Frozen Cilantro Lime Salsa Bombs

 

The cilantro in the garden was ready to harvest before the tomatoes. My husband, son and oldest daughter love my homemade salsa. They have been known to devour a whole bowl within a very short amount of time.

In order to preserve the cilantro, until the tomatoes are ripe and for use during the next few months, I decided to make freezer cubes. Let's just call them "Frozen Cilantro Lime Salsa Bombs".

I love retro appliances.

This is fairly easy and I do not even bother with measuring anything.
You can wash and dry the cilantro then add to blender. I just shake mine out really well from the garden and check for and discard any creepy crawlies.
You can use fresh or packaged lime juice. Just squeeze in a generous amount. Less or more depending on how much you like lime.
A splash or two of rice wine vinegar.
A splash or two of Olive, Coconut or Avocado oil.
A few dashes of sea salt or pink salt.

Use enough water to get the blender going well and the cilantro is shredded.
 I use the popsicle size for salsa and the smaller cubes for smaller projects like taco meat or taco soup.

 

 

Try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Each of us have our lives given to us.
At first, we have no choice by who we are surrounded by.
As we grow, we create our surroundings and those we are surrounded by.
We then have to choose how we live our lives.
Growing old surrounded by family and friends or
Growing old with no one to hold.
Ask yourself how you want to be remembered?

Cape Lookout Trip

 

 

11.3 miles SW of Tillamook, OR, on a large sand spit off of Netarts Bay, lies Cape Lookout State Park. One of my favorite camping destinations as a child. A place worth sharing and enjoying with my family now. My two girls have reached the ages where the memories they make now will be the memories they carry with them for the rest of their lives. Being a older mom now, I want to fill their heads with endearing family time adventures.

In my family, it is a unspoken rule that when you visit Tillamook you must stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. https://www.tillamook.com/cheese-factory/index.html

 My beloved grandfather Vernon Hoge, was a true ice cream connoisseur and every time I eat ice cream, a smile appears on my face, at the shear memory of him. How many times did he argue with my grandma Betty or my folks, "no, no, she needs three scoops, not one or two."

The factory can become quite busy during the summer months and the ice cream line had both my husbands and my eyes rolling to the back of our heads. Not wanting to disappoint two adorable faces,  my brain sparked an idea and we headed back to the refrigeration area of the factory grocery store to a small freezer filled with their new "Super Premium frozen treats",  Farm Style Gelatos, Custards and Extra Creamy Ice Creams. In nice 16 ounce sizes, we decided upon California Peach Cobbler, Oregon Marionberry Cheesecake and for my pistachio lover husband, California Pistachio. With no line in the grocery checkout and spoons with the napkins, we were outside, sitting in the sun and indulging in pure decadence. Only a few bites and your sweet tooth is appeased.

It had been over ten years since my last visit to Cape Lookout and I was surprised  by the ocean erosion and the changes to the camping and day use areas due to it. The area that comprised the park camp host sites when I was young was gone, replaced with a small beach grass sand dune. Our long a go favorite family camping spot in loop C, now contained a yurt. The huge tangled and snarly hollowed raccoon stump was now engulfed in salal and huckleberry bushes.

We found our reserved site in loop D and as I stepped out of the van the smells of memory fell upon my senses. I took a deep breath and enjoyed the witty camp set up banter with my husband, Joe and the smiles of exploration on my girls' faces as they enjoyed the new surroundings.

Spending much time playing at the beach and scary campfire stories at night. Three days of fun well spent. Cape Lookout State Park

Remembering Oso...Almost two years ago.

My life the past few years has been anything, but ordinary.  We moved from the NW Washington town of Darrington just over a year ago.  The Oso Landslide that happened just about two years ago, was a life changer for not only our community, but our lives as well. Due to the heartbreaking loss of life from the slide, we made the decision to leave our beloved home after we suddenly woke up to river front property about 7 months following.

 I do not know if  I will ever forget how I felt during the minutes, hours, days, weeks and months that followed.  There will forever be a part of my heart and soul that was damaged.  I can't even imagine the pain and sadness that the slide victims, survivors, and their families experienced and are still experiencing.  I was writing for the Concrete Herald at the time and conducted interviews.  I actually felt horrible while trying to make the phone calls. Sewn into my mind forever from the scanner radio are the words "body bag, pieces, body bag, pieces."

 Then you think back to the memories you had with the lost ones you knew.  Tears still fall from my eyes when I remember the contacts I had with some of them and for the friends of mine who lost someone/s.  It was nice to be a part of such a wonderful and strong community.  A special shout out to the people of Darrington and my friends that are still hurting and mourning for love ones lost.  As time passes may you find peace in your heart and soul!