Guac, Salsa & Margs

CLASSIC summer combination: guacamole with chips and margaritas. My favorite things.

My roommate used to make margaritas without all the fuss of margarita mix. The key ingredient was frozen lime juice concentrate (limeade)!

RACHEL'S MARGARITAS
1 shot tequila
2/3 shot triple sec
a scoop or two of frozen limeade
fill with tonic water (or soda water)
Stir and add a fresh lime.

As for guacamole, easy and the most delicious thing ever!

GUACAMOLE
2 avacados, pitted and mashed
1 roma tomato, chopped finely
a bit of onion, chopped finely
2 cloves garlic
a dash of lime juice
salt and pepper to taste
spicyness to taste! (you can use dried cayenne pepper, a fresh hot pepper finely chopped, ground red pepper, etc--anything spicy!)

Mix everything well (food process if you like, but I like to leave it a bit chunky!)

And finally, my mom's famous salsa recipe. This salsa is a lot of work but it is the most delicious fresh salsa ever! Everyone who tastes it falls in love, trust me.

MOM'S SALSA
2 large tomatoes
1/2 large onion
1 jalapeno
2 cloves garlic
1/4 cup cilantro
1 T lime juice
2 T olive oil
1 T sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Chop everything very finely and mix well. This recipe is different every time we make it. You can substitute red onion, add cayenne peppers, add a dash of vinegar, substitute lemon juice for lime juice...experiment! And enjoy your summer!

Shepherd's Pie from Holland

My boyfriend's dad is basically a locavore and tries to cook with seasonal food. He has made us this AMAZING Sheperd's Pie twice and I absolutely had to get the recipe. He kindly translated it from Dutch and sent it to me! It is more of a fall or winter meal, but good any time of the year, just cuz it's sooo delicious! I haven't tried to make it yet but I will soon...

AD'S SHEPERD'S PIE

 1 kg mashed potato with 150 gram grated cheese in it
 500 gram lamb meat (shepherd) / beef meat (cottage), cut fine
 2 onions and garlic, as much as you prefer, chopped
 1 kg mixed vegetables (leek, carrot, celery and white cabbage, all chopped); steamed or cooked
 250 gram mushrooms, in slices
 thyme, pepper, salt, 2 spoons of (sharp) mustard and Worcestershire sauce
 sunflower oil

Method of preparation
1. Heat oil in the frying pan; fry the meat with the onions and garlic during 10 minutes.
2. Add the herbs/spices.
3. Add the vegetables and mix them with the meat and herbs/spices.
4. Grease a casserole pan with sunflower oil.
5. Put the vegetables and meat in the casserole and on the top the mashed potatoes
6. Put the casserole in the center of the oven, at 220 degree Celsius (430 fahrenheit), for 20-30 minutes; the mashed potatoes should color slightly brown.

You should definitely use really really spicy mustard. I would even venture to recommend a little bit of horseradish, because when Ad makes it, it has this very definite kick to it. SO GOOD.

Next time, more summer-y recipes...guacamole and margaritas!!