Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Several months ago, I talked sweet Paco into buying me yet another cookbook. Okay, there may have been some fluttering of my eyelashes and a pretty puh-lease in there somewhere, but if there was, I'll never admit to it. End of story.

The reason I wanted this particular cookbook was because of the very first recipe I came across as I was flipping through. I knew that it had to get in my belly and the sooner the better. Mother's Day presented the perfect opportunity. It's light, it's fruity, it's summer-y.

Yup, pretty perfect.

Are you ready?  Okay....  Go!

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips

Ingredients:

2 kiwi, peeled and diced
2 Golden Delicious apples, cored, peeled and diced
1/2 lb. of raspberries (or if you want to have mercy on your hubby by not sending him to the store and using the blackberries you already have in the fridge)



16 oz. package of strawberries, hulled and diced
1 c. plus 2 T. sugar, divided
1 T. brown sugar, packed
3 T. strawberry preserves
1 to 2 T. cinnamon
flour tortillas cut into wedges
butter-flavored non-stick vegetable spray

Directions:

Combine all fruit in large bowl; mix in 2 T. sugar, brown sugar and strawberry preserves.  Cover and chill for at least 15 minutes.

Combine remaining sugar and cinnamon.  Arrange tortilla wedges in a single layer on an ungreased baking sheet; coat chips with vegetable spray.  Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.  Repeat with remaining tortilla wedges; let cool.  Serve chips with chilled fruit mixture.  Makes 10-15 servings.

(before the horde of children attacked it)

*We had things in the oven already, so I just fryed the tortilla wedges in hot oil.  I would have preferred the baking method, but a girl has gotta do what a girl has gotta do.

Just be sure to grab some before your five children go at it.  Oh, you don't have five children?  Hmmm.  I guess that means more for you? 

Chocolate-Peanut Butter-Graham Cracker Sandwiches

We have five children.  Yes, five.  That means we are always in need of quick treats made from the items we have in our pantry.  This treat is fantastic, especially in the summer when you don't want to heat up the house.

I found this recipe a long time ago at Faith's Firm Foundations, a blog by Wendy.  She's super sweet with a real passion for helping women fulfill their God-given roles.  It's been so long since I found this recipe that I couldn't even find it on her blog.  I'll keep trying, though, and if I do, I'll share the link here.

Anyhoo, until then, here's how it goes:

Ingredients:

15 graham crackers, split in half
creamy peanut butter
1 bag chocolate chips
2 T. shortening

*The good thing about this recipe is that their really is no exact measurements.  It's all "about", which drives Type-A personalities (like Jamie) stark raving mad.

Directions:

1) Make peanut butter sandwiches with the split graham crackers.  I try to make sure the peanut butter is not oozing out too much because a) it drives me batty, b) it makes the peanut butter not mix with the chocolate when coating and c) it turns out smoother and prettier in the end.  But of course, that's Type-A Jamie.  If you want bumpy edges, hey,  that's completely up to you.  {shudder}

2)  Melt the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring at 30 second intervals.  It really doesn't take long.  Beware!  This is when your mouth will start watering, so be sure to have papertowels or a hankie ready.

3)  Drop a sandwich into your chocolate and completely coat.

4)  Place on wax-paper-covered cookie sheet.  Slap those grabby hands away because they need to set, darlin'! 

5) Freeze for about 2 hours or until youjustcan'tstanditanymore!

Wait!  How did this lone treat miss the scavengers?!

Oh, no!  What should a mama do?

Problem solved.

*These are a great, kid-friendly treat for any holiday.  I like to put sprinkles on them (y'know like hearts or red, white and blue sprinkles) just to keep it fun.

  

Linking up with Permanent Posies' Tuesday's Tasty Tidbits!  Yum, yum!

Almost a Candy Bar

What we are about to show you is dangerous.  Very, very dangerous.  Prepare yourself for...

Almost a Candy Bar.

This is what the picture of the finished product looks like in the magazine and online:

(photo courtesy of Taste of Home)

This is the picture of it at our house:

 

(photo courtesy of me.  no need to thank me)

No, seriously.

But how did I make such amazing goodness, you ask.  Well, pull up your computer chair and listen up.

Here we go.
Ingredients:

1 tube (16.5 oz) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
4 nutty s'mores trail mix bars, chopped
1 package (11 oz) butterscotch chips
2 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 cups miniature pretzels
1 package (10 oz) peanut butter chips
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1 package (11.5 oz) milk chocolate chips

Directions:

  Let dough stand at room temp for 5-10 minutes to soften.  In a large bowl, combine the dough and trail mix bars.  Press into a 9x13 pan (I very lightly greased mine).  Bake, uncovered at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
  Sprinkle with butterscotch chips and marshmallows (all the while slapping away your husband's grabby hands reaching for the butterscotch chips.  good grief.).  Bake 3-4 minutes longer or until marshmallows begin to brown.  Commence drooling, but don't sample yet.  Oh no, no, no.  All the good stuff is still to come.  Plus, it's hot, silly.  Sprinkle then with walnuts; arrange pretzels over the top.  In a small saucepan, melt the peanut butter chips, corn syrup and butter; spoon over marshmallow mixture.
  Wait!  You're not done yet!  In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips.  (I go in thirty-second intervals, stirring after each.  Should only take two or three intervals.)  Stir until smooth. 

  **Originally, the recipe said to transfer said chocolate into a baggie, snip the corner, blah, blah, blah.  You know the drill.  What the recipe doesn't tell you is that if you do indeed attempt this, you will be covered in chocolate from the tip of your finger all the way up to your elbow.  You will then have to fight off chocolate-crazed hubby and children from licking your arms.  Ugh.  That's what happened the first time.  The second time, I just poured it directly onto the candy-bar mixture and spread it with a spoon.  It was much better.  I wasn't being chased down by my crazy family.  Sweet relief.  However, it might have just been me.  I might be a little handicapped in the chocolate drizzling department.

  After drizzling or pouring or whatever, put this heavenly yumminess into the refrigerator to firm up for about an hour.

THEN, go face down.  And your life will never be the same.

{sigh}

You can thank me now.  Oh, and you would like to send me a gift as a gesture of appreciation for changing your life in such a positive manner?  Oh, you shouldn't. Stop.  You're embarrassing me.  (psst,  I love diamonds and gift cards to Amazon.)