Want some salsa.. don't you wanta, want some salsa?

The title above is meant to be sung to the tune of the fanta song. I was holding off on my ultra-fab ( yeah, I went there) homemade salsa recipe because I was planning on having a dip week on here. Since that didn't happen I decided that screw dip week, I really need to post a new recipe. I am gonna forewarn you.. this salsa recipe is bad ass. I normally hate tomatoes and chunky salsas so keep that in mind. It is also completely made to my taste buds so feel free to change anything. I never measure of the ingredients in this bad guy so go with your instinct and do what you want. Have fun and get dirty. Oh and did I forget to tell you, I burned out my tiny food processor by mixing some gazpacho in it and the stuff poured out the sides into the motor. Looks like I wont be making salsa for a while. I need to get a real food processor because the one I always used was a mini one made to chop nuts. Don't forget some salsa for the 4th o' July. While y'all will be pooling, salsaing, and laking it up, I will be slaving away, walking dogs in the hot sun. Keep me in your thoughts. I will keep you in mine:)

Stephanie's Kick Ass Salsa.. the best there ever was.

Ingredients

1 can chopped tomatos ( or any type you want, I normally go chopped with onions)

1/2 onion chopped hard

2 cloves of garlic sliced

some bunches of cilantro, chopped

1-2 jalapenos depending on how much heat you want

1/2 lime, juiced

salt and pepper to taste

Throw tomatoes, onion, garlic, jalapenos, and lime juice into a blender or food processor and pulse until the salsa is not chunky anymore. Don't go too much because you want a little bit of junk but you want the consistency more like mexican restuarant salsa. ONce finished pulsing/blending, pour in a bowl and add salt and pepper to taste as well as the chopped cilantro. You will probably need at least 1/2 tbsp of salt if not more. If the salsa isn't spicy enough add more diced jalapenos or add red pper flkes or tabasco. The tabasco will change the taste a slight bit. Enjoy mi amigos.

Food Find

Mhhh looks good don't they. This fabulous food find is straight from your local mexi market. Carniceria Los Hermanos, Buford Hwy Farmers Market, or any other mexican market you stumble upon should have these delicious snacks. What are they, you wonder. This bite sized spicy bits are spicy chickpeas. They are cooked until hard and covered in a chili spice. Sometimes you will see them as garbanzo y' limon I believe. These things are addicting so be forwarned.

Sadness abounds

Well, 3 big names died this past week and weekend. I'm sure you know: Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, and Billie Mays. It's hard to believe how easily you can be taken. Cancer, heart disease, a combo of pills, an accident. I just read about a 12 yo who dies during a bull ride in the local rodeo competition. His parents said he died doing what he loved.

Poor Michael, while his later years proved to be shocking and newspaper worthy, he created some of the most original music out there. He was an icon, even with the bad press, jokes, and stories surrounding him. I have spoken with more than 1 person who cried after learning he died and while I would never do that because I am not that sentimental, I do feel that it is a tragedy to lose such a great musical talent. I also feel sad for him because I think what he was in the past couple years was due to the way he was brought up and it disappoints me that they cute face of a young MJ turned into the scary MJ of the 2000s. I mourn more so for a boy lost than for the man he became.

As for Farrah, I never thought about her much, too young to watch Charlie's Angels, but I did meet Jaclyn Smith at my cousins wedding. I never thought much about her until after her death when I saw her documentary on ABC. It was gut-wrenching. Perhaps it's more the thought that hundreds of people go through that and never get their story told. The part when they told her that her cancer had spread tore my heart. To know where you are headed scares me. I would prefer to die in my sleep but many hear that the end is coming. Billie Mays was the lucky one. While he isn't as famous as the other 2, he was influential. He talked millions of people into buying products they didn't need; what talent. I only hope all 3 are hanging out somewhere playing poker.
This is for y'all.

Quote of the Week

"Children need encouragement. If a kid gets an answer right, tell him it was a lucky guess. That way he develops a good, lucky feeling."

-Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy

Self Portraits

I just joined a group on flickr that has me taking a self portrait every day for 365 days. Hope I can stick with it. If you know me, you know I am not all that good at commitments.

The Braves play here

Going to the Braves vs Yankees game tonight and it is all you can eat and drink. Tickets and AYCD provided by my company- "whoop whoop"!! ( I think Christy is the one who always blogs whoop whoop so I will quote her for that bad boy saying; it's cool, I got super____ from Ardis). Anyway Braves game tonight. Is it bad if I am already plum wo' out? I am so tired yet this weekend will not provide rest for the weary. It makes me tired just thinking about it. I have a busy weekend of pet sitting coming up. Trying to pre-pay for Puerto Rico, the birthday tax soon to arrive in September, the Paul McCartney concert at Piedmont Park ( didn't know, well now you do. It's July 15th. Say "Thank you Stephie". You Welcome), trip to South Africa for the World Cup next summer. Wow, so many things to make money for. Oh and did I forget the big purchase that is soon-to-be (we hope) it's buying a new house. Actually let me re-phrase, a new-to-me house. I can't wait. Actually I can. I really need to wait until I find my perfect house. I have found one but it's not looking so good. Its a cute little shotgun in Cabbagetown. Problem is that the owner has high expectations and my wallet doesn't quite meet his expectations. Well Y'all try and keep your fingers crossed for me and my potential new abode. It will be sad to leave the Highlands because I loooove living there (here, now, whatever) but I need greener and cheaper pastures:)

Oh I am going to leave a fabulous link below for some delicious raw asparagus salad. It's so easy. Pithy and Cleaver turned me on to it. Especially because I had some asparagus in the fridge and didn't feel like heating up the homestead for it. Basically you break the tough ends of the asparagus off, (bend holding both ends, where it snaps should be tossed) and cut into small, edible pieces. Add to that sweet peas, cubed pecorino romano, juice of 1 lemon, a drizzle of olive oil, lots of freshly ground pepper, and a little salt. The salad is yummy, quick, and the flavor layering is fantastic. Recipe can be seen her:
http://www.pithyandcleaver.com/?p=807&cpage=1#comment-1242

Random Shots

All can be on my flickr site but they can also be seen below. Some from Fathers Day, some from random shots between pet sits, some from the Drive In, which I went to for the 2nd time last Friday evening. See if you can tell which is which? Oh and Big News: I am going to Puerto Rico at the beginning of August for an extended weekend (basically 3 days, due to my brothers lack of vacation days). I am really pumped and am in need of suggestions on restaurants, hotels, sites, and the like. Drop me a line if you think you can help. I am so pumped!!!

Breaking News.......

My teeth hurt. Make it stop, somebody make it stop.

Quote of the Week

"Better not take a dog on the space shuttle, because if he sticks his head out when you're coming home his face might burn up."
-Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy

Food Find of the Week

Feeling a hankering for something crunchy, witha great texture? Then go on down to the Buford Hwy Farmers Market and pick up some freshly-made-on-site half sours. They are pickles that have not been fully pickled. They are super yummy and addicting. You can find the half sours in the Eastern European cold section.