Sandi’s Salsa

August 26, 2022 / Sandi Knight / Leave a comment

Garden tomatoes are ripening and soon the saucy scent of simmering salsa will be wafting from my kitchen. For those of you who’ve asked, here’s the recipe!

Salsa was my very first venture into canning. The initial result was decent, but my husband said, “It’s good, but not as good as Donald’s.”

Donald was a teammate in rec hockey. When it was snack night, the other players always counted on Donald bringing his salsa. One fall, I asked if would share his recipe. He didn’t really have one, but gave me some direction, “Blanche and peel tomatoes until the pot is full.” Okay, how big a pot? “5 quarts, I think.”

He offered some rough guesstimates on the amount of peppers, onion and celery, and said he’d often add some oregano and basil. My garden herbs are usually past their prime by the time I make salsa and I found it didn’t really make a difference, so I omit them.

I did my best to follow his guidance, added more peppers and onions to get the ratio I preferred, and this is the result.

You can do the same thing here. Adjust the recipe to your taste, or what you have on hand, and make it your own!

I know this is a lot of chopping, and yes, you can use a food processor if your really want, but it’s not what I recommend. I prefer to have the veggies more intact in my salsa. Chop according to the size and consistency you prefer.

It does take time, but if you put on a good playlist or podcast, pour a beverage of choice and/or enlist someone to help, the time goes by fast. And trust me, the results are worth it!

This recipe has received rave reviews from friends and family. It’s made its way into many care packages and is often a gift when we’re invited out to dinner. One set of friends actually hides it when their adult kids come over to visit so they don’t have to share!

It’s been called, “The best salsa ever!”, but I’m not sure about that. I think I must be a missing secret ingredient, because I never did manage to get quite as good as Donald’s!

Main Ingredients:

12 cups peeled & chopped fresh tomatoes
2 tablespoons pickling salt
4 cups chopped onions
2 cups chopped celery
4 cups chopped peppers (8 to 12 seeded & chopped jalapeno peppers plus enough green, red or yellow peppers to make 4 cups in total)
3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
1 1/2 cups pickling vinegar
1 — 156 ml can tomato paste
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions:

Set a standard, 5-quart, colander in a large bowl. Peel and chop tomatoes until colander is heaping full (about 12 cups). Sprinkle with 2 tbsp pickling salt and set aside to drain while you prepare your other vegetables.

Chop onions, celery, peppers and garlic. Check the colander of tomatoes, if there’s a large amount of juice in the bowl, remove 1 to 1 1/2 cups and set aside. (See note below.*)

Combine chopped tomatoes, remaining juice, celery, onions, spices and vinegar in a 5-quart dutch oven or large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 minutes.

Add chopped peppers and garlic. Simmer another 20 to 30 minutes. Add tomato paste to thicken. Stir well and simmer another 5 to 10 minutes. Pour into sterilized jars and process in hot water bath for 15 minutes. Set on a cooling rack for 24 hours.

Enjoy with your favourite corn chips, on tacos, nachos, burgers, baked potatoes, in omelettes or soups — wherever you want a bit of zip and a taste of summer from the garden!

*Note: The amount of liquid will depend on the the variety of tomatoes you’re using. If you’re using all roma tomatoes (they are fleshier with less juice) this likely isn’t necessary, but I use a mix of varieties from my garden. Setting the excess juice aside prevents a watery salsa and reduces boiling time. You can always add more back in at the end to get your desired consistency. I freeze the leftover juice to add to soups in the winter.

Canadian Cowboy Caviar

February 6, 2021April 26, 2021 / Sandi Knight / 4 Comments

What the heck is Cowboy Caviar? I’d never heard of it before stopping for take-out from one of our favourite restaurants, Farmhouse 50 in Minnedosa, Manitoba.

I was picking up their fabulous pizza and wings special when I spied “Cowboy Caviar” in their Grab ‘n Go section. Intrigued, I thought, “Why not? Let’s give it a try!” This innocent looking bean-veggie-salsa-combo was AMAZING and devoured by our family in no time flat.

And then, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! But, with the restaurant an hour and a half away, it wasn’t possible to just pop back for more. So the next day, I started experimenting. Once I came up with a combination of ingredients and a dressing that was a hit with the family, I asked a few friends to recipe test for me. The reviews were great with one suggestion to add the zest from the lime. Genius! Thank you Ellen Pruden!

