Cilantro! Late last fall I planted some cilantro in my vegetable garden. The freezes that we’ve had this year killed off the other herbs in the garden, but the cilantro just keeps growing. It’s growing at a much slower pace than in the summer, but it’s growing and it’s fresh cilantro.

During the summer months I almost always have cilantro growing in the garden so I will have fresh cilantro to put in salsa, guacamole, fish tacos, and cowboy caviar. I also like to put a bit of chopped cilantro in steamed rice while it’s cooking as it gives it a nice fresh flavor.

The cilantro growing in my garden this winter

If you are lucky enough to have cilantro growing in your garden this winter too, here’s a good guacamole recipe with which you can use your cilantro. Be sure to have a margarita with the guacamole.

Guacamole

Ingredients

• 3 avocados (preferably Haas), halved, seeded and peeled
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 1 small jalapeno pepper, seeds removed, finely chopped (leave seeds in for extra hot flavor)
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

In a large bowl place the avocado and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the onions, tomatoes, jalapeno pepper, cilantro, and garlic. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then serve with tortilla chips or with tacos.

~Ole!

~merry~