Gearing up for warmer weather

A truly amazing thing has happened, it appears that the warm weather is finally here to stay for the season.  This is not something I would have ever imagined my self saying, let alone being excited about it.

I like cooler weather.

I’ll tolerate the heat because some of my favorite places are where it’s hot.

But that doesn’t mean I’m a fan.

However, this spring has thrown me for a loop.  We had a few warm weeks so on Easter weekend, I headed to the local nursery, stocked up on herbs and flowers, and spent an afternoon planting them.  I’ve since pulled the weak ones in when it got cold.

In and out.  Cover and uncover.  Indoors and outdoors.

You see, we’ve had a rather cool spring.  Remember that May 4 snow I mentioned a few posts back?  Yeah, not typical.

It’s been redonk and I almost gave up letting the basil and aloe vera fend for themselves.  I’m cruel like that.  Thankfully, the forecast doesn’t throw me for any loops over the next 10 days so I’m confident the plants are on the back porch for good.  Well, at least until autumn settles in.

Warmer weather also means the cover comes off the grill for the first time.  Porch sitting with a cool brew (typically a variety of Shiner, I was born in Texas, after all) while the sweet boy grills is absolutely one of my favorite parts of this season.  Well, that and a nice dish of salsa and tortilla chips to go with that cool brew.

Like hot weather, I’ll tolerate store bought salsa, but just tolerate it.  I prefer homemade.  I’m not really picky when it comes to homemade.  I can go for the kind made out of fresh tomatoes, I’m down with a variety made from canned tomatoes (that’s actually my favorite) and I’m even good with a bowl full of pico de gallo in a pinch.  If it’s red and spicy, I’m good.

I found a recipe online yesterday and thought I’d give it a go.  It’s a Pioneer Woman recipe and I have yet to not like one of her recipes.  It used Rotel and sounded pretty easy.  Easy is good.  Easy is a quick way to get homemade salsa in your face.  I could go for easy.

So easy it was.

Well, wait a minute, not THAT easy.  I’ve been working on cleaning out my pantry since the Holidays so cans of tomatoes and Rotel weren’t within reach.  Thankfully, a trip to the store was in order for other goodies, so I just added the ingredients to my list.

Just a warning, if you make this recipe, it will make a TON so make sure you need a TON.  Otherwise, cut this bad boy in half.

I’m warning you.

I will say this is a good salsa recipe but not my favorite.  Not even in my top 4 favorites, but I’d make it again if I wanted something quick.  The sweet boy’s response was that it tasted like Rotel.  My response was along the lines of “Well, yeah, of course it does.  It’s made from Rotel”.  Also, beggars can’t be choosers and yesterday, I was DYING for some fresh salsa.

Craving satisfied.   You can find the recipe here.

Now, where’s that cold brew and my back porch?  I have a bag of tortilla chips just dying to be munched on.