Natalie's Fresh Salsa

This recipe comes from Natalie who got it from Dorothy. Originally developed as a canning salsa, Natalie went the way of all Walter girls and ignored the directive to preserve and prepare for the Long Winter ahead. She made this recipe her own, adding in the black beans. For anyone brave enough to can this salsa, Nat says please give it a try. Then share with the rest of us lazy grasshoppers.

Natalie's Fresh Salsa
10 garden-fresh ripe tomatoes, diced

1 red onion, finely diced
1-2 jalapenos, seeded and finely diced (keep seeds for heat, if desired)
1 4-ounce can fire roasted diced green chilis (add additional can, if desired)
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 handful cilantro, chopped (add more to taste, if desired)
2 cloves garlic (to start with)
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon sugar
juice of one lime (optional)
salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients together. Season to taste. Recipe is adaptable: Dad likes it without cilantro. Eric likes extra jalapenos. Natalie loves the green chilis and sometimes adds more.

Perfect Boiled Eggs

Perfect Boiled Eggs
Place up to 18 large eggs into a big, wide (not tall) pot. Fill pot with water until level is about 1 1/2 inches above the eggs. Over medium heat, bring water to a nice, rolling boil. Turn off heat. Remove pot from the burner and let sit 11 (Eleven!) minutes. 

Cool boiled eggs immediately. Transfer with a slotted spoon to an ice bath. If your icemaker is broken (like ours!), transfer to a bowl of cool water placed in the sink. Run additional cool water over boiled eggs for one minute. 

Crack with a table knife along circumference of egg. Peel under running water. Dry with a paper towel. Store in fridge. Yolks should be moist, bright yellow, and creamy. (Not chalky & green. Yuck!)

Chocolate Malt Milkshake (Two Versions)

 Classic Chocolate Malt 
source: Mom
1/2 cup of whatever milk is in the fridge

4 tablespoons Chocolate Malt flavored Ovaltine (or to taste)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3-4 Oreo cookies (if you're feeling really crazy)
2 cups good vanilla ice cream (even the cheap stuff is good though)

Blend all ingredients. 

Deluxe Chocolate Malt
1/2 cup whole milk (or mostly 1% with a splash of cream)
4 tablespoons chocolate sauce (Robynn's recipe here is delish!)
1 1/2 - 2 tablespoon malted milk powder
2 cups good vanilla ice cream

Blend all ingredients. Enjoy! Don't even think about symptoms of lactose intolerance.