A GREAT HOLIDAY

Another Memorial Day is about over - also a holiday and we all have to go back to work!  One of the highlights of my day was going out to Pine Cove and seeing the awesome buildings Travis has been working on for the past eight months -- one is completely furnished and ready to move 4 families into.  Everyone was invited to tour it.  Travis was expecially pleased his sister and brother-in-law came out - as well as my sister and niece.  He was also very surprised and happy that  one of our church Elders came out and our preacher and his children came out a little later.  It was a very nice event.

There I also met a lady that Travis had made friends with - she is 84 years old and she rode to her house with us as we left (we meaning my sister, Maura, Michelle and myself) and we went less than a half mile to arrive at her house.  She gave me a huge sack of sqush - that she had picked this morning.  She also gave me a package of cream corn that she had done on Saturday and frozen.  It was so delicious - I finished cooking and seasoning it this afternoon. 

I decided I would have a Salsa Marathon - so after I returned home, I made a tomato salsa - then one with some Hatch Chiles that I had charred last fall and put in the freezer.  Then later I made a fruit salsa.  It was beautiful, hot, and I thought very good.  Here is what I put in the salsa.

FRESH FRUIT SALSA

1 Large Mango, vuy in large pieces off seed
2 Cups Fresh Strawberries, halved
1 Cup Fresh Blueberries
2 Cups Diced Watermelon
1/2 Cup Frozen Raspberries
1 Small onion, cut in fquarters
1 Small Green Bell Pepper. quartered
1 Hot Jalapeno
1/2 Cup Chopped Cilantro
2 Tsp. Salt
1 Tsp. Black pepper
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2 Tablespoons Candied Ginger
2 Teaspoons Orange zest
1 Tablespoon Fresh lime juice
2 Teaspoons Sugar

Place the Onion, bell pepper, jalapeno, ginger and garlic in food processor and process for a few seconds until broken up.\.  Add the mango, strawberries, half the cilantro, orange zest, lime juice, sugar, salt and pepper.  Process a few seconds -- like 3 or 4 pulses - just to dice - then pour into a large bowl and add the blueberries and diced watermelon.  Stir gently to combine.  Taste to check salt, sugar, etc.  Chill and enjoy!!   This is a beautiful salsa and was really delicious!!!  Yes - I just made it up!!!

Tomorrow evening I am suppose to  to go to a planning meeting for Pilot Club.  I am at the point in my life that I really wish I could just come home, cook for my family - or go get something to eat with them and chill out  -- but I will do this because I am suppose to! 

Do you know what Turbinado Sugar is?  Honestly I didn't until about a week ago -  then I saw a recipe I really wanted to make and it said the put Turbinado sugar on top of each -- so I went looking.  Have you seen in Brookshires and other stores the "Raw Sugar?"  If you read further - you will see it is Turbinado sugar!  You are never too old to learn!!!!  That is like the lady that gave me the squash today.  Like I said - she is 84 - but she has three large gardens, that she not only works, and puts the food up - she plows it herself.  Then she does her own yard - which was very large - and finds time to take daily walks.  Totally amazing -- and how I want to be!!!

Well - it is getting late - I know this is short - but just had to share my day with you -- and give you the Fresh Fruit Salsa recipe. 

May God Bless and Keep each of you until we meet again!