1. Column- if anyone wants to read it. I finally got over my freak-out yesterday and came up with something. Not that it's awesome or anything but it was SOMEthing. Baby steps.

http://www.thewhitehousestar.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=50

(The top one is new, the other two are old ones he threw up there the other day to fill space.)

2. Recipes- if anyone wants to make yummy food.

I made these two favorite things for a Halloween party on Saturday and I thought I'd share them with you because a) they are really good and b) very easy and c) everyone has a fit over them. I believe that is a southern expression...so "a fit" over something is actually a good thing, unless you're talking about a bratty child. Then "a fit" really sucks.

First: My recipe for homemade salsa. It's 100% mine and it took me years to perfect it. I always wanted to make homeade salsa and it always turned out wrong wrong wrong. I started out using fresh tomatoes and there lied my problem....just too watery and flavorless. Eventually I tried canned tomatoes and voila! Salsa magic.

The next recipe is for Garlic Chicken Pizza which is a knock off of a bar we like to go to- The Flying Saucer. The place is like Beer Paradise, but they have good food, too. Anyway- one night, my sister declared "I can make this" as we were chowing down on the pizza and sure enough she came pretty close. Actually- I like it better homemade. I bring this to parties a lot and cut it up in small squares...people seriously go nuts for it. It's also good for dinner/lunch.

__________________________

Salsa

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes, use a good brand...I like Red Gold
1 jalapeno pepper
1 small white onion
1 bunch cilantro
Juice from 1 lemon (lime is fine too, I actually think the lemon gives a better flavor)
1 clove garlic
Kosher salt- I've never measured...usually about 3 good sized pinches (about a teaspoon, I guess??)
Pinch of sugar

Chop onion and jalapeno in large pieces and pulse in a food processor with the garlic clove for a few seconds. Then add the tomatoes, cilantro (just cut off the top of the bunch, discard the stems) lemon juice, salt and sugar and pulse for a few more seconds.

__________________________

Garlic Chicken Pizza

1 Pillsbury Thin Crust Pizza Crust
1 small jar basil pesto
2 cups mozarella cheese
6 (or more!) garlic cloves, minced (I use my garlic press)
1 package grilled chicken slices, diced into very small pieces (Or sometimes I just use leftover grilled chicken)
Diced jarred (pickled) jalapenos

Roll out the pizza crust and bake for about 4-5 minutes. Mix the chicken and the minced garlic together.  Top the crust with basil pesto, cheese, chicken/garlic mixture and scatter the diced jalapenos. Use as many as you like depending on how spicy you like things, but a little of these goes a long way. Bake for at least another 10 minutes or so until the cheese is bubbly.