Restaurant-Style Salsa

I’m not kidding when I say I could eat chips and salsa every day of my life, without complaint. No exaggeration - it’s one of my favorite things ever. I have a number of oven roasted salsa recipes on this blog, but when I need a salsa fix fast, I can throw a few simple canned ingredients together to to make this restaurant-style version. It goes without saying, use the best canned tomatoes you can - DO NOT use bitter tasting canned tomatoes. No amount of salt or sugar will fix the bitterness. Some canned tomato brands I’m fond of - Cento, SMT, Tuttorosso, Muir Glen, and Sclafani.

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• citrus squeezer https://amzn.to/33vFCgj

• Jane’s crazy mixed up salt https://amzn.to/2H2wUfD

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Restaurant-Style Salsa

makes about 1 quart

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 28-ounce can tomatoes (whole, diced, crushed… doesn’t matter)

• 10-ounce can Ro-tel tomatoes (tomatoes with chilis)

• 1 small onion, peeled and roughly chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, peeled

• 1 jalapeno pepper, stem and seeds removed

• juice of 1 lime

• 1 teaspoon Jane’s crazy mixed up salt (or table salt)

• optional: 1 cup fresh cilantro (leaves and tender stems)

Directions

1. In a blender or food processor, pulse all ingredients together until they reach your desired consistency.

2. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.

Grandma P's Zucchini Bread

I've tried a lot of zucchini bread recipes over the years, but I always come back to this one.  It's a recipe my mother started making when I was in high school, and I have yet to find one I like better.  It's flavorful and moist, like most zucchini breads, but the top crust of this particular recipe is special - delicately sweet and slightly crunchy.  The recipe makes 2 loaves which is good because the first loaf usually disappears shortly after we start slicing it. 

When shopping for zucchini, I like to get ones that are small to medium in size.  You can definitely use large or even jumbo zucchini, but you may need to scrape out the seeds before grating.

My tips for beautiful bread each and every time - use commercial pans (my favorite) to prevent burning and spray the pans with baking spray to prevent sticking (I wouldn't think of baking without this stuff).  

Super scrummy!  Full recipe at the the bottom of the page.  Looking for more zucchini bread recipes?  Here you go!

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• professional loaf pans https://amzn.to/2v2W5cj

• baker's joy baking spray https://amzn.to/3LlUnrU

• pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3ovS9fE

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Grandma P's Zucchini Bread

makes two 8x4-inch (1 pound) loaves

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups shredded zucchini

• 2 cups granulated sugar

• 1 cup canola oil

• 3 eggs

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 3 cups all purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspopn baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon fine salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and place rack in center position.

2. Spray two 8x4-inch loaf pans with Baker's Joy.

3. In a large mixing bowl, combine zucchini, sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla.

4. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

5. Add flour mixture to the zucchini mixture and stir until well combined.

6. Pour batter evenly into loaf pans and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaves comes out clean.

7. Remove loaves from oven and cool on wire rack for 10 minutes before unmolding; cool completely on rack before slicing.

8. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and store at room temperature for up to 48 hours or wrap in several layers of plastic and freeze for up to a month.