Blackberry Lime Muffins

(I turned around to get the camera and one went missing!)

1 lime, juice and zest of
1/4-1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup fresh blackberries, halved

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

1. Spray a muffin tin and set aside.
2. Zest a lime, and set aside. Melt the butter and let it cool.
3. Squeeze the juice of the lime into a measuring cup over a sieve to catch the seeds and stuff. Pour enough milk into the measuring cup to make up a half cup. Stir in vanilla and the lime zest. Set aside for now. Yes, it may get buttermilk-looking....that's okay!

1. In a large bowl, measure out the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar. Mix well.
2. To the lime/milk mixture, add the egg and the cooled butter and mix well. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix just to combine.

1. ONLY MIX UNTIL EVERYTHING IS WET. Do not overmix.

1. Spoon batter into muffin tins, filling them only halfway.

1. Sprinkle a few berries on each one and then continue to fill the muffin tins to the top. Why? Well, 'cuz if you mix the berries right into the batter, you will end up with SMURF MUFFINS. Trust me.

1. Bake in a 400 F oven for 25 minutes until the tops are springy.

1. Cool for a few minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool for 10-15 minutes.

Brag moment (no recipe)...

What do you do when your first granddaughter is having her first birthday, her parents are both NASCAR fans , and her birthday falls on the same day as The Daytona 500?

THIS:

...and yes, it is completely edible. Well, it WAS.

Mama Mia, MANGO!

FRESH MANGO SALSA

Okay....so you are out grocery shopping and having a great time...

Wait, is that only ME?

Whatevs. There you see it...heaven in a box....a FREAKING BOX of mangoes. Like a whole box!

You stop yourself and say, how could I ever eat a box of mangoes? I stop you and say, SHUT UP. Hell yeah, you can eat a box of mangoes. The real question is how can you stop yourself from eating them in one day?

One of my favourite things to make when I get my hands on fresh mangoes is salsa! 

1 large mango or 2 smaller ones, peeled, pitted, and diced.

1/2 cup diced red onion

1/3 cup fresh chopped cilantro

1 fresh jalapeño, chopped, or 4-6 slices of pickled jalapeño. More or less to taste.

Salt and pepper

Fresh squeezed lime juice from one lime.

Mix it up and try, just try to not eat it all.

Eat it with tortilla chips. 

Use it to top your favourite quesadilla, taco (great on fish tacos), etc.

Top your grilled fish with it -- instant gourmet!

Pssssttttt....gonna let you in on a little secret: substitute the mango with fresh tomatoes and you just made Pico De Gallo. Ummmm, yeah.