Lets Salsa!

Hello Readers!

You're reading my first real post/recipe on my blog "CollegeMealIdeas"! I'll be trying to update the blog from this point on at least twice a week, hopefully 3-4 times a week. I'll be covering everything from the basics, (like classic grilled cheese!) to more advanced recipes, kitchen tips/tricks and reader recommendations. Can't wait till I get to my sweet and spicy rib recipe!

This brings me to my first recipe, Salsa! It's spicy, and with fresh tomatoes (especially cherry) it can be sweet too.  Salsa is great because it is healthy, delicious, and requires no cooking. There are  multiple ways to make salsa, but generally the less ingredients the better, which is why this recipe only requires five main ingredients (excluding salt & pepper). And without further ado...

Fresh-Cut Salsa

Prep time - 15 minutes
Cook time - 0 minutes

Main Ingredients:
- 4-5 medium sized tomatoes
- 3-4 cloves of garlic (crushed)
- 1 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1/3 cup diced onions (red and/or yellow)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper

Optional Ingredients:
- Chopped chili's (for a mild salsa use jalapenos, or use habaneros for something hot!)
- Tabasco sauce
- Oregano

Add all ingredients to a mixing bowl as they are finished being prepped. Dice tomatoes and using hands drain excess water off of them before putting into a mixing bowl. Peel garlic (use the flat of the blade to easily remove skin) and crush in garlic press (or mince with knife). Next take half a lemon and squeeze the juice into the bowl, making sure to strain out the seeds. Follow this by mincing the cilantro (if it's fresh) and add it to the salsa. Take your onion, dice well. Add salt and pepper and stir!

Yum!

If adding a chili, make sure to wear gloves if you wear contacts and to wash the cutting board afterwards. Start by cutting the chili in half, removing the seed pod and using your knife at a 90 degree angle, remove the discolored spines on the inside. Dice from this stage. For additional information on chili's,  visit my post on chili preparation and the Scoville heat scale here Understanding Chili's, The Scoville Heat Scale.

Pictured - Inferno peppers, medium heat

And there you go! Basically just prep and mix into a bowl, and make sure to have chips on hand, because it's hard to resist freshly made salsa. Whether it's served at a party or on a burrito, this salsa won't disappoint!

Stefan