Mango Salsa

We were invited to a salsa themed party yesterday, so I made mango salsa. I've made this a couple times before and it is always a hit. Not only is it delicious, but it's also very colorful and presents well. The original recipe doesn't call for jalapeno, but I find it essential to bring a little depth to the flavor. You taste the sweetness of the mango first, and then get hit with a little heat a few seconds later. I chop up one jalapeno with the seeds and throw it in there. I used four mangoes and a whole red bell pepper for mine.

Buttermilk Honey Wheat Bread

My husband's grandma is downsizing. Last time she did that, we got her TV. This time, we have been blessed with her bread machine. I've tried using a bread machine in the past and was disappointed with the results - but I think you just have to find the right recipe, and accept the fact that your bread will look more like a block than a loaf. I've made this bread once so far, and am making it a second time in the bread machine as I write. It has a nice flavor, is moist, has good structure and a nice slightly crunchy crust. Or as my husband said to me after he ate a slice - "... you've done a very good thing."

Spiced Pumpkin Bread

I have made this bread five or six times now, and it is one of my favorites. It's an easy bread to make for get togethers, and I usually have all the ingredients on hand. I've played around with the sugar content a few times - 3 cups of sugar is way too much. I usually use 2 1/4 cups of white sugar. This last time I used 1 1/4 cup of white sugar and 1 cup of brown sugar. I can't tell a big difference using brown sugar, but, hey, variety is the spice of life, I say. The last few times I have added a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips, which made a great bread into a rock-my-world bread. :) Which just goes to show you the truth of the old adage that you can't go wrong with chocolate chips. It's kind of like a stick of butter. Any recipe that starts with a stick of butter is going to be tasty. Artery clogging as well, but I digress. Anyway, I've tried to use mini-chocolate chips but it wasn't nearly as good as the regular sized ones. I always get compliments when I make this one.

Spicy Garbanzo Bean and Turkey Sausage Soup

My hubby wanted me to try this one. We thought it was very tasty but needed more fluid - otherwise it is more like a stew. Instead of turkey sausage in casings, I bought one of those tubes of turkey sausage which was much cheaper.