Laboring Freely

I’m working on Labor Day, but I don’t even care. Who am I? Clearly the vacation did me some good. However, I don’t have much interesting to say editorially or writerly. So, when all else fails, there are recipes.

I had a salsa disaster this weekend (hangs head in shame), but I can always rely on my Heirloom Pico. So can you; it is highly flexible, forgiving, and delicious.

We grow heirloom cherry tomatoes in the yard of Fangs and Clause Central. We’re not very good gardeners, but the squirrels are lazy, and so we have a good number of indigo tomatoes off the vine. However, I’m pretty sure you can get heirloom tomatoes at most farmer’s markets. They’re misshapen and weirdly colored, but oh so good.

Heirloom Pico

Slice up a pound or two of the best tomatoes you can get your hands on. Try to get the tomato guts in there as well to add some liquid to the pico.

Dice a jalapeno pepper (or a hotter pepper to taste).

Add juice of a lime, a clove of garlic, and some onion.

Chop up some cilantro. (Don’t include this if you are cooking for Cougar Clause.)

If you’re feeling ambitious, you can also add chile powder (to round out the pico-ness), cumin, salt, pepper, and paprika. If you’re running late, as I was, add nothing more.

If your kids hate spicy food, leave out the hot peppers and add some red or green pepper for crunch.

It would probably taste great with some cubed ripe avocado.

Your family, guests, neighbors, etc., will love you. It’s the only reason I have any friends at all. Well, that, and the cheese biscuits.

What are you guys up to this weekend?