I love a good salsa - especially at breakfast. I used to make fun of the German guests I cooked for on the yachts because many of them ate salami for breakfast. Baaarrrrf! Made me feel ill just smelling it first thing in the morning. But really, I guess I'm no better. I'm sure there are many people out there who would be turned off by hot, hot salsa on their eggs in the morning.
Here in my little town, there is a tiny bakery owned and operated by a Cambodian family. Odd as it may seem in a town full of Mexicans, I like the Cambodian version of the humble breakfast burrito better than the ones from the Mexican breakfast cafe or greasy ones made by the jolly black girls at the grocery store. I reserve those Cambodian breakfast burritos as a special treat for myself - most of the time, and only go there on banking days - since they are right across the street from the bank.
Recently, however, the cute little family that owned this bakery expanded their operations to include a second bakery in a larger neighboring town, then sold the shop here to a new Cambodian family. Mostly everything has remained the same, but to my huge disappointment, the SALSA has changed! While I still enjoy their breakfast burritos, they're just not the same without the kick-a** salsa.
What to do? As I wandered aimlessly through the vegetable department on Friday, a nice Hispanic man there asked if he could help me find something. I told him I was thinking of making some salsa. He stopped what he was doing - I must have said the magic word - and gave me a lesson in locating the really hot jalapenos. Did you know that the ones with stretch marks are hotter? He filled out my list of ingredients with onions, roma tomatoes, cilantro, and lime. Then he showed me the brand of salsa HE prefers to buy - (It's in the ethnic Mexican section - it's really hot, and doesn't cost much.)
And Hey Presto! Problem solved. This morning I tried the bottled salsa - it's definitely hot, but not quite what I'm after for breakfast. Next I try the do it myself variety... I'll keep you posted!
Here in my little town, there is a tiny bakery owned and operated by a Cambodian family. Odd as it may seem in a town full of Mexicans, I like the Cambodian version of the humble breakfast burrito better than the ones from the Mexican breakfast cafe or greasy ones made by the jolly black girls at the grocery store. I reserve those Cambodian breakfast burritos as a special treat for myself - most of the time, and only go there on banking days - since they are right across the street from the bank.
Recently, however, the cute little family that owned this bakery expanded their operations to include a second bakery in a larger neighboring town, then sold the shop here to a new Cambodian family. Mostly everything has remained the same, but to my huge disappointment, the SALSA has changed! While I still enjoy their breakfast burritos, they're just not the same without the kick-a** salsa.
What to do? As I wandered aimlessly through the vegetable department on Friday, a nice Hispanic man there asked if he could help me find something. I told him I was thinking of making some salsa. He stopped what he was doing - I must have said the magic word - and gave me a lesson in locating the really hot jalapenos. Did you know that the ones with stretch marks are hotter? He filled out my list of ingredients with onions, roma tomatoes, cilantro, and lime. Then he showed me the brand of salsa HE prefers to buy - (It's in the ethnic Mexican section - it's really hot, and doesn't cost much.)
And Hey Presto! Problem solved. This morning I tried the bottled salsa - it's definitely hot, but not quite what I'm after for breakfast. Next I try the do it myself variety... I'll keep you posted!