Salsa-licious

The first recipe, Mango Strawberry Salsa, earned first place in the Cinco de Mayo Salsa Contest at my workplace last year. This year, I created something completely different, Spicy Artichoke Heart Salsa.
Both salsas are wonderful fresh, but even better after the flavors have marinated a few hours or even overnight. Enjoy.
Mango Strawberry Salsa
Ingredients
1 chubby ripe mango, peeled, pitted and diced
1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 habanero pepper, sliced open (let marinate then remove)
1/2 serrano pepper, seeded and minced
1/4 c. finely chopped red onion
1/4 c. finely chopped red bell pepper
1/4 c. chopped cilantro leaves
3 ripe strawberries, finely chopped
Juice from 3 limes
Juice from ½ orange
Spicy Artichoke Heart Salsa
Ingredients
2 c. marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 small can sliced black olives (2.25 oz)
1/4 c. minced red/sweet peppers
1/4 c minced red onion
1/4 c minced seedless cucumber
1-2 minced jalapenos
2 T. minced poblano
2 minced roma tomatoes
½ c. cilantro, chopped
juice of two limes
1/2 t. smoked paprika
1/2 t. chipotle chili powder or 1 t. adobo sauce
dash salt

Savory Waffles

I prefer savory to sweet, so I created this recipe, using fresh herbs from our garden and green garlic that came in our CSA share this spring. (Tis the season to pick up green garlic at the farmer’s market.)

Feel free to change out the herbs. Try cilantro, chili and lemon or lime zest. Add chipotle if you’d like. The variations are endless.

P.S. I sprang for a waffle boat maker. Savory waffles topped with vegetables simmered in a cream/alfredo sauce = divine dinner.

Savory Waffles
Ingredients
2 c. flour
1 c. cornmeal
2 1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 stick melted butter
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk/buttermilk
4 oz. (1 cup) shredded cheese
2 tablespoons minced onion
4 slices bacon, crumbled (optional, of course, unless your name is @ronjon)
2 tablespoon each, finely chopped: fresh parsley, rosemary, chives, (green garlic if available)
1 fat garlic clove, minced
sparkling water or cider

Directions
1. Mix dry ingredients.
2. Mix wet ingredients: eggs, milk. herbs, garlic.
3. Combine wet and dry and add bacon and cheese.
4. Add sparkling water or cider until mix is a thick flow. If you don’t have these on hand, just add more milk.

Topping ideas:

• goat cheese and pastrami or smoked turkey or oven-roasted veggies for an “open sandwich”
• top with alfredo sauce with broccoli

Not Yo' Mama's Tea Sandwiches

Producing a podcast on a regular basis is time-consuming. and we've let this site lie fallow while we focused on other things, like Desert Dingo Racing and The Satellite.

That said, we're back -- posting only recipes for now -- but we're cooking like crazy and love sharing our ideas as much as we love feeding people.

We attended a potluck picnic in the local community park yesterday. Our favorite grocery store clerk suggested we bring tea sandwiches to the potluck, and so we did. One sweet, two savory, one of those being vegetarian. Finger sandwiches are perfect picnic fare. No plates or utensils required.

These are not precise recipes. I didn't measure while I concocted, I tasted. And boyohboy, these treats were mighty tasty.

Curried Tuna
Mix tuna and mayo. Add capers, minced red onion/celery/cilantro in equal amounts, salt, curry powder to taste. Lovely on cracked grain bread, lightly spread with butter (optional), before making a plump tuna sandwich. Remove crusts if you like; I don't bother. Cut into 4ths.

Wasabi Radish Cuke
I use a mandoline to slice seedless cucumber and radishes. Whip cream cheese with lemon juice/zest and wasabi paste to taste; add chopped chives to cream cheese. Slather on bread and layer paper-thin slices of cuke and radish. Lightly salt veggies. Close and cut into 4ths.

The Elvis
Use organic peanut butter (I prefer chunky, and if I can make it to the local natural food store, freshly ground pb). Spread on both slices, sprinkle crumbled bacon on one side, layer other side with thinly sliced banana. Drizzle honey on banana. Close sammie and cut into 4ths.

I'm thinking that next time, I'll use maple syrup instead of honey on the Elvis.