Quack’s Salsa (B+)

October 11, 2006 at 12:59 pm (B plus (3.5 stars, like a lot), Mexican & S. American, restaurant inspired)

Captain Quackenbush’s Intergalactic Dessert Company and Espresso Café (commonly known as Quackenbush’s or just Quack’s) was Austin’s first coffeehouse and an excellent example of the laid-back style of old-school Austin. In college, I used to eat lunch there occasionally, always getting their black bean burrito with verde sauce and a side of their excellent tomato salsa. It was a great deal: three and a half bucks for a tasty, filling, healthy burrito and salsa that couldn’t be beat. Unfortunately, Starbucks and other newer, trendier coffee shops soon showed up on the drag, and Quack’s was eventually closed down in the face of reduced business and rising rents. Before they closed, however, I made a desperate plea for their salsa recipe. It’s restaurant-sized, but so good you won’t have trouble getting rid of a gallon at a time (right?).

Stir together:

  • 10 pounds of whole tomatoes, broken up with a wooden spoon
  • 1 yellow onion (1/2 lb.), diced
  • 3 jalepenos, minced
  • 1 poblano, diced
  • 1/2 cup whole garlic, minced
  • 1 bunch cilantro, chopped
  • juice of 1 lime
  • 1 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
  • 1 cup water

My Notes

When I made this for fast food at the co-op, it would all disappear in twenty four hours.

Rating: B+

Reduced version:

  • 2 pounds whole tomatoes (I used 1 lb 13 oz canned tomatoes in juice + a 7 oz fresh tomato)
  • 1.6 oz diced onion (I used 4 oz)
  • 3/5 jalapeno, minced  (I used 1.5 seeded jalapeno + 1/2 with seeds)
  • 1/5 poblano (I used none, adding 1/2 tsp. chile powder)
  • .8 Tbs. whole garlic, minced (I used 3 cloves, 17g total)
  • 1/5 bunch cilantro, chopped (I used 40g)
  • juice of 1/5 of a lime (I used 1 lime, just over 1.5 Tbs.)
  • 3/10 tsp. salt (I used 1/2 tsp.)
  • 1/8 tsp. black pepper (I used a few grinds)
  • 1/10 tsp. ground cumin (I used 1/2 tsp.)
  • 1/5 cup water (I used 1.5 oz or 3 Tbs.)
  • I added 1 Tbs. olive oil for mouthfeel

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Equipment Review: Messless Measuring

October 11, 2006 at 1:06 am (Equipment reviews)

I’ve been posting a lot of recipes lately, but I’ve been wanting to give some recommendations for kitchen items as well. I’m going to start with measuring utensils, such as measuring spoons, cups, scales, etc.

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Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

October 11, 2006 at 12:44 am (Alma's faves, AMA, B plus (3.5 stars, like a lot), Dessert, Muffins and quick breads, Quick weeknight recipe, Yearly menu plan) ()

This is a great fall dessert. I make it at least once or twice each fall when I first see fresh cranberries in the stores. The pumpkin and cornmeal give this bread a great texture and the cranberries are marvelously tart. I made it last year for Thanksgiving and everyone liked it. This is based on a recipe in the AMA Family Health cookbook. I’ve decreased the sugar, doubled the number of cranberries, and swapped out half the flour for whole wheat flour. It was good to start with, and now I think it’s even better! The traditional look is to bake this in a loaf pan but I think it holds together better and has a better (crispier) texture when baked in a standard cake pan. Read the rest of this entry »

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