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Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Challenge 1: Pico De Gallo and Guacamole

Okay, I set out to do the cookbook start to finish, as in I start on page one and cook through to the end. But Husby told me that wasn't a very good idea and that I should skip around the book to make it more exciting. So, that is what I am doing. Hop skip and jumping around the cook book trying to knock them all out! So if you were about to point your finger at me and say, "Whitney! The jalepeno bbq poppers are the first recipe!", then you can rest easy.

Today, I made pico.

Cold, fresh, crisp, delightful pico.

Yum.

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The produce selection in my local store was pretty sparse, but I found all the necessary ingredients...luckily.

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Roma tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, lime and my personal favorite, cilantro.

I was very excited to make this for 2 reasons.

1. I love anything in the mexican food family.

2. I was excited to use the chef's chopping knife I got for Christmas.

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The thing will cut through anything. And with all the chopping I had to do today, it was a dreamboat. Love it!

First I chopped up the 'maters. I'm not going to lie. I tried chopping like I was a Food Network Pro. Tomato juice ended up all over the place. It wasn't pretty.

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It was way more fun chopping the onion. I was better and faster...and I didn't even cry. The toothpick between my lips helped with that little problem. Did you guys know that little trick? It works!

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So, I avoided crying while I chopped the onion. But after I chopped the jaleps, I scratched my eye.

Bad. Idea.

P-dub, why did you not warn me???

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I threw my knife down, ran the bathroom and proceeded to cry it out.

And then I threw in the cilantro. Cilantro always soothes the soul.

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After all of the goodies were in the bowl, I squeezed the lime, dashed with salt and commenced to stirring.

Here is the result.

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Can I just tell you right now that it was AMAZING?!

I actually did back flips and cartwheels for this stuff. It made my taste buds do the Macerana and my tummy do the Jitterbug. It was a flavor explosion!!

I went ahead and made her guacamole, too, since all you do is mash up some avocados and throw in some of the pico. Simple and delicious!

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I had a bit of a problem with the avocados. They were hard as a rock and impossible to even cut open! I guess that's what happens when you want guacamole in January.

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The. Worst. Avocados. On. God's. Green. Earth.

Or His green and white earth where I live.

Both recipes were a raging success with the ole Husby and me. I made tacos to enjoy them with.

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Great recipe, PW. I give it 2 thumbs up and will continue making the pico til death do me part.

17 comments:

Katie S said...

Looks very good!
I think I may have to try that!!!

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Michele said...

You're too cute! I never heard of the toothpick trick but I'll try it since all of the other tricks have failed me miserably.

If you don't mind I have a suggestion for you, too. Hass avocados are the best ones to use and you should use them when they are soft and ripe. To get them to ripen faster you can put them in a brown paper bag. The flavor will be much deeper.

Those tacos look fabulous by the way!

Brittany said...

That looks amazing. I think I could eat that stuff every day!! Thanks for sharing. I will definitely be trying that sometime in the very near future!

Alison said...

Too funny, I just got my cookbook in the mail today, and I had decided to cook thru the cookbook in a year or less and blogg about it. I love your blogg, and your baby is too cute! Happy blogging.

Jenny Lynn said...

This looks so good!
I got her cookbook for Christmas so I might just be making some of that tomorrow night!

Abigail said...

You're an excellent hand model! Looks delicious!

Walking Worthy said...

Whitney Dawn. I am pretty sure P-Dub tells you to wear gloves when cutting jalapenoes! I got the bookbook for Christmas too! Can't wait to try 'em out!

Sweet Simplicity said...

Your camera is taking great pictures! I learned my lessons jalps the hard way. Now, I wear Ty's leftover gloves from anatomy lab when I chop them.

Katy said...

Oh, heads up. Chopped habeneros, and then SHOWERED, working up a nice soap lather, and such. My entire body was on FIRE. Don't do it! Do need to whip out my PW cookbook and make the pico de gallo, though. YUM!!!

Mrs. Carioca said...

I need to try that toothpick trick!

I have a hard time finding ripe avocados too. Now I just buy the hard ones and let them sit in my fruit bowl a few days until they are soft.

Living Abundantly said...

Guess I should have also bought you one of those tomato knives for Christmas; huh?

Lori said...

Looks delish!! Love me some Mexican, so I'll definitely try!

Chari said...

I haven't heard of the toothpick trick!
I love mexican food...

Sarah said...

MMMMMM. I'm coming over for pico right now.

Brian and Kelly said...

YUM!! I got her cookbook for Christmas.....just wait until you taste the mocha brownies!....pure deliciousness!! My mom made the lasagna and that was yummo as well!

Maureen said...

I don't eat avocado because it makes my stomach hurt BAD, but pico de gallo... yum yum yum! I'll have to try the toothpick trick because I am ALWAYS crying with the onions.

Laura said...

Thankfully, my Kroger has these handy dandy little signs posted with much of the produce that tells you how to pick the best ones. For avocados, it suggests dark green ones with a slight smush. My wording, not totally Kroger on that one! :) Happy cooking!