Monday, March 12, 2012

Colors are the Smiles of Nature

This is going to be a short post, but long enough so that I can tell you how amazing this salsa is. I mean, can we just take a minute to talk about the color? I absolutely love bright colors. Especially colors that remind me of summer - they have a way of making me smile. I'm a big color/texture person. If it's off, I'm not happy. I love the contrast in color between the cilantro, mango, and kiwis. The festive colors makes me wish summer was here already. Let's move on to the texture for a minute. The mango is really the main "body" in this dish. The kiwi has such a light texture, emphasizing the texture of the mango. If you're not a fan of cilantro, you can substitute flat leaf parsley or fresh mint. I encourage you to make this salsa yourself and have fun with it. It's very versatile and is sure to please.


I first made this salsa over two years ago. It was served with a honey-glazed pork loin, served over rice pilaf. Hello! Match made in heaven. I was hooked, and ended up making it 3 times that week. It normally doesn't last through the rest of the day around my house, but for a normal portion size, it should serve 4-6. It can be served with pork, tilapia, shrimp, and salmon. My favorite pairing still is with a simple pork. This last time that I made it, we paired the salsa with a center cut pork chop, served with rice pilaf, Parmesan crusted roasted zucchini and squash, and fresh baby bell peppers. Delish! Try it out and see how you like to serve it.




Mango-Kiwi Salsa


Ingredients:
2 ripe mango, chopped
4 ripe kiwi, chopped
Generous handful of cilantro, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste




Directions:
Combine mango, kiwi, and cilantro in bowl. Whisk together olive oil, salt and pepper, and add to fruit. Refrigerate for 2 hours before serving. 
This dish is even better if you refrigerate it overnight, but if you can't wait that long, then have it. 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Let the Rain Sing You a Lullaby

It's raining - again. Second day in a row. We now have a lake in both the front and back yard. Sitting at the table you can hear the steady rain pattering on the skylight. It's such a soothing sound. This is also the second day into my break from school. I like to think that rainy days are the only qualifier needed for a day to be considered a lazy day. My ideal lazy day would entail: coffee, lots of it, a good book, a hearty meal, and baking. I also like to think that doing these said things qualifies as being productive. I finished reading "The Help" today. That's one more thing I can scratch off my to do list. Though I'm sad it doesn't continue; it was a wonderful read. 


Aside the rain, this is one of the rare cold days. Two days ago it was in the high 70's, but tonight it's in the high 40's. I can't help but crave hot chocolate when it gets cold outside. My mother gave me this recipe after she found it while reading one of her books. Tonight seemed like the perfect occasion to test out the recipe. It was nothing short of a cup full of joy. Never have I had hot chocolate that was so creamy and thick, It's a step under Italian hot chocolate in consistency.  The teaspoon of sugar was just enough sweet to balance the bitterness of the chocolate. I used an 80% semi-sweet chocolate. And you can't have hot chocolate without whipped cream. It's simply an injustice to even think of such a thing. I grated a bittersweet chocolate for the topping. This is the perfect cup of love to share with someone you care for. 


If you'll excuse me, but I'm going to sit down with a new book and my cup of chocolate and enjoy the rest of the rainy night.  



Celeste Madeline Chambeau Hot Chocolate
Serves: 2


2c whole milk
1tsp. white sugar
1/2tsp. vanilla extract
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
Pinch of salt




Heat milk in a pot, stirring with a whisk. When steam starts to rise from the pot, whisk in sugar and vanilla. Slowly whisk in chocolate until it's fully melted then add the pinch of salt. Heat for five minutes on low, stirring frequently so milk doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Top with a dollop of whipped cream, marshmallows, or chocolate shavings.


I made a simple whipped cream with 1/4c heavy whipping cream and 2tbs superfine sugar. Whip the cream until frothy then add the sugar.