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Sunday, August 22, 2010

My perfect summer snackin' plate... Pico, Guac, & Tortilla Chips

I anticipate mid-August every year...waiting for the glorious globes of summer tomatoes to be hot & juicy and in proper chin-dribbling mode.  I love to just cut some up and sprinkle them with sea salt...close my eyes and commence joy-making.  Know what I also look forward to?  THE freshest, most addicting, most flavor-laden salsas, picos, and guacs of the year.  So, after nearly a year of toe-tapping, finger-wiggling anticipation- the time has finally arrived!

Everybody's got their own versions...labeled 'the best ever' and 'my favorite'.  I have no doubt that those labels are fitting.  But as long as everything is at its glory...anybody's can garner those labels.  This is how I make them...just a guide...I use what I have...and so should you!

Pico de Gallo
 Use all of the ingredients in whatever proportion you prefer and/or have available

ripe, juicy garden tomatoes of any sort
fresh jalapeños or serranos or any hot chile you prefer
onion
garlic
salt
freshly squeezed lime juice
cilantro

Chop the tomatoes.  Small dice the chile and onion.  Mince the garlic.  Toss them all together in a bowl.  Sprinkle on a little salt.  Squeeze the lime over the whole thing.  Toss in a fair amount of chopped cilantro.  Mix everything together...taste. Adjust any ingredients to suit you.  Enjoy!

Guacamole
Use mostly avocado and add just a little of the rest to taste

ripe Avocados
ripe tomato
green onions
garlic
freshly squeezed lime juice
salt

Cut the avocados in half and remove the pit.  Scoop the flesh from the peel and place in a bowl.  Mash it with a fork/spoon/potato masher.  Mash as much as you like...it can be chunky or smooth, it's all a matter of preference.  Dice some tomato small, chop the green onion, mince the garlic and mix it all in.  Squeeze over some lime juice and a pinch or two of salt.  Mix it all together, taste.  Adjust seasoning as needed.  Eat this immediately, or add the pits back in to help retard browning, cover and refrigerate until ready for use (but not more than a day).

Don't forget to make some chips for dipping!  Cut a stack of corn tortillas into wedges.  Make them with your preferred method...fry them quickly in hot oil...bake them in the oven...lay them on a sheet of foil and bake them in the midday sun....  Hey, whatever floats your boat!

Kick back with a platter of Pico, Guac, and hot chips...perhaps a margarita or cerveza or kid-friendly bevvies...and some good company! 


TwoforTuesdays@girlichefHey What's For DinnerMyMeatlessMondays

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  1. Oh yum...!! Very Mexican! Love it :)!

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  2. I absolutely love Pico, Guac and tortilla chips. I think they are some of life's simple pleasures.

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  3. One of the very best ways to eat fresh summer tomatos! I love pico, guacamole, and chips. I could make a whole meal of these things!.

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  4. I just posted my "Best ever" salsa recipe myself. You are right though, the best part is the fresh tomatoes!

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  5. I'm with you, this is the best snacking food ever!!

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  6. YES! YES! And YES! This is one of my 'favorite' meals. Homemade pico de gallo, guack and freshly deep-fired chips. Get me a cocktail and I'm all set. =)

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  7. I love chips and dips..these are comfort food...

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  8. Perfect dish destination for my farmer's market haul...

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  9. Definitely the perfect snack and perfect for having friends over - just perfect anytime :)

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  10. oh wow summer parties at your house would rock!

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  11. There's nothing like big bowls of guacamole & pico de gallo, perfect snacking food. I can keep eating these until they're gone!

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  12. We are certainly on the same wave length here. I just made a guac and chicken tostada meal. Still looking at the photos! Yours look great, a nice snacking thing I could use any night of the week!

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  13. Guacamole and pico are my favorites!

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  14. This is my perfect summer snack too! This looks amazing! I could just settle in for an evening on the deck with a platter of those goodies and a Corona.

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  15. I want one of those platters right now! Fresh salsas are a favorite summertime treat!

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  16. Mmm... Just pour me a margarita and I am in heaven!
    ;-)

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  17. Que rico todo esto para apertivo, es para ir mojando de uno a otro sin parar.

    Te ha quedado muy bien. Saludos

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  18. What an excellent way to enjoy all those sunripened tomatoes out there Heather! A little guac on the side doesn't hurt either.

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  19. Scrumptious Snack !! Loved Pico de Gallo !!

    Lavanya

    www.lavsblog.com

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  20. After cruise food, I'm craving all of the fresh flavors in this! Can I come over for lunch??

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  21. My husband had the exact same snack yesterday. Unfortunately for him, none of it was homemade, lol. Yours looks much better!!

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  22. I love love pico de gallo, seriously I couldbathe in it!!

    sweetlife

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  23. i'm planning on doing a bit of reading later and i really wish i had that beautiful platter to accompany me! LOVE salsa and guac!

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  24. Oh I do love Pico de Gallo and Guacamole and yours looks absolutely scrumptious!

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  25. I have been running my guacamole ingredients through my mini processor which is not as strong as the regular food processor and leaves specks of tomato and onion showing. I love it, this way.

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  26. That is a meal! I love snacking as dinner ;)

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  27. I'm totally getting hungry looking at those fantastic snacks!

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  28. Chips and dip? Oh yeah, my favorite too! I'm there!

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  29. A lazy day, some pico, guac and chips and I'm a happy camper..perfectly content to much away the day! Looks delicious:)

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  30. I planted 20 tomato plants this year. I had hoped that over half of them would be paste tomatoes for canning, but the lady who gave them to me only included four paste tomato plants, which I've only recently discovered. This means that I have about a gazillion salad tomatoes ready to go, what to do, what to do? Chips please!

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  31. Amen! This is the perfect summer snacking plate!!!!!

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  32. I"m the same way. Just hand me a bowl of tortilla chips with some pico and guac and I'm a happy little bee. :)


    my word varification today it "porklino"

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  33. This looks soooo yummy! Chips & Dip - my absolute favorite. Found you from hop and am now following your great blog :)

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  34. Saw u on la bella vita's blog hop..Love your photos and recipes.. I will be following you!. :-)

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