Yummy Salsa

Back in March, Dave & I went to the National Fiery Foods & Barbecue Show which is held just outside Albuquerque every year, at the Sandia Resort & Casino.

Basically, you wander through rooms packed with vendors handing out free samples of the fieriest foods you can possibly imagine.  I stayed away from the fiercest options and searched out sauces & salsas that I could eat without crying.  We came away with several excellent finds, but one discovery far outstripped the others.

It's called Cindy's Salsa.  Cindy's Yummy & Healthy Salsa, to be exact.  And its won first place in the New Mexico state fair multiple years in a row.  It's fresh & addictive & has just the right amount of kick.  The problem is that its only sold in Albuquerque.  In fact, even within Albuquerque, its only sold at one particular co-op!

Given its addictive properties, Dave & I needed to find a way to continue supplying ourselves with this amazing salsa after we leave Albuquerque.  The only solution was to learn to make it ourselves.  Thankfully, Cindy publishes her ingredients on her salsa containers.  After a couple tries (the first attempt tasted like ketchup), we figured out how to make an adequate (but, we stress, not equivalent) substitute.

I present to you...Dave & Jane's Yummy & Healthy Salsa.

Ingredients:
1-2 lbs tomatoes (use fresh ones, if they are tasty & available! Otherwise, use a 28-oz can whole plum tomatoes; preferably organic - I swear they taste better)
1 white or red onion
2 jalapenos (leave the rind & seeds in for more heat)
1 large bunch cilantro
2 cloves garlic
2 limes

Directions:
1. If using canned tomatoes, drain them in a colander and rinse them with water to rid them of any metallic flavor.  Process tomatoes lightly in a food processor (it's important to use a food processor, not a blender!).  You want the tomatoes to still be chunky.  Pour the tomatoes into your salsa container.
2. Cut the onion into large chunks.  Toss it into the food processor & process lightly.  Mix the onion in with the tomatoes.
3. Process the jalapenos & garlic cloves together.  Mix in with the tomatoes & onions.
4. Chop the cilantro by hand.  Mix it into the salsa.
5. Finally, squeeze the limes into the salsa.
6. Mix & sprinkle with salt to taste.

The end result should have this kind of consistency (but obviously, not with these ingredients):

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.