Hot birds and teal salsa...

...or is it teal birds and hot salsa?!?!

Today I finally have my sassy little salsa recipe (now that I have a camera battery charger again) and the next bird in the 10 birds installment!

I also have two little necklaces to share that I am over the top excited about! I learned how to make these at Inspired back in May and I am just now getting around to getting around to them! 

Food first...  then crafts!
Salsa Time

Char some white onions, jalapenos and tomatoes (nice and crispy black) on a grill or in your oven broiler.

One they're done, load everything up into a deep dish pan (like a 9 x 13)
You don't want to loose the juices!!!  

Inside the house in a nice dry pan, slow roast some peeled garlic.
(the house will start to smell like heaven after about 10 minutes)
(I usually make a giant batch to use in other recipes throughout the week)
(toss the extra garlic in a baggie in the fridge to store)

Grab a lime, cilantro, salt and that yummy roasted garlic...
(arrange it artfully on a chopping board... it makes it taste way better if you get artsy fartsy with it) 

Slice up the onions into quarters and toss them, the garlic, jalapenos, lime juice, cilantro and salt into a food processor (basically everything that's green and white goes in).

Add the juice from the tomatoes to top it all off!

 Puree it into a nice green paste and then empty it into a bowl!
(don't taste this hot green mess...  it's NOT good)
(don't ask me how I know that)

Place the tomatoes in batches into the food processor.
(since I'm not a real food blogger I left all the green bits from the green puree mix)
(I have to do this in batches since we make such a gigantic amount every week)
(if I added them all in at once we'd have Mount St. Tomato all over the counter)
(don't ask me how I know this either) 

Pulse the tomatoes as much as you like...  if you like really chunky salsa only do it a little and if you like a really smooth salsa (like RonChops and I do)... puree the living daylights out of it!!!

Mix the green puree with the red puree and POOF...  you have amazing salsa!
(refrigerate it and adjust the salt to taste)
(if it's not hot enough you can add dried crushed red peppers and that will zing up it good) 

The Chops Family Salsa Recipe (adapted from a recipe given to me by Maria McCousinChops)
Ratios (adjust in increments to make more, more, more)
5 roma tomatoes
2 jalapenos
1 small white onion
1/2 t salt
1 T lime juice
1 - 2 small peeled and roasted garlic cloves
1 - 2 T cilantro (adjust up or down to taste) 

Directions
Blacked tomatoes, jalapenos and onions on a grill or in the broiler of the oven.
Roast the peeled garlic in a dry non-stick pan (until they have little black bubbles on all sides)

Puree the jalapenos, lime juice, salt, white onions, garlic cloves, and cilantro.  Remove it from the food processor.  Add the tomatoes to the food processor and puree to desired chunkiness (or smoothness).

Mix the green puree with the tomato puree and adjust the salt to taste.  If you want it spicier add in a little dried crushed red pepper.  Refrigerate until nicely chilled and enjoy!

Next up... some crafts!
I traced in MomChops next bird into the computer and have the pattern here for you below!

I traced the wing onto stiff felt and then covered it with fabric.  I used my sewing machine to stitch all around the wing to secure the fabric to the felt!

I whip stitched a bunch of small crocheted flowers to the wing (I used beading thread and a beading needle cause it's super thin and can be easily concealed).

MomChops made up a bunch these small crocheted flowers for me months ago and I have been waiting on the perfect project to use them on!

I also added a few more MomChops crocheted flowers on top along with some thread behind buttons!  Once the wing was all finished I sewed each piece together and lightly stuffed him with herb dressing.

You can get the PDF pattern for Bird #3 right HERE!  

So now for those necklaces!
(I'm almost done...  I swears)

I first saw these as part of a little workshop at Inspired back in May.  I had lunch with a couple of girls who had taken the class and they explained how incredibly easy they were to make!  So I added it my insanely long list of projects to try!  I was going to post a video to show you how to make them, but honestly it's just easier to link you over to the best video I found!  You can see it HERE.  It was put together by a place that's local to me (Auntie's Beads)!

