Salsa

Ingredients

• 3 lbs tomatoes, home-grown,if available
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 large jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped mild green chilies, drained
• 1 small vidalia onion, finely chopped
• 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh spicy globe basil
• 1/8 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 ripe avocado (optional)

Directions

1. 1

   Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

2. 2

   Add tomatoes and scald for 2 minutes.

3. 3

   Drain.

4. 4

   Submerse immediately in a bowl of cold water and ice and let sit for a few minutes.

5. 5

   Remove skins and discard.

6. 6

   Remove stem core and discard.

7. 7

   Cut tomatoes in small chunks and discard seeds and juice.

8. 8

   In a large pot, add all ingredients.

9. 9

   Bring mixture to a boil.

10. 10

    Over medium-high heat, cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

11. 11

    Strain off any excess liquid.

12. 12

    If desired, puree half the batch to make a smooth salsa.

13. 13

    If desired, add 8 tablespoons of chunky salsa to a ripe avocado to make guacamole.