Salsa two ways: salsa fresca and roasted tomato salsa

Past week has been crazy! Work-wise, I mean. Don't you always feel like there are so many things to do and so little time. My library books are waiting patiently for me to pick them up. My 3/4th done knitted summer vest is still on the hooks and summer is so fast approaching (guess I should just add sleeves and make it a winter vest, ha!). My brand new painting stand is waiting for its inauguration AND I am having more and more late evening urges to just order a quick dinner outside. Life just seems to be on fast track sometimes.. and this sure seems like one of those times.

I don't know about you but sometimes I wonder how we get so tangled up in the walls made out of our own expectations and lure of luxuries. Every time I read a Jane Austen novel it always makes me feel so nostalgic about the good old days when people had time. Loads of it. Time to pursue their hobbies and passions. They seemed to live their life just wonderfully and perhaps, in a more relaxing way. They had time for afternoon tea get-togethers; English sandwich and biscuit knitting parties and what-nots. Why is it then that in our generation we seem to just struggle so much: we are working after-hours; we are doing all the house-chores ourselves and the time still seems to just pass away while we are merely putting things together. Is this the trade-off we have signed up for in return for the newest iPads, iPhones and large screen TVs?

Anyway, I digress. So a crazy week needs a perfect weekend to balance. And what better way than to cook up some salsas and guacomoles and make an impromptu taco night! Which is exactly what I did last night. Today I am sharing two of my favorite salsa recipes. Salsas come in various forms and flavors; there is the simple salsa fresca (or pico de galla) which is made out of all the fresh ingredients; then there is green tomatillo salsa; then there is cooked tomato salsa and then roasted tomato salsa and so on. The ones I am sharing today are two of my favorite salsas. 

Ingredients and proportions are mere a guideline. Dress it up as you like it!

Recipe: Salsa Fresca

Ingredients:

2 fresh ripe tomatoes

1/2 jalapeno pepper

1/4 large red onion

1Tbsp finely chopped cilantro

juice of 1lime

pinch of dried oregano

salt

Recipe:

1. Cut the tomatoes into quarters and remove the veins and the seeds. Finely chop the tomatoes, red onions.
2. Cut the jalapeno pepper into halves. Remove the seeds and the veins and chop the flesh finely.
3. Mix all the ingredients together.
4. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
5. Let it sit for a an hour or so for the flavors to blend together before serving.

Recipe: Roasted tomato salsa

Ingredients:

1can fire roasted and diced tomatoes

1 small can fire roasted chilis

1/4 large red onion - finely chopped

1tsp red wine vinegar

1tsp olive oil

juice of 1/2 lime

pinch of dried oregano

1Tbsp finely chopped cilantro

salt

Recipe:

Mix everything together in a bowl. Taste and adjust the seasonings per taste.