch out world, this chick has appliances. 

Before you start thinking of me too highly, allow me to let you in on my secret - this salsa recipe is easy. I first discovered this recipe here but I've tweaked it to my liking.  I've made it half a dozen times over the last month or so and I've finally found the perfect blend of ingredients that make this salsa deliciously spicy without being too spicy. {I used to over-spice it with some jalapeno peppers and this one time... I rubbed my face afterwards by accident. And as I stood, fully clothed, leaning into the shower screaming whilst my skin burned and burned, I realized that the peppers didn't taste that great in the first place. My husband agreed. So take that, spicy peppers!} 

Ingredients: 

1 can whole peeled tomatoes

2 cans Rotel tomatoes and green chiles (mild)

2-3 cloves of garlic

2 limes (I'm an addict...)

1/2 white onion 

1 cup cilantro

bit of salt

bit of sugar

What you do: 

Put all the ingredients in the processor (or blender) and pulse it 7 or 8 times depending on your desired chunkiness. 

And that's all folks. Makes enough to last you for a fairly large tupperware container or a couple of fiestas. 

Party on, chicas!

the one with the slow-cookin'

Confession: I looooove my crock pot. It's this magical contraption where you throw stuff in a pot, let it simmer for a couple of hours, and then - voila! Taste-bud delight! I'm going to let you in on two extra secret slow-cooker recipes today. And by "extra-secret," I mean that I got them from somewhere else online and fully expect you to share them with your closest friends and family. Enjoy:) 

BBQ chicken sandwiches: 

4-6 chicken breasts

1 bottle of barbecue sauce

We're having this for the second time tonight (per Jesse's request) with rice, green beans, and maybe some biscuits. He's a little obsessed with this dinner.

Chicken tacos: 

4-6 chicken breasts

1 packet of taco seasoning 

1 jar of salsa (normal size is fine) 

I adore Mexican food so this recipe was one of my favorites! I got some small tortillas, chopped up some lettuce, put out some shredded cheese and sour cream and we settled in to watch some Georgia football:) 

I recommend letting both dinners simmer for a couple of hours (4 on high, 6 on low), and then one hour before the timer goes off, shred the meat. This allows the flavor to really soak into the meat and to get extra moist before serving. 

Seriously. These are the ONLY INGREDIENTS for these recipes. I'm telling you - magic. Prepare to look like the world's tastiest cook...by doing practically nothing at all.