The Hawthornes Collaborate On Salsa.

There's nothing better than fresh salsa made from ingredients just picked from your backyard.

We have a profusion of grape and cherry tomatoes which I generally don't use for salsa, since tiny tomatoes are a pain to work with. But we're using them today. I always peel my tomatoes. The skin is indigestible as are the seeds. The easiest way to peel them is to drop them in a pot of boiling water for 10-20 seconds. You'll see the skin split. Rinse in cold water so you can handle the tomatoes and drain. Peel 'em and try to squish the seeds out. This is much easier when you have regular sized 'maters.

Mr. Hawthorne peeled them all and added in way too many jalapenos.

I went to work on chopping the tomatoes, jalapenos, and onion.

Mix well.

Using a spoon, press down on the salsa and spoon out excess liquid and as many seeds as you can.

I add in equal amounts of sugar ...

... and cider vinegar.

Salt and pepper.

Lastly, I scissored in some cilantro. If you're anti-cilantro, use parsley.

So good.

Like I said, there's nothing like fresh ingredients.

The nicest thing about making your own salsa, is you can make it to your own tastes. I prefer hot-hot-hot. Experiment. Salsa is a wonderful thing. Make your own and find out just how wonderful.