With a little research I found out Cowboy Caviar, originally named Texas Caviar, was created in the 1940s by Helen Corbitt, an accomplished and formidable Home Economist, teacher, chef and cookbook author. She made the dish, after a request to serve a dinner with Texas-only products, using black-eyed peas, garlic, onion, vinegar and oil. When you search ‘cowboy caviar’ today, there are over 3,000,000 results. Reading about Ms. Corbitt, I’m not sure how she would feel about the evolution and popularity of her creation.

You’ll find no black-eyed peas in this recipe. It uses Canadian-grown pulses — lentils, black beans and chickpeas, and of course, Canadian canola oil.

Feel free to put your own spin on this recipe. Don’t like chickpeas? Replace the amount with more lentils or black beans. Hate cilantro? Use parsley. Not sure about the garlic? Try it without. Don’t have fresh tomatoes? Drain and chop canned tomatoes.

Just so you know this recipe makes 12 cups. Yes, it seems like a lot, but it’s addictive. And versatile. And delicious.

I love it as a salsa with tortilla chips, but it’s also fabulous on its own a side salad, or a snack to avert becoming hangry. Toss it with greens or pasta. Use it in omelettes or quesadillas. Get creative!

And if you really can’t see yourself using 12 cups, share away! Who wouldn’t want a surprise delivery of this tasty, satisfying snack with a bag of tortilla chips delivered to their door?

Canadian Cowboy Caviar

Main Ingredients:

1 — 540 ml (19 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 — 540 ml (19 oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 — 540 ml (19 oz) can lentils, drained and rinsed
2 cups sweet corn, frozen & thawed, or canned
2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped (about 2 cups)
1 medium red onion, finely chopped (about 1 ½ cups)
1 – 2 jalapeno peppers, finely chopped or ¼ cup finely chopped bell peppers (any colour)
1 – 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 cup cilantro or parsley, finely chopped

Dressing:

1/3 cup canola oil
3 tbsp lime juice (1 — 2 limes)
zest from lime(s)
3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp white sugar
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper

Directions:

*Chop garlic and set aside.

Drain and rinse black beans, chickpeas and lentils. Put in large bowl. Add corn. Chop tomatoes, red onion, peppers and cilantro. Toss all ingredients together, including garlic.

In a small bowl, whisk together dressing. Pour over top of ingredients, and mix.

Makes 12 cups. Serve immediately or store covered in the fridge.

Serving Options:

Appetizer with tortilla chips
Side Dish
Salad topping on your choice of greens
Omelette filling
Quesadilla filling
Perfect with pasta, hot or cold

*Pro-tip for garlic from Professional Home Economist Mairlyn Smith – “For its antioxidants to become more bio-available, garlic needs to oxidize before it is added to a recipe. By letting it sit there “breathing” the oxidation can take place.”

From My Corner of the Prairies – Canada In A Day

September 12, 2016 / Sandi Knight / 1 Comment

September 10, 2016 was Canada In A Day. We were asked to film our lives — whether it be a special occasion or a simple moment. The resulting video compilation will be used to celebrate Canada’s 150th Birthday next July.

Instead of a film, my story is one of pictures, reflections and simple gratitude for being a Canadian who has the privilege of living and farming on the vast and beautiful prairies.

Life is made great by the million little things that piece together our days and weave into their way into the tapestry of our lives.

Here are the pieces which made #CanadaInADay special to me.

Waking up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee, pouring a cup and enjoying this view.

Wandering through my yard, taking time to notice the little things, like the bees enjoying my sunflowers.

Wandering through my yard, taking time to notice the little things, like bees on the towering sunflowers in my garden.

The satisfying job of chopping garden-fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions and celery, followed by aroma of simmering salsa wafting through the kitchen .

Listening to the consistent ‘snapping’ on the jars of the finished product, knowing they are properly sealed and preserved for the months ahead.

Having the combine come out of the shed to finally resume harvest after a week of rainy weather.

Enjoying the delicious, fresh, crisp crunch of a B.C. Honey Crisp apple for a snack.

