Firstly, I want to say a huge THANK YOU for your support with Project Food Blog. Week after week, I have been blown away by the incredible positivity and support that you have given me. My husband, family, friends, and readers have stood by my side for the past 3 months. I’ve known this from day one, but I seriously have the most amazing support a blogger could EVER ask for. I won Reader’s Choice 5 times out of 9 in the contest, so that just tells you how awesome you guys have been to me.
I did not end up winning the contest, but I would like to applaud Tiny Urban Kitchen for her win in Project Food Blog. The real value of this competition for me has been the learning experience, growth, ignited passion, and the platform to show you what I love to do.
Tonight marks the beginning of the first free weekend I have had since the start of Project Food Blog way back in September. I really don’t know what I will do with myself. Well, you know…except blog, bake, and try to fix the disaster that is my house. I feel like I have 3 months of my life to catch up on.
Oh, and I decided that I am not ready for 2011 yet…
It feels like I just wrote my 10 in 2010 resolution list and now I will be writing another one soon. It will be fun to go over though. I’m looking forward to doing a couple recaps in the next 2 weeks. I’m also very excited to tell you all about my new goals for 2011…and find out what you are shooting for too!
Yesterday, I came across Pioneer Woman’s Pico De Gallo and I suddenly found myself with a huge craving for the fresh, crisp, and clean flavours that make up this Mexican delight.
And then Pico de Gallo turned into something a bit crazy and my kitchen now looks a bit like this.
Ok, it actually it looked much, much worse.
So bad, in fact, I chose not to take a picture for fear that you would all abandon me in horror.
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Pico de Gallo
Pioneer Woman says the key to a successful and authentic Pico de Gallo is ensuring that you have an equal proportion of onion, tomato, and Cilantro. I think she is onto something because this came out delicious and very authentic!
Adapted from Pioneer Woman.
Ingredients:
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 large bunch of Cilantro (approx 1/2-3/4 cup), thick stems removed, roughly chopped
- 1 large sweet onion
- 1 lime
- 1-2 Jalapeno peppers or other hot pepper
- Kosher salt, to taste
Directions: Finely chop the onion, tomatoes, and hot pepper. Note that the seeds inside the hot pepper are the most heat-producing, so you can remove the seeds if you don’t want it super hot. Remove thick stems of the Cilantro and then roughly chop. Mix the onion, tomato, hot pepper, and Cilantro in a bowl and squeeze fresh lime juice on top. Stir well and then season with kosher salt to taste.
Makes about 4 cups worth and lasts only for about 24 hours or so. Seal in an airtight container to keep it fresh. Use in quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, or just enjoy with some of your favourite nacho chips!
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To make, grab your Pico de Gallo rock stars…
My grocery store did not have jalapeno peppers, so I grabbed this one above, which I believe is some kind of banana chili pepper.
It was hot.
And it worked.
Chop your little heart out. Actually don’t…that wouldn’t be nice.
Chop the veggies up.
I removed the seeds of my hot peppers because Eric is not a big fan of spicy foods and the seeds contain the most heat.
I think Cilantro is one of my all time favourite smells. It is so clean and fresh! Almost like a just out of the shower kind of smell. Mmm.
Mix the above together in a large bowl and squeeze with the juice of 1 lime (or to taste)…
Stir well.
Now you have Pico de Gallo that will rock your face off.
But of course, I could not just leave it at that!
I had avocados to be rescued…
Easy Guacamole
Adapted from Pioneer Woman.
Ingredients:
- 4 ripe avocados
- 1 cup of Pico de Gallo
- Kosher salt, to taste
Directions: Cut your avocados in half and remove the pits. Roughly chop the avocado flesh and then take a fork and mash it up until you have the consistency that you want. I like to leave lots of big chunks in there! Now add 1 cup of Pico de Gallo and mix gently. Season with kosher salt to taste.
Once you have your Pico de Gallo made, this could not be any easier!
You mash up 4 avocados with a fork. I like to leave it nice and chunky.
Add 1 cup of Pico and gently mix.
There you have it!
Easy and fresh Guacamole in a jiffy.
But, no, I did not stop there.
I was thinking one thing and one thing only.
7 Layer Mexican Dip.
Once I set my mind on something there is no turning back.
I chopped about 1/2 cup of spinach greens.