I decided that if this will work with beads then surely it would also work with buttons!  So I gave it a try with some teal buttons and I am just over the top excited about it!

I made it exactly as they shared
("I" crochet hook, size 26 gauge craft craft wire (from JoAnns) and an assortment 15 beads/buttons) 

You simply MUST make one of these!
They are crazy easy and totally fun!!! 

I am working on a tall choker collar for my sister in green, teal and orange (with silver wire)

I'll share that next week!

I hope you all have a lovely (and crafty) week and thanks a TON for all of your wonderful comments and emails week after week!

I loves the lot of yas!

 

Comments

[Timmi]

She's beautiful!!! Sure wish I could crochet, but I'm such a klutz with hooks LOL :)

Do you think I would get the same results with the veggie using a stove top grilling pan; when we were moving someone stole out BBQ and we have yet to replace it...but that salsa looks sooo good I want to try it now!

Hugs!!
Timmi

[LollyChops]

As long as you can get a char of some sort on those veggies you should be good to go!

Sorry your grill was stolen...  what a major bummer!  :(

Have a terrific week and thanks for dropping by!

Lolly

[Rosali]

Muy bonito el ave, y que originalidad del collar con botones. Y sobre todo que bueno que te gusten las salsas mexicanas, a la roja puedes agregarle un poco de cerveza y entonces será "salsa borracha".

[I_SKRAP]

Mmmm cannot wait to try some of that salsa. I'm a huge fan of salsas, pico de gallo, guacamole... anything you can put on a chip :)

Love the teal bird, it looks so fancy. And the necklaces are gorgeous! I really should learn to crochet.

HUGS
Kristina

[Gloria]

Now you have to answer Rosali in Spanish (giggle). That recipe is very similar to our family one. We "Chop" raw onion and fresh cilantro and add them at the end, I personally like chunky salsa and guacamole. If you are ever in my area let me know and you can try my version of both. Love seeing more fancy feathers!
Gloria

[Jing-Jing Nickel]

Eye candies in the crafty department and now you are posting like a foodie... !!! :)

[Laney]

Morning Miss Chops! Your bird is super cute, at last, one that doesn't look like it might star in a Hitchcock movie! ;-) And that necklace is beautiful.

Regarding the recipie... Is the charring part really necessary? Or is it just another reason why you're (or Ron Chops') not a food blogger? ;-) (the charring looks scary)

Hugs!

[Beth H]

Thanks for the links to Auntie's Beads! I took the crochet necklace workshop at Inspired and I loved it! So quick and easy with such beautiful results! I love your take with the buttons - the Auntie's video was very easy to follow. Ready to crochet me some jewelry.

[pandemic]

Hi Lolly! Sometimes I forget you're from Texas! Bet you never forget, but out here on the web, well, it's easy. Of course you make your own salsa! I used to, and I made it raw, but I love the char idea. Looks yummy!

The crochet necklace is cool too, especially the colored wire. It looks so good, and her videos were easy to understand. It's monday already? I gotta find something to do OUTSIDE the house.
hugs to you and the birds.

[Cathy]

Good morning, love the bird, my mother-in-law could crochet up a storm, and I unfortunately am just a klutz with it. I still have many items she crocheted to be passed down to my children. That salsa looks really good, never thought of doing the char. Will have to try.

[shaina]

Adorable projects. The necklace looks amazing. The salsa looks super yummy!!!

[Stacy Cohen]

I love your beautiful birdie, and those necklaces look awesome. I'm gonna have to make one! Hugs Lolly!!!

[Mary]

LOVE your necklace, it is so pretty! Also the salsa sounds easy and yummy, tfs both!

[tammy @ not just paper and glue]

What a really cute idea to use the crochet flowers for the wing on the bird. So cute. BTW - what time did you say you were coming by to share some of that salsa with me?? ;)

[Becky Stancill]

I am in the process of making the salsa only to discover the blender we loaned the Daughter is not back home - even tho she is! Hmmmmmmmmm. Gonna be choppin lots of stuff into leetle pieces.

