Salsa - Caribbean Salsa, 172/365

This salsa certainly surprised me!  I thought the combination was certainly a recipe for disaster.  I did learn how to tell if a pineapple is ripe.  First of all, if it is fully green, it will never ripen - it should reflect a golden yellow color.  It should smell sweet, if it has NO scent, it is not ripe.  It should be firm to a gently press and only yield slightly.  I thought if a leaf removed easily it was ripe... not true!   I have never tasted a ripe pineapple before, only tasted from the DOLE can... and how unfortunate as I now love pineapple and can't believe what I have been missing!  Another tip is to turn the pineapple upside down to allow all the juices to run through it (for 20-30 minutes).

The following recipe is from 5 a day - the better health cookbook.  I changed it slightly by using a vidalia onion and used a very mild pepper (above).  The store was out of jalapeno peppers.  My son thought it needed a spicier kick and added medium peppers to it.

2 cups watermelon, seeded and chopped
1 cup fresh pineapple, chopped
1 cup onion, chopped - (I used vidalia)
1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
2 oz orange juice (I used fresh squeeze)
1 Tbspn jalapeno peppers, chopped

Simply mix all the ingredients.  Cover and refrigerate for one hour in order for all the flavors to mix and blend.

Enjoy this taste explosion!

* * * * *

This is for "Weekend Reflections"#78.   This was taken while at Disney in Florida last year.  Can't you just feel the summer sun and the lazy day feeling?

* * * * *

This flower is for "Macro Monday".  I just love pink and orange together!