Copycat Chili's Salsa

When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, I couldn't wait to try it. I LOVE chips and salsa. Especially salsa. Seriously love it. At restaurants I ask for a little dish of it on the side when I order french fries. I could eat it with a spoon. And I would, if people wouldn't look at me like I was insane.

So, I made this and it was AWESOME. Oh. My. God. SO good. It didn't taste just like Chili's, but it was very tasty. And so economical. All I had to buy was a small can of jalepenos, which was a whopping $0.80. And it made a TON. Probably about the equivalent of 2 - 3 jars worth. And those jars aren't cheap... even at the commissary where the prices are awesome, a jar of salsa is still about $3.00. Not to mention the massive amount of preservatives in those jars.

(Ignore the ugly pictures & focus on how much this recipe makes!)

So try this. It's delicious. And so easy.

Copycat Chili's Salsa
(Recipe adapted from Six Sisters' Stuff)

Ingredients

• 2 14.5 ounce cans of tomatoes; drained. 
• 1 4 ounce can of jalepenos; drained (less if you like less heat)
• 1/2 of a small, red onion; roughly chopped.
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• The juice of one lime. 
• A small handful of cilantro

Directions

1. Roughly chop the onion & drop pieces in the food processor.
2. Smash the clove of garlic with your knife, remove the skins and drop in food processor. 
3. Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and pulse until smooth. 

This is best the next day. When it refrigerates over night, the flavors mix together really well and it's absolutely perfect.

Cresent Veggie Pizza

 
In October, my friend Heather made these little mini pizzas for my bridal shower, and they were the culinary hit of the party. Everyone raved about them, and asked me to get the recipe from her. When we had an office party recently, and were told to bring in finger foods/appetizers, I knew this would be the perfect thing!

Heather is the friend who introduced me to so many of my favorite foods. Before her, I had never enjoyed sushi, never tried Indian food, never eaten tapas style, etc. I had been in a long and incredibly unexciting relationship with a guy whose favorite restaurant was Texas Roadhouse, and was completely content with hamburgers and grilled chicken. And while I had always enjoyed good food, I had never enjoyed anything exciting.

Anyways, when she sent me the recipe I was stunned at how crazy simple these were to make. The add ins to the cream cheese give it a totally different flavor and I was stunned when I saw the crust was just canned crescent rolls. This appetizer is delicious enough for any party & is easy enough that you're going to make it over and over again!

Easy Crescent Pizza
(Recipe adapted from one found here & the one Heather emailed me.)

Ingredients:

• 2 cans (8 oz each) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
• 2 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup of Miracle Whip
• 2 teaspoon dill weed
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoon of onion salt
• 1 cup small fresh broccoli florets
• 1 cup of chopped, seeded tomato
• 1 cup of chopped bell pepper
• 1/2 cup of chopped black olives

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Unroll both cans of dough; separate dough into 4 long rectangles. In ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan, place dough; press in bottom and up sides to form crust.
3. Mix cream cheese, Miracle Whip, dill, garlic & onion salt until well blended. Spread over crust. Top with vegetables. Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours before serving. To serve, cut into squares and arrange on a cute platter. You should get anywhere from 24-32 squares, depending on how big you cut them.