Just Another Meatless Monday #41 Winter Salsa

Good tomatoes are expensive in Alaska, even in the summer, let alone in the winter. IF you can find them in the winter they've got more airlines miles on them than my frequent flier account and they're tasteless and woody to boot. So they are off the shopping list for us. It's not their fault though I don't think Alaskans are supposed to eat fresh beautiful tomatoes all winter long but we can eat canned tomatoes all winter long.
If you look you can find good organic canned tomatoes in the grocery store and they will produce a good winter salsa. Not any relation to a fresh from the vine summer salsa but it will be inhaled by my kids on what we call salsa salad, or in salsa-dillas or eaten directly with a spoon. If I put a bowl full of canned tomatoes on the table my kids would fall over dead, a bowl of winter salsa is another story, they love it. I can make it in less than 3 minutes with a food processor and so can you.

Winter Salsa-Canned Tomato Salsa

1 clove fresh garlic, peeled**
1/4 medium onion, sweet work well for good flavor**
handful of cilantro, washed **
hot pepper, if desired
lemon or lime juice**
28 ounce can Diced Tomatoes-the best you can afford
salt, as needed**


in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a chopping blade whirl together the onion and the garlic
add pepper if using and chop well
then add the cilantro chopping well
add a squirt of lemon juice
then add the tomatoes pulsing lightly to combine and chop slightly
taste and add salt if needed
refrigerate until ready to use
will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator

** I want to stress this is a basic recipe and you should make it and taste it along the way to see what suits you. I like a lot of cilantro but you may not, make it yours by adding what amounts you like. And of course if you have your own canned tomatoes then you could definitely make this with them.

Peace and Love--