Summer Foods Week: Pico De Haley

I decided after my last post, that this week would be summer foods week. I can’t help myself. Plus…it’s going to be 80 degrees here today! Huzzah! So for you today, my fresh salsa recipe. Interesting fact: Did you know that Pico De Gallo translates to “Roosters Beak”? People used to eat Pico De Gallo with their thumb and forefinger, “pecking” at it like a rooster.

Pico De Haley (Translates to “Haley’s Beak” – Named so because it’s usually consumed quickly and efficiently, without pausing or sharing, resembling how Haley eats this dish). This salsa (technically a “relish”) is great with chips, but is also a great addition to tacos, omelets, quesadillas…and so on.

Ingredients: 1 white onion or 1/2 red onion, 1/2 cup cilantro, 1 jalapeno, 1 to 2 Tbs lime juice & 2 large tomatoes (avocado – optional).

In a food processor or blender (or chopped really well) finely chop onion, cilantro and jalapeno. Chop tomatoes by hand. Mix onion mixture, tomatoes, and lime in a bowl.

I like to add one avocado when eating this with chips. I chop up half and mash the other half, then mix it in. Not only do I love avocado, but I love it in combination with the heat of jalapeno. They are perfect partners.

There are tons of way to change up this dish. You can work with the ratio of ingredients until you get it just right, or try adding different things, like cucumber or apple cider vinegar. In the end, you know it’s going to be delicious.

No. No. No.

I’ve been really good. I haven’t blasted a single food product that I think is terrible for human beings on this blog, though I think about it often. But I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this in the store yesterday. I was attracted to it because it was a jar of neon green goop…as I got closer…”Guacamole”.

Ew. THIS IS NOT GUACAMOLE!

Here is the ingredient list, note how I have highlight the only place where avocado is actually listed:

“Water, Canola Oil, Food Starch Modified, Concentrated Crushed Tomatoes, Maltodextrin, and contains 2% or less of: Avocado Powder, Dehydrated Onion, Jalapeno Pepper Powder, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Garlic Powder, Dehydrated Red Bell Pepper, Spices, Whey Protein Concentrate, Salt, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Corn Syrup Solids, Caramel Color, Soy Sauce (Naturally Fermented Wheat and Soybeans, Salt, Maltodextrin, Caramel Color), Citric Acid, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Lemon Juice Solids, Sugar, Glucono-Delta-Lactone, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, DATEM, Lactic Acid, Monosodium Glutamate, Yellow #5 & Blue #1″

What? That is nasty. Here is a better, simple option for you:

Easy Guacamole

2 avocados

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 ripe tomato, chopped

1 lime, juiced

salt and pepper to taste

There are a thousand other ways to fancy up guacamole. One of my favorites is Alton Brown’s version. So good! But I wanted to provide a simple recipe because I figure people who grab that jar of neon green goop are looking for something quick.

Please please, if you want guac and you’re thinking about picking up some of that jarred death…just tell me and I will help you chop whatever you need to chop in order to NOT consume that crapiness.

Soap box speech ending in 3…2…1.

Float-tastic.

You know you want one.

 You wont regret it either. You can’t go wrong with Tillamook Old Fashioned Vanilla ice cream and Barq’s rootbeer.

 It’s Friday night…throw caution and diets to the freakin wind.