Salsa 101

20120716-082842.jpg Even if you don't have a food processor or a fancy schmancy machine, you can make your own salsa. Nothing tastes like summer quite like sweet tomatoes, bright cilantro & zippy jalapeños. I'm so in love with the stuff that I can at least a dozen jars of salsa to use during the winter months. My spicy salsa soup is just what I need to remember the summer sun during frigid February.

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Ingredients: - 2-3 pounds of tomatoes, halved then seeds into a bowl in (or more if you're making enough for the week!) - 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed - 1 large sweet onion, diced - 1 large bunch of cilantro, wash thoroughly then chop leaves and stems (omit if you're a cilantro-hater) - 2-3 jalapeños, diced (depending on your desired spice level) - salt

Method: - if you're using a machine, blitz in this sequence: (keeping each prior ingredient in the food processor) salt & garlic, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, salt again and add in desired amount of tomato juices if needed. - if you're doing this by hand, just dice it all up and put it in a bowl. - serve with your fav chips, over steak, or use as a base for your chili.

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I love love salsa. Don't forget things like mangos, peaches, and other chilis are great in salsa. Experiment and enjoy!