A leisurely afternoon walk with our dog. She stopped briefly by this freshly cultivated wheat field. We work the straw into the soil to improve organic matter and soil health.

“Pure joy! ” Watching my trusty side-kick , having a blast running through a wheat field. Here the straw has been baled to be used as bedding for cattle this winter.

Appreciating that I can walk for miles on quiet country back roads without seeing a soul. It doesn’t necessarily mean my presence isn’t noticed though…The dog and I obviously piqued the interest of the neighbour’s cattle!

Seeing these hives is a reminder that a delivery of fresh honey will soon arrive at our door. A fellow farmer keeps bees in the shelter of an old yard-site on our farmland. The bees love the canola and alfalfa we grow, and we love the honey they produce!

Walking to the marsh that borders part of our farm and capturing the beauty of the bulrushes and wildflowers blowing in the wind. The marsh provides a unique and diverse ecosystem for a wide variety of plants, animals and birds.

Riding alongside my husband in the combine, enjoying his company and the view as he harvests a field of canola.

Taste-testing the fresh-made salsa for an appetizer. So good!

Watching this bald eagle overlook the field we were harvesting. They aren’t usually this close to our yard, but hunting was easy as rodents scurried away as the canola swaths were picked up.

Being thankful for a south wind that kept the moisture at bay as clouds rolled in later in the day. Once the grass is wet with dew in the evening, it often makes the crops too ‘tough’ to harvest. Here the combine is unloading canola onto a grain truck so it can be hauled to our farmyard and put in a storage bin.

Taking the time to savour this view at the end of our farmyard as the sun set. The end my tribute to #CanadaInAday.

Southwest Fiesta Chicken Soup

February 21, 2016August 4, 2018 / Sandi Knight / 1 Comment

On a cold, windy winter day, one of my favourite things to make is a hearty pot of soup. It is so versatile. There are no hard and fast rules – anything goes. Start with a good base, use what you have on hand ~ be creative!

This morning I planned on making my classic chicken and rice soup, but half a cabbage in my fridge was awaiting transformation. This led to an unintentional shift in direction.

I began with my usual chicken soup base of onion, celery and carrot and added the lonely, left-over the cabbage. The mixture was too pale for my liking so I added a jar of salsa. There was a cup of green peppers from the garden still in the freezer, so in they went. Corn added a touch of yellow and considering it is the International Year of Pulses, a can of black of beans seemed in order.

Suddenly my chicken soup had a ‘southwest fiesta’ zip to it – not what I intended, but the results were delicious! A colourful, fabulous warm-you-right-up, meal-in-a-bowl. Carbohydrates ✓ Protein ✓ Fibre ✓ Veggies ✓ Lunches for the week ahead ✓ Flavourful ✓✓✓

Give it a try! Measurements are not set in stone, but I like at least half my pot to filled with veggies. Always aim for Half Your Plate! Feel free to adjust amounts to your taste.

Southwest Fiesta Chicken Soup

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Ingredients:

2–4 cloves of garlic
1 large onion
¼ – ½ head of cabbage
4–6 carrots
2–4 stalks of celery
2 tbsp canola oil
salt & pepper to taste
2/3 cup wild rice
900 ml chicken stock
418 ml jar of salsa (mild, medium or hot)
1 ½ cups frozen corn
1 green pepper, chopped
4 + cups of water, to desired thickness
540 ml can black beans
2 – 4 cooked chicken breasts

Garnish options:

Crushed corn chips
Shredded Cheese
Sliced green onions

Directions:

Finely chop garlic and set aside.*
Dice onions, cabbage, carrots and celery.
In Dutch Oven or stock pot, warm canola oil over medium heat.
Throw in diced veggies, season with salt and pepper and sauté for about 10 minutes or until softened.
Toss in garlic, sauté additional 1–2 minutes.
Add rice, chicken stock, salsa, corn, green pepper and water.
Cover the pot, bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30–45 minutes.
Drain and rinse beans, dice chicken. Stir into soup . Warm thoroughly.
Serve as is or garnish with corn chips, shredded cheese & green onion.

Note:

*Pro-tip for garlic from Professional Home Economist Mairlyn Smith – “For its antioxidants to become more bioavailable, garlic needs to oxidize before it is added to a recipe. By letting it sit there “breathing” the oxidation can take place.”