Fiesta Salsa for pork or chicken

Fruity flavors and hot peppers make this a great accompaniment to chicken or pork.

Ingredients:
8 oz. cranberries chopped (2 cups)
1 small apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1 small pear, peeled, cored and finely chopped
1 orange, peeled, seeded, sectioned, and finely chopped
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 green onion thinly chopped
1-2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/3 cup sugar
1 T. fresh line juice
1 T. white vinegar

In a medium bowl stir together all ingredients. Cover and chill for 4-24 hours. Makes about 3 cups of salsa.

Pizza sauce

After you try this easy pizza sauce recipe there will be no excuse to ever buy store bought again. I usually make a large batch and freeze in individual containers for all our pizza needs. Adjust the spices to your taste.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste or 1 cup tomato sauce
  
• 1 cups water (use more or less based on the thickness you want)
  
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 or 3 cloves garlic, minced
• salt to taste
• ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix together the tomato paste, water, and olive oil. Mix well. Add garlic, salt and pepper to taste, oregano, basil, and rosemary. Mix well and let stand 3-4 hours to let flavors blend. No cooking necessary, just spread on dough.

Easy Vodka Sauce

We're trying to stay out of the processed food aisles in the grocery store. I wanted to find a sauce to serve over pasta and found this easy sauce by Ria DeRoss. This is a simple and flavorful sauce made with tomatoes, onions, vodka and cream. I modified the recipe a little for our family tastes. I used half and half instead of whole cream . Serve over your favorite pasta. Delicious!

Yields: 10 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup butter

1 onion, diced

1 cup vodka

2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes

1 pint heavy cream (or 1 pint half and half)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a skillet over medium heat, saute onion in butter until slightly brown and soft. Pour in vodka and let cook for 10 minutes. Mix in crushed tomatoes and cook for 30 minutes. Pour in heavy cream and cook for another 30 minutes.

Barbecue sauce

I've had a couple of request for this barbecue sauce. So here is the recipe. Makes 10 cups. You'll have plenty to freeze to use later over any meat on the grill.

3 cups ketchup
2 cups (packed) dark brown sugar
3/4 cup mango juice or nectar
3/4 cup fresh or frozen reconstituted passion fruit juice blend
3/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup golden syrup
1/2 cup lime juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup grapefruit juice
1/4 cup finely grated onion
1 1/2 tbl dry mustard
1 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp coarse kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground cumin
2 tbl plus 2 tsp cornstarch

Whisk all ingredients except cornstarch in heavy large saucepan. Transfer 1/4 cup sauce mixture to small bowl; add cornstarch and stir until dissolved. Which cornstarch mixture into sauce mixture. Cook over medium-high heat until sauce comes to boil, stirring constantly. Boil sauce 1 minute. Serve warm or at room temperature.