Quick Winter Salsa

If you are like me, you just can't get fresh local ripe tomatoes for most of the year.  In fact, for us, our summers are so short that we barely have enough time to harvest our tomatoes before it starts getting cold again!  The amount of time we have up here for gardening is very short.  It often makes me long to live in a warmer climate where we can enjoy our garden for a longer period of time.  The upside is that we are so excited for fresh local produce in the summer that we hit all the local farmers markets as often as possible so we can get our hands on produce we don't grow ourselves.  Summer is a fun and wonderful time of year in Vermont, not to mention beautiful!

Since there are about 9 months a year where we can not get fresh local tomatoes, I have put together a homemade salsa that can be made any time of the year.  Yes, the tomatoes come from a can, but it still has the homemade "flavor" to it.  And hey, anything that's homemade is better for you than store bought!  This recipe also comes in handy when you have company and need to whip up something to munch on fast.  It's worth a try....you just may like it ☺ 


Winter Salsa

1/4 cup red onion
1/2 of a small jalapeno, seeds removed (or you can keep them in for more heat)
1 large clove of garlic
1, 14.5 oz can of Diced Tomatoes with green pepper & onion
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cumin
1 tsp lime juice 
small handful of cilantro

Place all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or chopper.  Pulse to a few times until all the ingredients are chopped to your desired consistency.  If you like somewhat chunky salsa, add only half of the can of tomatoes at first.  After you chop up all the other ingredients, add the second half of the can of tomatoes and pulse once or twice.  Store in refrigerator for up to 7 days.