Homemade Tortilla Chips

If you prefer your tortilla chips warm and fresh (or if you just don't have any on hand), here's an easy way to make them at home.

Ingredients

corn tortillas
optional: salt, sugar, or cinnamon

Just cut tortillas into sixes and lay them on a baking sheet (one with holes for air to move through is optimal). To go with certain dips I like to sprinkle a little cinnamon on them. You can also add a little sugar or salt if you prefer.

Bake the chips at 375° F (190°C) for 12 minutes. Enjoy!

Rosemary Pepper Dip

A yummy bean dip with the robust flavors of rosemary and roasted peppers. Great with tortilla chips, Arabic bread, or your favorite crackers.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves garlic, sliced
30 ounces cooked and well-drained garbanzo beans
8 ounces roasted red peppers (drained if from a jar)
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
juice of half a lemon
1 teaspoon rosemary
1 teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon salt

Step 1: Mix all ingredients together in a food processor.

Step 2: Enjoy.

Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes were never so sweet as they are in this dish--it's so yummy, it's almost a dessert.

Ingredients

4 pounds sweet potatoes or yams
1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 cups miniature marshmallows
1 teaspoon cinnamon
A hearty sprinkle of nutmeg

Wash the sweet potatoes and boil them until soft. Drain, cool, and peel them, breaking them into small chunks.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Combine the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and one cup of marshmallows over medium heat in a saucepan until melted. Mix in the sweet potatoes.

Put the mixture into a casserole baking dish and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and top the sweet potatoes with the remaining 2 cups of marshmallows. Continue baking until marshmallows are light golden brown.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

A delicious version of mashed potatoes that everyone will love!

Ingredients

5 pounds potatoes
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons butter, plus additional slivers
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Wash the potatoes and cut them in quarters. (For extra creamy potatoes, peel them before boiling. For vitamin-rich potatoes, leave the skin on.) Boil until soft and mashable. Drain and mash potatoes, mixing in the cream cheese and sour cream. Add the remaining ingredients and mix until light and fluffy.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and put the potato mixture into a casserole baking dish. Drop some small slivers of butter onto the potatoes and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top.

Bake with a glass lid for 20 minutes, then uncover and bake for about 10 more minutes.  Cool slightly and enjoy.

Honey Soy Salmon

Ingredients
(for 2 servings)

2 salmon filets, about 6 ounces each
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon grated ginger (or ginger powder)
Sprinkle of sesame seeds
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Mix together the soy sauce, honey, lime juice, and ginger in a shallow dish.  Dip the salmon filets into the mixture and place them in a coated baking dish.  Pour a little more of the sauce on top of each filet, leaving a little for later.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

Broil salmon for 6-8 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn't burn.  During cooking, add the rest of the sauce directly onto the filets a little at a time.*

After it's cooked, top with chopped cilantro and enjoy.

*Alternatively, you can also fry the fish with a little oil in a pan instead of broiling it.