Mango Salsa

It's 95 degrees here in Illinois today, and I needed something cool and refreshing to cancel out the hot weather.  This mango salsa was the perfect addition to my poolside snacks.  Super easy, and VERY healthy--you can't go wrong. 

Ingredients: (Makes about 4 cups)

• 4 mangoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
• 1 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 4 green onions
• 8 tbsp fresh cilantro
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 pinches salt (optional)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together.  You can put it into a blender or food processor, or keep it nice and chunky if you like.
2. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.

Smokey Guacamole

So, on Easter, as I was helping my mother with the array of different foods we were going to serve our family, she asked that I make some guacamole... Which would be no problem, except for I have never made guacamole before.  So, with my awesome quick-thinking skills, I remembered I had stumbled upon a website called Food Gawker, which always displays these incredible looking meals.  I quickly hopped on her laptop and went onto the website and typed "guacamole" into their search engine.  This recipe is what I found, thanks to Natalie's Killer Cuisine.  With only a few minor changes (since we didn't carry all of the original ingredients), my guacamole was the hit of the holiday.

Ingredients:

• 4 large Avocados, ripened
• 2 Roma Tomatoes, diced with seeds removed
• 1/2 of a Red Onion, small dice
• 1 tsp Lime Zest
• 1 Tbsp Lime Juice
• 1 1/4 tsp Chile Powder
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
• 1 tsp taco seasoning

Directions

1. Cut avocados in half all the way around, length wise.
2. Use a spoon to gently scoop out the avocado. Dice the avocado in large chunks and add to a bowl.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and toss without completely mashing the avocado.
4. Add extra salt, pepper, and taco seasoning to taste.
5. Serve with chips or as a condiment.