Sorry, it’s the truth. 

I am in a torrid love affair and I do not know what to do about it.  Oh the injustice of it all!

Back in December of 2000, I made a bold decision for me and solid commitment to my children to become a stay at home mom.   One of the best decisions of I have ever made because it taught me so much about myself that I may have never known.  The first thing I learned is I can’t stay home with my children. Bwhahahaha!  Holy moly is that a lesson in patience and gratitude!  I will say I am glad I did it, but I won’t be opening a daycare any time soon! 

All kidding aside on that one, I am still at home with my children.  I never did fully return to the “office life” and I never will.  I love my cherubs.  But I do fear I am on some banned mommy list somewhere at a reading group or Gymboree somewhere. Haha!

The second thing that I learned is that I have a love and knack for gardening. Not a little bit of a love…a big love.  I love to grow my own vegetables.  If you have the space and just a wee bit of time, do it!  The first time you eat your own green beans or broccoli will be the last time you go to Shaw’s.  But life has a funny way of stealing your joys from you and you find yourself on the short end of the ‘hobby stick’.  Not any more, I am resurrecting my garden as I speak.

The best thing out of all of the things that I learned (and there is a slew of them) was that I love to cook.  I love to cook meals and I love to bake desserts.  I love the presentation aspect of it and I like to try new flavors.  I am not a spice type girl; in fact I am spice picky and will turn my nose up to a food if it even looks like it has curry on it.  No, I am more of a flavor kind of girl.  Stew tomatoes into a sauce to change the flavor.  Add caramelized onions to give something depth.  I will reach for a flavorful veggie before I will a pungent spice to add a little sumthin sumthin to a meal.  Try steaming white fish in a pan with orange and red peppers, sweet onions and grape tomatoes sliced thin on top.  Let me know how that tastes.  Add spices if you like but don’t be surprised if you do not need them.

For the past few years, though I have gotten away from my love and oh, how I missed it so! 

So then it happened.

I went to dinner with a friend about a week ago and got a meal that had a homemade mango salsa in it.  I almost died at the table.  And so began the affair…

I’ve tried to block it out of my mind.  Visit with other foods.  Explore other textures.  Nothing works.  I am in a full blown love affair with mango salsa right now.  My hubby has caught me with it twice.  He walked in the kitchen, I looked like a deer caught in a headlight, I denied everything, still had some on the corner of my mouth, he mumbled something about to the effect of when I love something I love it, made me feel like a crack addict in a back alley, but so what I don’t care.  I love it.  So now I’m on the hunt for a good recipe.  Who has one?

If you are a salsa or chutney connoisseur, deposit the recipe below.  PLEASE.  As I seek counseling, help a sister out.  I am back to cooking (and I mean meal events) at least 3 times a week and will just thrive on your suggestions.  So throw them at me and everyone else for that matter.  Or if you have mastered the art of flavor, do share!  The old Jodi is dusting off the cob webs and heading back into the kitchen (btw I just got a new cooking set from my Amex points—those things are awesome!), apron and all!  I am going to try Michelle’s suggestion from “Are you feeling me?” this weekend so give me some more to try with it.

Every so often I will share some good ones that I stumble upon and let you know about them.  Right now I am thinking about experimenting with yummy post workout foods since I am about to start a performance series right after Menu Planning (which will finish this coming week).  I think it’ll be helpful.  Don’t you?

Bon Appetite Y’alls!