My Own Recipe

Food is all about sharing.  And when I think about my most favorite recipes they are from people I love who love to eat good food.  Granted many of my recipes come from my mother and they come from a time when she liked to cook.  Now she is not so interested in cooking.  My Dad has seemed to discover a new fondness for cooking.  I think he has always liked it, but I think now he is devoting more time and intention to it and it is coming out well.  Some of her famous recipes weren't cooked for us.  Maybe they were before my time or perhaps at the grown up only parties.  But after a couple requests she capitulated and made the infamous cheesecake my brother and I always heard about but never tasted. 

Yesterday I was invited to a pot luck.  But not any standard potluck, but one that is going to be part of a cookbook and if I understand it correctly, I am supposed to bring my food and recipe and perhaps even have a mention in said cookbook. 

So I have been racking my brain thinking of what to make.  Turkey Lettuce Cups - but that came from my Mom, I changed it a bit, but still it is hers.  What about Vietnamese Summer Rolls, same story different person, Denise via her mother.  Well, every one seems to always talk about my tomato sauce, but I am bored with it.  Bored is not the feeling I want to bring to the potluck. 

So what else do I make, potatoes gratin, nah.  Oh! my Tico Black Bean Dip.  I usually use canned pureed black beans but maybe this time I will start with dried beans.  Add cilantro root in the cooking process, definitely bacon fat, maybe tiny lardons on top.  Hmm, this will mean I will need to  have some sort of serving dish.  A good guest comes with a serving piece right?  The host can always swap into something they have.

Anyway I am gonna do a test run tomorrow. 

Today I am making tangelo bars, like a lemon bar but with fresh tangelos.  I am also making some chocolate chip cookie dough to store in the freezer.

Here is the canned bean version of the Tasty Tico Dip:
Dina's Tasty Tico Black Bean Dip
1 can black beans, re-fried plain, or whole and blended
3-4 slices good quality bacon
cumin
½ chopped medium onion
½ cup chopped cilantro
½ cup Salsa Lizano, plus more to taste
1 jalapeño chopped, more or less to your taste
sea salt

First, fry up the bacon in a pot to desired doneness. Remove bacon, keep fat, add onions and jalapeño, cook until onion is translucent. Add cilantro and cumin cook another minute or 2. Add pureed black beans, salt, and Salsa Lizano. Cook until heated through stirring. Taste and adjust cumin, salt, Lizano. Chop cooled bacon and stir to combine. Serve with tortilla chips, a bowl of sour cream, extra Lizano, hot sauce, etc.

If you cannot find Salsa Lizano add more cumin. Salsa Lizano is a table side condiment in Costa Rica, what soy is to Asia, ketchup & mayo to USA. Try the Internet or my favorite way, go to Costa Rica and bring some back!