cwc nbc5 july 2002

Tomatillo Salsa

Serves 6

1 pound fresh tomatillos

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 - 2 canned jalapeno peppers, chopped

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 clove garlic, minced

2 - 3 sprigs fresh cilantro

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1 avocado, peeled, pitted and diced

Peel papery husks from tomatillos and rinse thoroughly with cold water. Place in medium saucepan and fill with cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 5 to 10 minutes, until tender. Drain away water, reserving about 1/4 cup liquid (if a thin salsa is desired). Allow tomatillos (and reserved water) to cool completely, about 30 minutes at room temperature. Combine all ingredients, except avocado, in a blender. Process for a few seconds, until mixture is slightly chunky. Add avocado and process until desired consistency is reached. Serve with tortilla chips or use as a condiment for your favorite Tex-Mex recipes. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Notes:

Tomatillos are prized for their outstanding flavor and color. These petite Mexican green tomatoes have a tight-fitting papery husk, which is removed before cooking or eating. Tomatillos have a tart, lemon-apple taste, and can be enjoyed raw, or cooked for a more mellow flavor.

(Air Date: July 13, 2002)

The bounty of cool and refreshing summer fruit, such as peaches, nectarines, icy-cold plums, and fresh apricots, is topped with a lime-spiked honey dressing.

Peel and slice or dice fresh fruit to desired sizes. When cut, place fruits that tend to darken quickly (apples, pears, peaches, etc.) in a bowl of cold water with 2 teaspoons lemon juice and let soak for 5 minutes---this will help to keep them from changing color for several hours. Drain away water when ready to use fruit. In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients and whisk together to emulsify the dressing. Serve honey-lime dressing over the fruit.

Festive Drink Garnishes and Bubble Tea

Get creative this summer with these fun drink garnishes. Also, learn more about the hottest trend in cool drinks---bubble tea!

> Freeze grape juice in ice cube trays. Place frozen cubes in a tall glass and fill with ginger ale.

> Citrus Fruit Flowers: Using a grooved knive garnishing tool, carve verticle strips into the skin of an orange, lemon, or lime, about every 1/2 inch. Thinly slice the fruit horizontally. Make a cut into the slice, from one edge to the center, then place the slice on the edge of a pretty glass to serve your cool beverage.

> Jello Rims: Rub the rim of a pretty drinking glass with a slice of lemon or lime. Dip the rim into a plate of dry flavored gelatin (cherry, lime, raspberry, etc.) for a colorful, sweet rim garnish.

> Bubble Tea Sources:

"Bubble Tea is a popular, colorful Taiwanese equivalent of Chai. An exotic new tea latte sometimes referred to as Boba Nai Cha or Pearl Tea Lattes (enjoyed with or without adding tapioca pearls). A tea latte is so delicious, it is instantly becoming a multi-national beverage trend."---Globex America and Mocafe (TM).

Globex America is the Dallas distributor for Bubble Tea products (see Mocafe below). You can purchase bubble tea supplies (dark tapioca pearls, tea, straws, etc.) from their location in Dallas. They will also ship bubble tea supplies. For more information, call 214-353-0328 or send inquiry to: globexamerica@earthlink.net

Mocafe lists information about their products and cooking instructions for dark tapioca pearls on their website: www.bubbleteas.com

Hong Kong Market in Arlington carries dark tapioca pearls (look for them in the far right side of the store---refrigerated section) and a selection of Asian teas. Hong Hong Market, 2901 E Pioneer Parkway, Arlington, TX 76010 (817-265-1488)

You can also order all bubble tea supplies from Ten Ren Tea at: www.tenrentea.com

For more information on cooking dark tapioca pearls, go to: www.tenrentea.com/tendarpear.html