Abuela Rosa's Vodka Spiked Tomatoes with Dipping Salt

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Abuela Rosa opened her house to family and friends every Friday night. There was guitar music and the rhythm of heels on parquet floors punctuated with laughter. Abuela and I started early in the day to get enough food prepared for the crowd. This recipe was a fun one that was adults only - quick, cheap, and always a big hit.

You'll need:

1 pnt cherry tomatoes
1 cup vodka

English: A pack of organic cherry tomatoes, from a local farm food co-op program. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1T ground cumin
2T finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2T salt


Then all you have to do is take a tooth pick and poke each tomato about a dozen times. Put them in a bowl and cover them with the vodka for about 3 hours.

When the guests are arriving, mix your seasoning and place them into a small dipping bowl/dish.
Pour off the extra vodka and voila! You're done.

Monday's I Spent With Jadda - Tabouli

Tabbouleh (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Mondays belonged to my Turkish grandmother, Jadda. She was married to a Moroccan man, and they ate foods richly scented with cinnamon and spice. Jadda loved to garden. She was lucky to have a ground floor apartment. She took over a plot of land in the common area, outside of her sliding-glass backdoor. She filled it with the colors and aromas that attracted birds, buzzing bees, and butterflies. The landlord hadn’t been pleased that Jadda commandeered the area, but when he confronted her, Jadda stared down her long, thin nose at him, with her piercing black eyes, and he never mentioned it again.
Lexi Soabado- WEAKEST LYNX


Tabbouleh

2 bunches finely chopped flat leaf parsley
1 bunch chopped fresh mint
2-3 tablespoons fine bulgur
2 chopped firm roma tomatoes
2 scallions chopped
1/2 cup extra Virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)

1. Prepare bulgar (though Jadda just saves some from dinner and then whips this up for
tomorrow while we clean the kitchen)
2. Chop herbs, tomatoes, and scallions (I like more scallions than Jadda so I use 3)
3. Mix all ingredients in a bowl - serve well chilled.

Jadda particularly likes to make this in the summer when she can get the fresh vegetables and herbs right from her garden.