Black Bean and White Corn Salsa

The following came from Randy Lee, one of our community gardeners:

Hey All,

Our favorite Salsa (call us weird, unauthentic, whatever) is the Walmart Great Value brand Black Bean and White Corn Salsa.  I found a recipe online that looks like it would be similar (click on the words "recipe online" earlier in this sentence for the link; it's also included as an attachment, too).  We're going to try it when we get our turn at bulk tomatoes.

The  only thing I wasn't familiar with was the "Epazote seasoning." I looked it up, and it is an herb that accompanies the black beans to supposedly relieve them--or us--of (ahem...) gassiness.

It seems there is a bit controversy about it (see links below).  But those in the Mexican / Hispanic culture swear by it.  You can decide for yourselves.  Here are a few articles about it.

http://www.taosherb.com/store/product2812.html

http://i-refuse-to-recede.blogspot.com/2009/10/herb-of-week-epazote.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysphania_ambrosioides

There are other recipes out there without epazote.  Just Google "Black bean and corn salsa recipes."  Have fun!

Randy & Judy Lee

Salsa Recipe from Kim Badonie

Fellow gardener, Kim Badonie, is sharing her favorite salsa recipe with all of us -- THANKS, Kim!

12 large Roma tomatoes

1 medium onion

1/3 bundle of cilantro

3 Serrano peppers (hot/med) or 3 jalepenos ( med/ mild)

3-4 minced garlic cloves

3 limes (juice & pulp)

1 large bell pepper or 2 Anaheim peppers (bell tastes better)

1/2 to 1 tsp coarse black pepper

2-3 tsp of salt

I felt the need to share based on the Roma's still on the plants. Roma's are sweeter and not watery making them perfect for salsa or sauces. 

Based on what is in our garden. The Roma's are half what I would call a whole. The onions are strong, so start with half the amount of onion

Hope you enjoy.

Update on what we did when

If you have been following the blog, you know that we are trying very hard to keep track of what we do and when.  Each year gets a bit better on putting it all on the blog.  Here is the latest update of what we have been up to; of course, we are mainly just harvesting now the fruits of YOUR labors!  THANKS EVERYONE!

July 26th we started bulk picking green beans. Everyone has been great to come help pick.

First harvest of sweet corn Aug. 9th

First harvest of cantaloupes Aug. 19th (so far we have picked 84 of them)

First bulk crop of tomatoes Aug. 23rd. 

First Spaghetti Squash August 16th

Our baskets have been overflowing this year!!  We have harvested eggplant, onions, potatoes, green beans, tomatoes (cherry and beefsteak), cucumbers, all kinds of green and hot peppers, carrots, peas, cabbage, melons, zucchini, spaghetti squash, sweet corn (with popcorn coming at the end of the season), kale, swiss chard.... I wonder what I have missed!

Anyway, it has already been a bounteous year!  Thank you to ALL of you for all your hard work!

Holy Smokes! A plethora of harvest!

We are so blessed -- we have had abundant harvests!  Here are some more pictures from last Saturday's harvesting...