Comfort

Campfire. Coolness of the morning. Dew on the grass. It is quiet and peaceful, except for the occasional bird and the sound of thick cut bacon sizzling in the skillet. I love breakfast by a campfire! The smell of burning wood and bacon has power–it can comfort and definitely makes one hungry.

The biggest thing about food for me though is to be able to share a meal with the loved ones–family and friends. Strangers, too. Why not?!

One early morning, Bill and I were in the woods on our usual weekend training trail run. We enjoyed the quietness and the beauty of the woods as we made our way through the uphills and downhills of the Kentucky Palisades. And then we smelled it! Somebody was cooking bacon and eggs at a campground quite a ways from where we were. It made the rest of our run a little bit more challenging. We couldn’t stop talking about food! At the same time we found comfort in that smell. There was a breakfast waiting for us after the run.

With fall in full swing and the weather getting colder, I can’t help but to think about comfort. What comes to your mind when you hear comfort? Is it your soft cozy blankie? Is it sitting by a crackling fireplace? Let’s throw in a mug of steaming hot chocolate. Maybe it is the embrace of a loved one. To add some spirituality to this, is being reminded of the truth and promises that gives you comfort?

Although, all these bring comfort to my soul I often find myself finding something comforting in food. I love cooking–it brings out my creative side. I love the benefits that come with it too. The biggest thing about food for me though is to be able to share a meal with the loved ones–family and friends. Strangers, too. Why not?!

As we head into a cooler season, let’s remember those warm summer days. Boy, I love summer! On multiple occasions we found ourselves gathered around a bowl of chips and salsa. Both Bill and I have a couple of raised beds in our back yards where we grow some yummy goodness–the ingredients for Bill’s Legendary Salsa, or as he prefers to call it Easy-Does-It Salsa. Before I give you the recipe though, I have to put out a short disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER. The recipe listed below is not step-by-step scientifically verified instructions on how to harvest power from uranium. If you come up with an explosive mixture, don’t hold us liable for any damages.

So here is how Bill’s salsa comes to life. Dice by hand all of the following ingredients to a coarseness of your preference. Start with four to six medium tomatoes of different varieties. The more the merrier! Add a couple of handfuls of cherry tomatoes. All those different kinds of tomatoes create a very nice and more diverse flavor pallet. Throw  in the mix a few cloves of garlic and a large onion. Fresh cilantro is a must. It is even better if you grow it yourself–so much more flavor than store bought greenery.  One or two bunches of it should do it. Let’s bring in some heat with a few Jalapeños and a little less of Serrano peppers.

WARNING. Let’s pause for a second here. This is important. I recommend to use a glove or a plastic bag when you cut those guys. If you choose to use your bare hands, make sure you are careful what you touch afterward. Eyes are an important place to remember–don’t rub your eyes! Use extreme caution when you go to use a bathroom. Please be careful for we talk about comfort here.

Back to the salsa now. Add a burst of color by dicing one of each red, yellow and green sweet peppers. The amounts are just a guideline. Use your judgement. Experiment. Mix all the goodness in a large bowl with the juice of one lemon or lime and salt to taste. Do use large bowl and make lots of salsa. It will go fast. Prepare for all the compliments. Your family, friends, and neighbors will come out wanting to try your salsa.Strangers will be showing up at your doorsteps.

Divide your batch of flavorful goodness into two portions. Go ahead and eat one. Keep the second one in the fridge overnight to enjoy even more flavor in the next few days. Do try it for breakfast. Scramble some eggs with a little bit of cheese and top them with your delicious salsa. For a fancy version, serve this over homemade hash browns.

Have fun and may it comfort you and those close to you! Please do share your results with us and tell us about your favorite comfort foods. Cheers!