Pizza Sauce

This is a great recipe. Use it any time you need pizza sauce, with pizza, calzones, pizza dip, whatever you need sauce for.

1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce or use 2 (8 ounce) cans
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup grated Romano cheese (you can also use grated Parmesan cheese)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon sweet basil (optional)
3/4 teaspoon crushed oregano
1 bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Mix in jar or similar container (Not aluminum). Shake or stir well. Let marinate in refrigerator at least six to eight hours. Remove bay leaf before using.

Most often I make just half the recipe, except for the pizza dip (You need the whole recipe for that.). It makes enough for a good sized pizza or calzone.

Pizza Dip

This is a great dip! Try it with tortilla chips or thinly sliced baguette. It's also good with crackers.
This would be a perfect appetizer or snack for your New Year's Eve party or for your Super Bowl party.

Very easy and oh, so yummy!
We had this on Christmas Eve. It was delicious. I'll try some variations and also some other possibilities for dipping into the pot.

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, cubed
1 can (15 ounces) pizza sauce
1 package (8 ounces) sliced pepperoni, chopped
1 can (3.8 ounces) chopped ripe olives, drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Bagel chips or garlic toast or English muffins

Place the cream cheese in a 3 quart slow cooker. Combine the pizza sauce, pepperoni and olives; pour over cream cheese. Top with mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook on low for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until the cheese is melted. Stir; serve warm with bagel chips or garlic toast or spread on English muffins as an open face sandwich.

I made half the recipe and used a 1 1/2 quart slow cooker. I also made my own pizza sauce. Find that recipe under pizza.
I think it would also be good with browned hamburger or sausage instead of or in addition to the pepperoni.
It might also be good as the dressing on a sub sandwich with some ham, turkey, or beef.

Ranch Avocado Dip

I have never liked avocados but I liked this dip. The flavors blended together so that nothing was overpowering. Very refreshing with egg rolls.

1 ripe avocado, peeled and diced
1 tsp lemon juice
16 oz sour cream
ranch dip mix

Mash diced avocado with lemon juice until smooth and creamy, Prepare dip mix with sour cream. Fold avocado mixture into ranch dip. Chill one hour before serving. Makes about 2 cups.

Famous Salsa

This is a great salsa. Very quick and easy to make and tastes delicious. So any time you can't have or don't want salsa with fresh tomatoes, this is the salsa to choose.

Makes 4 cups

Ingredients
2 (14.5 ounce) cans stewed tomatoes
½ onion, finely diced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
juice from ½ lime
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup canned sliced green chiles, or to taste
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Directions
Combine the tomatoes, onion, garlic, lime juice, salt, green chiles, and cilantro in a blender or food processor. Blend on low to desired smoothness.

Mango Salsa

Ingredients:
2 ripe mangos, peeled, pitted, and diced

1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cucumber, peeled and diced

1/4 yellow sweet pepper, finely diced

3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves, chopped (I use my kitchen scissors to chop the cilantro)
Lime juice from 1 fresh lime
Salt and pepper to taste


Directions:
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. It's good fresh, but is better if left in the refrigerator for a couple of hours for the flavors to combine.

This salsa is yummy and so easy to make. It's great served with chips, but is also wonderful on grilled chicken. Last time I made it I added a little bit of crushed pineapple. Not too much since it has a stronger flavor than the mango.