8/21/12 ChefElla's Super Easy Salsa

CHEFELLA'S SUPER EASY SALSA
I like summertime.  Everything is so fresh and colorful.  Last summer my mother took me to the farmers market.  While we were there we met a woman who sells fresh salsa.  I did not think I would like it, but the rule in our house is, you have to try everything at least once.
I loved it.  So this year instead of buying salsa my mother took me to the farmers market so that I could buy all of the ingredients to make my own fresh salsa.  Of course they did not have everything we needed, but we bought what we could.
This recipe is easy to make, and you can share it for days.  If you are not allowed to use a knife yet, your parents can help you cut up the vegetables.

1.  Wash your hands.

2.  Wash all of your fresh vegetables.

     -You want to wash vegetables because they grow in the ground, and you do not want to eat

      dirt with your salsa so washing them is important.

3.  Get a large bowl, a strainer, a cutting board, a 1/4 cup, a knife, and a spatula or large spoon.

Ingredients:

15oz (1 can)   Black Beans, drained and rinsed

3/4 cup           Sweet Corn

                       -You can use fresh corn cut off the cob and cooked, or frozen corn thawed

1 1/2 cup        Tomatoes, diced

1/2 cup           Red Onion, small diced

2 Tbl               Cilantro Leaves, chopped

1 Tbl               Lime Juice, fresh squeezed is best

1/2 tsp           Tabasco Sauce, or any other hot sauce your like

1 tsp               Kosher Salt

1/2 tsp            Black Pepper

1 each            Avocado (optional)
4.  Open the can of beans and pour into the strainer over the sink.  Rinse the beans with cold water
      and pour them into the bowl.
5.  Cut the corn off of the cob, and cook for 30 seconds in boiling water.  Pour the
      corn into the strainer and run cold water over the corn to cool it down.
     -If you want to use thawed frozen sweet corn that is just fine.  Fresh sweet corn might not be
       available where you live, and it is only available in the summer.
6.  Core and dice the tomatoes, then add them to your bowl.
     -Coring is when you cut off the part of the tomato that was attached to the plant.
     -Dice is another name for cutting your food into square pieces.
7.  Dice the onion.  Take the dry paper like skin off of your onion.  Then cut off the root and plant
      ends.  Onions are round and they can roll so be very careful.  Place the onion on one of the flat
      sides and then cut it in half.  Cut your onion into small diced pieces.  Add to the bowl.
8.  Pick your cilantro leaves.  Take all of the leaves off of the stems.  Fill up a 1/4 cup with the leaves.
      Wash the leaves in your strainer and pat dry with a towel.  Put them in a pile on your cutting board
      and chop them into little pieces.  If you like big pieces of cilantro do not chop them as much then
      add them to your bowl.
9.  Cut your lime in half and squeeze one half into your tablespoon then add them to the bowl.
10. Measure our your salt, pepper and Tabasco into your bowl.
11.  Mix well and chill in the refrigerator before serving.  If you like avocado you can add some before
      serving your salsa.
12.  Get your favorite chips, your friends and family, and enjoy.

You can also serve your salsa with other foods.

Try it over tacos.
Serve it with rice.
Or put it in a salad.

-ChefElla