Okay, this is not a platter salad, but I’m still using my SALAD BRAIN for expanding my thinking and getting me out of ruts. Here we have the usual fresh cranberry relish with a spicy modification–fresh jalapenos, a handful of cilantro, some onion and POW. This is a winner that is ideal for any holiday gathering, open house or a football party.
I’m all for recipe traditions, and I’m all for expanding those traditions. Let’s be real here. Nothing stays the same and we’re all interpreting and changing our perceptions throughout our lives. Each generation does the best they can with what they’ve got. We can respect the past, but who says one generation had better food traditions and recipes than another? Some people like to cook and some people don’t. It’s just good luck if you’ve got some great food memories to build on.
This one is sweet good mash-up for me. We like spicy. Cranberry relish and the Merrell family New Mexico fresh jalapeno salsa ala the Cortez Cafe in Carlsbad, New Mexico. The Cortez is no longer open, but I can assure you there are still plenty of folks pining for their salsa. Back in the 1970s they served their salsas at the table with little packets of saltines. I guess they thought the gringos didn’t want corn chips. All I remember are the piles of saltine wrappers all over the table. So even today, we love a good fresh saltine piled high with salsa. Even a goofy one blended with cranberries.
