End of Summer Potato Salad with a Twist

Adapted from Smoke & Spice, by Cheryl and Bill Jamison:

2# sweet potatoes, peeled, cut into 3" chunks
1/4 red bell pepper, diced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 Tablespoon sweet onion, diced
1/4 c cilantro, chopped roughly
salt and pepper to taste

Dressing:
1/3 c lime juice
1 canned chipotle chile, finely diced(this gives a hint of a bite-add more if you like it hot)
1 Tbsp ketchup
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/3 c olive oil

Boil sweet potatoes in a large pan of salted boiling water; cook until tender, 10-15 minutes. Drain, rinse, let cool, dice into 1/2" pieces.

Combine pepper, celery, onion, and cilantro in a large bowl. Add sweet potatoes, and mix.

Combine dressng ingredients and mix. Pour over potato mixture and mix gently. Taste and adjust seasoning. Chill for 2 hours or overnight.

Review: my non-potato-salad-loving hubby liked it! Also good with white potatoes.

Pasta Sauce: Asian Pesto

I was driving home last night at 6pm, with no idea of what I was about to make for dinner, but I had just picked cilantro from a community garden. Hmmmm... Here is what the cilantro became:

Asian Pesto

1 bunch cilantro, leaves only
1/4-1/2 cup vegetable oil
6 walnuts or a handful of peanuts
1-2" of fresh ginger, peeled and then grated
3-6 cloves garlic depending on how much you like garlic
1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt
(chopped jalapeno pepper)

Combine all ingredients in a blender. Whirl away until smooth.
Great mixed into a bowl of pasta, or as a dipping sauce for grilled vegetables or chicken.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Syrup

1 cup water

1/2 cup sugar

2/3 cup cocoa powder(we like Guittard)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1. Combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil.
2. Add cocoa powder and salt, mix well, and simmer for 3 min. Stir! It will thicken.
3. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.

Store in the refrigerator.

Substitute cinnamon for Mexican hot chocolate, or peppermint extract.

To make hot chocolate, add 3 Tablespoons syrup to 1 cup of hot milk.