Nothing brings on summer smiles quicker than fresh, homemade salsa.  At first, it may seem like a daunting task to make salsa at home when you’re perusing the salsa aisle at the grocery store and gazing at the long list of ingredients.  However, this is one of the easiest party tricks you can bring to your next picnic or potluck, and you won’t have to break your budget.  You can even jazz it up by adding some jalapeño or fresh pineapple to add a little kick of flavor.  Serve over tacos, inside burritos or over a bowl of rice and beans.  Or just run to the store and buy chips and eat it by itself like I did. ~Cari Marye

Ingredients: 

8-10 tomatillos

½ red or white onion

½ lime

1 tablespoon grape seed or olive oil

2 large cloves of garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

½ cilantro bunch

¼ teaspoon cumin

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 400

2. Peel away husk and wash tomatillos under cold water.

3. Peel away outer layer of onion and garlic

4. Place tomatillos face down on a baking pan along with the onion and garlic and drizzle with oil and sprinkle salt and pepper to taste

5. Roast for 15 minutes, turning over tomatillos and onion halfway through.

6. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes

7. Place tomatillos, onion, garlic, cilantro and cumin in food processor or blender along with the juice from ½ a lime

8. Pulse or blend to desired consistency

9. Chill and serve.