SIMPLE, PERFECT GUACAMOLE

Ingredients
• Two medium Hass avocados, pitted, peeled
and chopped
• Half teaspoon salt
• Juice of half lime
• Two to three tablespoons spicy tomato salsa
(bought from store) or homemade salsa

Directions

Smash the avocados using a fork in a medium bowl then mix in lime juice, salt, and salsa. Taste for seasoning and serve. The figure below shows simple, creamy, Perfect Guacamole.

SALSAS

CHOPPED TOMATO SALSA

Ingredients
• One cup of chopped fresh cilantro
• Four medium tomatoes (chopped)
• Four red or green jalapeno chiles (seeded and
chopped finely)
• Juice of two limes
• Half teaspoon salt
• One small red onion (chopped)

Place your onion in a bowl and add salt while squeezing lime juice on top, and then set aside for 15-20 minutes. Insert the tomatoes, chiles and cilantro to the onion mixture then stir. Serve immediately. The figure below shows homemade tomato salsa.

VARIATION

Tomato and corn salsa: Add a cup of fresh corn kernels along with the cilantro, tomatoes, and chiles.

TROPICAL FRUIT SALSA

Ingredients
• Half teaspoon of salt
• One and a half cups chopped pineapple
(canned, unsweetened is okay), papaya,
mango or a combination
• Two to four green and red jalapeno chiles
(seeded and chopped)
• Juice of one lime

Mix all these ingredients until they are well
combined then serve.

SMOKED SALMON CROSTINI

Ingredients
• Three green onions, thinly sliced or two
tablespoons chopped chives
• Three ounces of thinly sliced smoked salmon
• One to two tablespoons prepared wasabi
paste
• Olive oil spray or nonstick cooking spray
• Half baguette, cut into half-inch thick slices

Spray your bread slices on both sides using olive oil. Grill the bread over medium-high heat until they turn brown on both sides. Spread every slice with wasabi and add a slice of salmon, and then sprinkle chive or green onion. Serve immediately.

PEAR AND PROSCIUTTO BRUSCHETTA WITH BALSAMIC SYRUP

Ingredients
• Pepper
• Balsamic syrup
• Eight paper-thin slices of prosciutto
• Two large, ripe pears, cored and sliced about
0.125 inches thick
• Four ounces Gorgonzola cheese or goat
cheese (about half a cup, but this is optional)
• Olive oil spray or nonstick cooking spray
Directions
Spray your bread on both sides using cooking
spray or olive oil. Place on a grill, turning 2-3
minutes per side until both sides change color to
golden brown. Add a little cheese (optional) on
each bread piece, a slice of prosciutto and slices
of pear. Add balsamic syrup and add pepper on
top before serving.

SAVORY CHEESE S’MORES

Ingredients
• Sixteen bocconcini or any firm cheese cut into
16 cubes (one inch)
• Sixteen fresh basil leaves (this is optional)
• A quarter cup of sun-dried tomato pesto or olive tapenade (bought from store)
• Thirty-two crackers, preferably whole wheat

Directions

Set out two crackers and spread one with around one teaspoon of olive tapenade or pesto, for each s’more. If you are using basil, you can add it on top. Using a skewer or long stick, spear through the cheese cube or ball. In case you are using mozzarella, wrap your cheese in a paper towel and ensure you squeeze thoroughly to remove any extra water.

Hold the speared cheese over an open fire and cook for about 2 minutes, turning the skewer to melt and ensuring the cheese turns brown on all sides. Using the dry knife, fork or cracker scrape the cheese onto the cracker with the basil leaf and spread. Add a second cracker on top to make a sandwich and eat immediately.

BACON-WRAPPED GRILLED FIGS

Ingredients
• Six slices bacon, cut in half
• Twelve small fresh, ripe figs

Directions

Wrap every fig with a slice of bacon and thread a stick of skewer through three of the wrapped figs (leave some space between the figs). Thread another stick of skewer through the figs ensuring it is parallel to the first skewer/stick. Repeat with other figs and cook on the grill over high heat making sure you frequently turn for about 6-8 minutes until your bacon is ready. Serve hot to enjoy.

INDONESIAN PEANUT DRIP

• Two tablespoons bottled ketchup or chili
sauce
• Juice of one lemon
• One to two teaspoons crushed red pepper
flakes
• A quarter cup packed brown sugar
• A quarter cup soy sauce
• One cup peanut butter (preferably crunchy)
• Half a cup of water

Directions

Mix all these ingredients in a saucepan or bowl until they are well combined. Serve immediately, you can also cover and cool for up to a period of a week.