This is just for fun... it really does not need a recipe but I loved the idea which is not originally mine, I have to say.

Just in case, you need:
1 cucumber
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 yellow pepper
Carrots, the original uses baby carrots, if you can find it.
1 black olive
Lettuce for the base
Your favorite dip

Enjoy it!

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

This recipe was very popular yesterday in our party.  I got this recipe from this website:

http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2008/11/22/pumpkin-crunch-cake/

On the yellow cake mix, ingredients, I have placed a link to a cake mix recipe from scratch.  I hope it works out fine.  Let us know. 

Pumpkin Crunch Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree
• 1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (the original recipe called for 1/2 cup)
• 1 cup butter, melted

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease bottom of 9 x 13″ pan.  Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.  Pour mixture into greased pan.  Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and top with pecans.  Drizzle melted butter over pecans.  Bake 50-55 minutes.

Yellow Cake Mix

The theme of this blog is to do things from scratch, as I will present a recipe that calls for yellow cake mix, here it is a recipe I got from internet.

It is from http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/homemade-yellow-cake-mix/

If you use this and you are pleased with it, please write a comment on this entry to recommend it.  I will   try it sometime soon and let you all know as well.

Here it goes:

How to make Homemade Yellow Cake Mix:
(This is the standard size mix for recipes calling for an 18.25 ounce mix.)

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and non-fat dry milk. Store in an airtight container or baggie. Keeps well in the pantry for months!

Cheese "Ball" for Thanksgiving

Yesterday we had a get together in Madrid for Thanksgiving.  I always end up with some new recipes!

Here is one of mine that our friends requested.

Ingredients:
1 container of cream cheese
1 container of flavored cream cheese (I used "Finas Ervas).
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (I used 4 quesos rallado that had quite a bit of cheddar in it)
2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Food coloring (I used the one they use for rices, paellas, etc)
1 broccoli stalk for decoration.

Mix all ingredients!  Voila!

Serve with crackers and little toasts.

Tim's Salsa

Our group of friends get together once in while and we love trying each other's recipe ... this one is by Tim W. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe!

Tim’s Homemade Salsa

1 big can whole, peeled tomatoes (only use some of the tomato juice)

1 green onion chopped

1 med green pepper chopped (roasted or raw)

¼ cup cut cilantro

2 tsp. cumin

2 tsp. salt or less if desired

1 tsp. black ground pepper

1 tsp Lime or Lemon juice adds to the flavors

*For extra spice add 1/3 Serrano pepper and finely chop it or add several slices of jalapeños

Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender. Blend together for 1-2 seconds, using short pulses, then add the tomatoes and blend for another 1-2 seconds with short pulses. Do not grind it up too much or it will be too liquidy. Use only a little tomato juice from the can. It is good cold or warmed up.