Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter X

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Xnipec Salsa, which translates to “smoking HOT” because it’s made with habanero chile peppers popular in the Yucatan region. I was pretty cautious in making this by first roasting the habaneros in the oven and then scraping out all the seeds. (Warning: Be sure to wear gloves when handling habanero peppers!) I served this salsa with the Zesty Fish Tacos coming up in Letter Z. 
XNIPEC SALSA

Ingredients:

1/3 cup Vidalia onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, peeled and minced

4-6 plum tomatoes, cut-up with juice

2 tablespoons orange juice

2 tablespoons lime juice 

Salt to taste 

2 Habanero peppers

3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped

Instructions:

Mix together onions, garlic, tomatoes, salt, lime juice, and orange juice. Set aside. The salt will make the tomatoes very juicy, which releases the flavor, in my opinion. If you prefer a thicker, chunkier sauce, do not add salt until ready to serve. 
Roast the habaneros in the oven at 400° until charred. Broil if necessary. Watch! Slice in half and remove stems. Scrape out all the seeds. Then dice the peppers. Combine with the onion/tomato mixture. Add chopped cilantro. Toss gently. Marinate salsa for one hour prior to serving. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter M

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Mango Medley! This is one of my all-time favorites when serving fish tacos. It’s fast and easy, not to mention soft and sweet. When the mango is at its peak in ripeness, the juice resembles a combination of peach and pineapple. I know, right! When mixed with Campari tomatoes (which have low acidity) plus fresh cilantro, it’s a perfect blend of flavors. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
MANGO MEDLEY
Ingredients:

2 ripe mangos, peeled and core seed removed

1-pound Campari tomatoes 

Fresh Cilantro to taste
Instructions:

Peel, pit, and cut up mangos. Place in a medium bowl. Slice tomatoes into quarter wedges. Add to mangos. Snip fresh cilantro over all. Toss gently. Refrigerate prior to serving for flavor enhancement.