Salsa cooking

 Cooking with salsa has taken on a whole new meaning with more and more people and chefs experimenting with salsa. Traditionally Mexican or Spanish salsa is a combination of tomatoes, onions and cilantro. Fresh new ingredients are now been added for dishes that are being cooked with salsa as well. Hotter and the milder versions of salsa are a matter of personal choice. Salsa is a great accompaniment for tortillas, chips or even a dip for various kinds of breads of fried foods. On the other hands, salsa can also be used as a topping for many of your beef, chicken and even fish dishes or casseroles.

Salsa can be made very easily at home and all you need are some very basic things to get started. Just take a couple of tomatoes and big bell peppers and put them in boiling water. Once the peel of the tomatoes starts to come off, it is time to drain them into a colander and allow them to cool down. Simply allow them to cool down and then run them through a blender till it is completely liquid. Meanwhile chop some white and red onions finely and coarsely grind the garlic. Mix the onions and the garlic to the pureed tomatoes and bell peppers and they refrigerate it for your future use. Add as many peppers as you want to get that fiery taste.

Recipes

Nacho Cheese Dip with Salsa

Ingredients:
1 lb. Velveeta Light (cut into small chunks)
3 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
1 Cup chunky salsa
Tortilla chips, low-fat

Directions:
Pour salsa in a medium pan.
Add Velveeta to the pan.  Cook over low to medium heat, stirring constantly until the cheese is melted.  Add the chopped fresh cilantro and stir to mix.

Spicy Bean Salsa

Ingredients
•    1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas
•    1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
•    1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
•    1/2 cup chopped onion
•    1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
•    1 (4 ounce) can diced jalapeno peppers
•    1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
•    1 cup Italian-style salad dressing
•    1/2 teaspoon

Directions
1.    In a medium bowl, combine black-eyed peas, black beans, corn, onion, green bell pepper, jalapeno peppers and tomatoes.                                   
2.    Season with Italian-style salad dressing and garlic salt; mix well. Cover, and refrigerate overnight to blend flavors.

Apple avocado salsa

Ingredients:
•    1 cup Granny Smith Apple -- Diced
•    1/2 cup Avocado -- Diced
•    1/4 cup Red Pepper -- Diced
•    1/4 cup Red Onion -- Diced
•    1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
•    1 1/2 teaspoon Jalapeno -- Minced
•    1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
•    1/8 teaspoon salt
•    1 1/2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
•    1 dash pepper
•    1 Clove Garlic – minced

Directions:
1.    Combine all ingredients in a bowl.

Cream cheese salsa dip

Ingredients:
8 ounces Cream Cheese -- At Room Temperature
1/2 cup Salsa
2 tablespoons Milk
1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
3/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper

Directions:
Stir all ingredients until well blended.
Autumn pear salsa
Ingredients:
1 lg Grapefruit; preferably pink
2 md Pears; ripe
1/2 c Cherries or cranberries;
-dried
2 tb Red onion; finely chopped
1/2 ts Garlic; finely chopped
1/2 ts Jalapeno; finely chopped
1/2 ts Grated lime zest
2 tb Fresh lime juice

Instructions:
1. Peel the grapefruit, removing all white pith. Carefully section the fruit then cut each section crosswise into thirds. Place in a bowl with any accumulated juices.