{salsa fresca}

I love making fresh salsa.  It's so much better than the store bought kind.  This recipe is just fantastic. Enjoy!

I start with fresh ingredients....the colors are so beautiful, don't you think?

I get these "sunbursts" at Sam's in bulk.  They're great in salads or with hummus too

These are the tools I use

This vegetable chop from williams-sonoma is handy

I love my citrus reamer from williams-sonoma; it gets all the juice and the pulp.  If you're into that sort of thing. 

Wash and spin your cilantro leaves in a salad & herb spinner

So fresh; I heart cilantro

Cut a jalapeno in half and remove seeds & white membranes- leave a few if you think you can take the heat and add to blender or food processor  

Add 1 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves to your blender

Yum

Add 2 cups yellow cherry tomatoes

1/3 cup chopped yellow onion

Press 2-3 cloves of garlic and add 

Getting close...

I just love the vibrant colors

After combining your ingredients- pulse a few times (not too much)

Allow foam to settle from the pulsing

taste test...mmm

ladle with funnel into a pretty jar

Secure with lid & ring.  You can eat right away or refrigerate for up to 1 week.  XOXO

Salsa Fresca

1/3 yellow onion

2 c yellow cherry tomatoes

1 jalapano

1/2 lime with pulp

4 campari tomatoes

1 c cilantro

2-3 cloves garlic

makes 1.5 pints

{strawberry-rhubarb jam}

I made this jam based on my strawberry rhubarb pie recipe.  It's sweet & tart & perfectly spiced.  I love to put it on mini pillsbury buttermilk biscuits or a whole wheat english muffin.  

First start with fresh strawberries...

I really like to use ball brand pint & half pint jars

I got this handy canning kit at target along with my jars; you can choose regular or wide mouth jars.  You will need 2 boxes of fruit pectin- I like ball brand fruit pectin but grabbed these boxes from whole foods. 

You will need a canner or stock pot to process your jars after they're filled and another pot to make the jam

slice the strawberries

and wash your jars and lids in HOT soapy water

squeeze 1/2 c lemon juice (it helps activate the pectin)

and add it to your pot

bring your stock pot or "canner" to a boil 

add the strawberries

add the {frozen} rhubarb on med-high heat

add the sugar and pectin stirring constantly

now bring to a rumbling boil for approximately 1 minute; you can add 1tbsp of butter to decrease foaming

remove from heat and ladle jam into your clean, sanitized jars using the funnel provided in ball canning kit

wipe the rim of the jar before applying lid and securing with ring; place in pot and process {boil} for 10 minutes making sure water covers jars

remove from boiling pot using jar lifter provided in canning kit and allow to cool at least 24 hours; you should hear the lids "pop" in as the jars cool.  This is part of the sealing process. If any lids pop up and down when pressed, they are not sealed and should be refrigerated. 

Ta-da, darling jam!

recipe: {darling strawberry-rhubarb jam}

6 c sliced strawberries

4 c frozen rhubarb

1/2 c lemon juice

6 c sugar

2 boxes pectin

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tbsp butter

makes 6.5 pints of darling jam

{darling beauty}

Here are some of my absolute favorite beauty products. 

darling beauty by jessi.brewer on Polyvore.com

Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer beige- this is the best concealer i've ever used!
$70 - nordstrom.com

Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Silky Lipstick- this has moroccan oil for a silky, moisturizing finish.
$52 - neimanmarcus.com

CHANEL - vitalumiere aqua soft, sheer, & has spf 15 too!
$45 - nordstrom.com

NARS Bronzing Powder - Laguna- best bronzer with a natural, not orange, finish.
$33 - barneys.com

Michael Kors 3.4 oz Eau de Parfum Spray- I have been wearing this since high school.  They even carry it at Sam's at a huge discount.  :-)
$95 - sephora.com

La Mer Moisturizing Cream 1 oz- a splurge, but true luxury for parched, tired skin. 
$135 saks.com

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder- super smooth finish with 15 active amino acids
$32- sephora.com

{welcome tulsans & others too!}

Greetings fellow Tulsans!  I am starting this blog because I wish to share my love for Tulsa, photography, yoga, cooking, shopping, wine, movies, books, exercise & health with anyone who is willing. 

In honor of Tulsa, I have included a video of the classic song "Tulsa Time" which is also my ringtone.  Love it.  Enjoy!