Fresh Eats! Homemade Salsa

I hate to say it, but the fatty and delicious heavy foods we commonly eat during winter months are starting to weigh on this girl, literally in fact. So when we were asked to bring a "hearty" snack to our small group get together a few weeks ago, I knew I had to think of something health(ier) than usual. The first thing that came to mind was this salsa that I LOVE from The Willing Cook's website. I make it a little on the chunkier side (pico de gallo style), and used bottled lime juice as opposed to fresh (because as you saw in previous salsa chicken post, I always forget to buy limes). I used jalapeneos out of a jar (already diced) because if I'm left to chop one myself, I WILL somehow manage to touch my eyeball after I've been chopping the peppers. Guaranteed. I also chose Frank's Red Hot sauce as the hot sauce. Also, making this dish was a good way to use up the cilantro I bought for the chipotle rice recipe. What else on earth would you do with an entire bunch of cilantro? One other thing to note, the original recipe suggests use of a food processor (which I don't have), so I chopped everything - thus the chunkier consistency. I think I need to keep my eye out for a deal on a processor; it seems use is becoming much more frequent these days in the recipes I'm reading.

Even though I scoop this salsa with salty, greasy chips, I still feel like I'm eating something really healthy whenever I make it and serve it to others. If you want a healthy recipe that tastes like summer, try this one. AND, if you have an allergy-sufferer in your house (or just want some new delicious recipe) - check out the Willing Cook's blog.

I'm making this again today because, well, it's the first day of spring and making something fresh and delicious just seems like the right thing to do. ;)

Original recipe from The Willing Cook:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 tomato
• 1/2-1 onion
• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded & finely chopped
• 1/4 cucumber
• 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1/2 cups cilantro, fresh
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 tablespoons hot sauce
• 1 teaspoons kosher salt

Instructions:
Throw all ingredients in food processor and process to the consistency you wish. Adjust flavors as desired. (Cucumbers or artichokes add an excellent flavor to this salsa.)