Then I grabbed a can of black beans.
Added in some olive oil, kosher salt, and cumin and I processed it leaving it nice and chunky!
Then I processed together some vegan sour cream with a taco seasoning package.
Then I made my cheese sauce from my Vegan Mac ‘n cheese.
I grabbed some green onions…
Before I knew it, magic happened.
Ok, it wasn’t magic, it was actually a lot of work (1.5 hours start to finish!), but the outcome was awesome!
And now I must go clean up.
Coming up in my next post…Homemade Peppermint Nog and Vegan Eggnog. Very excited.
angela, i was literally stalking the website to find out who won yesterday (even seeing how many people tweeted/facebooked the entries…..you were far above the rest!) and i was so bummed to find out you didn’t win. i mean…..i have so many things that i could say about how you far above the other bloggers you performed but i won’t because you have momentarily distracted me from my childish emotions with the 7 layer dip:) the reason i was even into the contest was all because of you! and i feel so blessed/undeserving that all those recipes you created are permanently in cyberspace. have a happy holiday and get some rest because YOU DESERVE IT!
alsooo… I really like Pachecopatty’s first impression because that pretty much says it all haha:
“I thought who is this pretty girl who glows and is so popular??”
I’m truly shocked. How can you win reader’s choice 5 out of 9 times and then NOT win? Insanity! But congratulations on making it so far!
I’m so sad and surprised to hear you didn’t win :( You’re still a winner in my book though! You inspire me, and I thank you for that. I own a ton of cook books, but I always end up trying your recipes instead. Those books are probably covered in dust right now haha This weekend, I plan on making nanaimo bars and peppermint nog mmmm
Awwww. So sad you didn’t win! But it must have been an amazing, and stressfully fun, experience. I’m so glad you made it to the final 3 though. All the recipes that you made for us are simply amazing and my family loves them. Thank you so much for the inspiring entries. Lots of love to you!!
Angela, I am so surprised and bummed that you didn’t win. I thought you had it in the bag! Congratulations on going so far in the challenge. Your posts were amazing, and made me love your blog even more. You have created a dedicated OSG fan in this girl. I hope you are proud of yourself!
Pico with Avocado is amazing. Try it with shredded green cabbage and very salty corn chips- it brings it to a whole new level for me.
I just got a bit rush of love for you! Your recipes are some of the few that i ACTUALLY want to try out, and i know i am one of many! Thankyou so much for gracing the internet with your presence, your effort and i know we all appreciate the mess that your kitchen sees; all for the sake of providing us readers with new and exciting culinary adventures.
Big virtual hug.
Thanks! Sarah x
I really can’t understand how you didn’t win, but nevertheless, a big congrats :) Your site keeps getting better and better :)
very tasty!!
OMG I am just blown away that you did not win, I read some of the other blogs and none of them are as witty, charming, funny, or yummy as yours. You did amazing and I will always support you in any new projects you take on.
Angela! You are a WINNER to me! Your entries were all AMAZING and first place to me! I am not worried about you not going far and have amazing things to come, because you will and you deserve it all! Heres to 2011!!! I know it will be amazing for OSG!!!!!!
I love how creative you are…one simple recipe and look at all the tasty stuff you come up with!!
Angela,
It sure sucks you didn’t win the challenge but to us all… YOU are a winner!!
Oh! Oh! Oh! This spicy bowl is just what I’ve been thinking about as the snow has fallen. I’m totally going to make it next weekend for the after-Christmas- I-ate-too-much freshness!
And I was looking at your vegan cheese sauce recipe last night for something else and wondering…when you make it just for the sauce, do you put in the potatoes and carrots? I was kind of thinking of leaving them out…
Ah, that dip looks SO GOOD! Great job in Project Food Blog! I voted for your entries over and over because they were so awesome! Great recipes, gorgeous pictures, and so much heart! I’m glad the contest gave you a chance to have new people exposed to your blog.
You’ve done an awesome job with the challenge!
The 7 layer dip looks oh so amazing!!! I hope it was a delicious as it looks!!!
This dip looks amazing! I saw it on pinterest and repinned it. What type of chips did you use? They look good too! I will me making it this weekend for a party.
Did your cheese sauce include the boiled potato, carrot and onion? I’m thinking this is a great super bowl dish! Thank you!! Love your blog!! cheers!!