Mango Salsa

As a thank you for our last project, one of the analysts that I work with gifted me his fruit of the month club (he's a dreamboat). Three perfectly ripe honey mangoes sat on my desk for almost a week. I considered the margarita, the mojito, and even the daiquiri... I stared at them without a clue until I decided to grill pork chops last weekend. Pork chops and applesauce, you have been schooled by pork chops and mango salsa! Consider yourself on notice (Mr. Smith agrees).


Mango Salsa
3 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped (about 2 cups)
1/2 cucumber, peeled, seeded, and diced
1/2 cup red onion, diced
1/3 cup cilantro, finely chopped
1/2 jalapeno, seeded and diced (add more depending on how much heat you like)
juice of 2 limes

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Serve along side grilled meats or with chips as a dip.

Soba Noodles with Sesame Seeds

One of my all time favorite tv "chefs" has got to be Nigella. With the soft lighting in her kitchen and British accent, I could watch her for hours. She even manages to look fantastic as she's licking the bowl or raiding her fridge at midnight, in a way the Paula Deen will never pull off. Her soba noodle recipe is an absolute go to in the summer months when it's too hot to cook, and you want to eat something cold and straight from the fridge. This would be a great side for a bar-b-q, or even topped with grilled shrimp.


Soba Noodles with Sesame Seeds
From: Forever Summer
1/3 cup sesame seeds
salt
8 ounces soba noodles
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
5 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons sesame oil
5 scallions

Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over a high heat until they look golden brown, and tip them into a bowl.
Bring a large pan of water to a boil and add some salt. Put in the soba noodles and cook them for about 6 minutes until they are tender, but not mushy. Have a bowl of iced water waiting to plunge them into after draining.
In a bowl you are going to serve them in, mix the vinegar, soy sauce, honey and oil. Then finely slice the scallions and put them into the bowl with the cooled, drained noodles and mix together thoroughly before adding the sesame seeds and tossing again.
Let the noodles set in the fridge for at least an hour before serving cold.

Mr. Smith's Wife

Is it really the end of June, and I haven't been here since May? Time has certainly gotten away from me and my kitchen. With big projects at work, a job search, and a couple of trips away I have been reaching for the take out menus. However, the best trip was to celebrate the anniversary of becoming Mr. Smith's wife. Just over three years ago, barefoot on a beach next to the Caribbean sea, promises were made, rings were exchanged, and I married the guy I will feed (and love) for the rest of my life. I love you Mr. Smith!