The house smells wonderful!!!

[Jonnelle]

Thank you for the recipe!!
That necklace ROCKS.
The flowers on the birdie are too cute!

[terryk]

Love the birdies and the jewelry - a must try for me....I couldn't wait for you to finish posting your food blog so I tried your recipe for Salsa yesterday. I chared all the veggies on the BBQ and whirled everything (all at once)in the food processor. I see on your blog today that you add the tomatoes last. Now being Canadian, I ain't no expert when it comes to culinary foods like Salsa, but the stuff I made was yummy (had a bit of a bite sneak up on ya from the two peppers I added). The left overs were gladly snatched up by my son who lives on his own and appreciates when his mommy cooks for him. Thanks for sharing!!

[Nancy Wyatt]

YOU GO girlfriend! You are a crafty foodie! Thanks for sharing your greatness!! Hugs from Conroe, TX!

[LittleLeafLane]

I want mexican food now! I guess that will have to wait until I can leave the house with the new little one. Sorry I didn't comment last week. I read your post though...I swear! I LOVE the new little bird!!! The crocheted flowers and buttons are awesome :) I'll have to watch the videos for those necklaces...crocheting wire sounds a little crazy, but if you say it's easy, I believe you. HUGS!!!

[Ad K.]

Lovin' those birds, keep the patterns coming! I want to make a bird garland for my craft room window and I'm sure a few of these will end up on my Christmas tree too! Yummy salsa makes me soooo happy I picked up a giant bag of corn chips yesterday. I am so picking up some beading supplies on my next trip out. Lolly, this post knocked it out of the park, you are the best!
Teal hugs!!!!

[LollyChops]

The charring part helps give it a nice smoky flavor (and it cooks the veggies just a little).  You could prolly just heat the veggies in the oven and try it that way!

Hope that helps!

Lolly

[Hedwig]

Hi Lolly, I am working so hard on my birdies, and I will try and photograph them tomorrow and send over some pictures, so you can see them.
I made a promiss that I am joining you in making them hahahaha!

Your last one with the crochet coverage, beautiful!!! Way to go MomChops !!! How are your knees? Walking is going ok ?

I hope you, RonChops and the doggies have a great weekend !!!

[Hedwig]

p.s. the necklaces look really hard to do! you say it's crazy easy?????

Bye now!

Hedwig

[Maria Matter]

recipe looks yummy!
lovin' these birdies Lolly!

I don't really sew, so here's what I made with your first template...
... Joyful Stamper: Cardinal Christmas Ornament
Thanks to you & MomChops!

[Linda Hahn]

I have a "CHOPS" family joke for you...

What do you get if you cross a supermarket meat counter with a computer?

RAM Chops!! (GROAN--LOL)

[June]

I'm liking everything on this post!! I can crochet and I've made jewelry and I have tons of buttons. I'm going to have that necklace. Thanks!

[Reese Dixon]

Love that necklace. I think that's going to end up on my own crazy long list of things to try. Lovely.

[Sue Davis]

hi - ive spent the last 3 hours surfin the web for craft textile sewing mixed media websites as just felt the creative need to start sewing and didn't know where to start (I'm a cardmaker, who used to sew years ago) and feel the need for quick non traditional sewing projects) and found your blog via HappyTogether. Wow - I think I've hit the jackpot/holy grail - all of your creations send me into a spin, I just love them all (and the recipes are a fab bonus too!) I can't wait to try out some of your ideas with my 12 year old daughter who has just started machine sewing at school (aha - that is why I got the urge to get my unloved machine out of the cupboard.) I love yur style and creativity and just reading your blog and seeing your lovely work makes me feel happy! Thank you for sharing! Su

[nfl jerseys]

(arrange it artfully on a chopping board... it makes it taste way better if you get artsy fartsy with it)

[Line]

This necklace tutorial is just amazing! I wish I knew how to crochet... (my Granny used to know the basics, but she never practiced so she can't teach me...)
Thanks for sharing!