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Hi.

Welcome to This Awful/Awesome Life! My name is Frances Joyce. I am the publisher and editor of this magazine. We'll be exploring different topics each month to inform, entertain and inspire you. Meet new authors, sharpen your brain and pick up a few tips on life, love, entertaining and business. Enjoy and please share!

August 2024 in The Twelve Months of Salsa - Cherry Salsa by Fran Joyce

For August, I selected Cherry Salsa. It’s the perfect addition to brunch or a barbeque. It’s colorful and unexpected. I used tart red cherries, and this is not your everyday salsa. Here is the link to the recipe, https://www.everydaysouthwest.com/cherry-salsa/

This salsa is delicious with crackers or toast points (especially if you add cream cheese), tortilla chips, chicken, pork, or beef.

It’s simple to make. I followed the recipe, but I also like to add a few spices because we like our salsa with a little more heat.

I used frozen tart red cherries, fresh cilantro, black pepper, salt, and fresh lime juice.

I recommend adding a little chipotle tabasco because the smoky flavor pairs nicely with cherries.

I served it with crackers and tortilla chips. I also served it with sweet potato pancakes, and it was delicious!

This year I’ll be making twelve versions of salsa or Pico de Gallo. I intended to use recipes from the same website, but for this Salsa Roja, I went to Love and Lemons. It’s one of my all-time favorite salsa recipes.

Traditional salsa is made with cooked tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices. Usually, it’s blended or pureed to create a smooth texture. Sometimes sugar is added.

Raw salsa is uncooked fresh ingredients that are still blended like traditional salsa instead of left chunky like Pico de Gallo.

Pico de Gallo is a chunky, uncooked sauce made from chopped tomatoes, red onions, peppers, cilantro, and lime juice.

You typically won’t find cooked salsa used in traditional Mexican cuisine.

Here is the list of the salsas I’ve made so far. I won’t be posting which salsa/Pico de Gallo I’ll be making in advance. You’ll have to check back every month to see what’s cooking!

The Twelve Months of Salsa

January - Pico de Gallo - Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca) - Peas and Crayons Blog

February – Fresh Pineapple Salsa - Fresh Pineapple Salsa - A Southern Soul

March – Salsa Verde - Salsa Verde Recipe {Green Salsa} - Cooking Classy

April – Black Bean Salsa - Zesty Loaded Black Bean Salsa | Dishing Out Health

May – Salsa Roja - https://www.loveandlemons.com/salsa-roja/

June – Avocado Salsa Verde - https://ourbestbites.com/avocado-salsa-verde/

July- Fresh Mango Salsa - https://cookieandkate.com/fresh-mango-salsa-recipe/

August – Cherry Salsa - https://www.everydaysouthwest.com/cherry-salsa/ 

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