Fruit and Veggie Salsa

Ian first made this salsa as a must-go late last summer. He used fruits and veggies from the fridge that needed to be eaten before they went bad, and it was so good that we've made it several times since! I made this tonight to go along with the fruit & veggie theme of the black bean and banana empanadas that Ian made for dinner. This is a great snack to make for yourself, or to bring to a party. It uses typical salsa basics plus some extra fruits and veggies to give it a sweet twist. You will need the following ingredients, just mix them all together in a bowl:

• tomatoes (about 3 medium), diced
  
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• a handful of baby carrots, or 2 large carrots, shredded or chopped
• a few handfuls of seedless grapes (red look prettier than green), roughly chopped
• a few pinches of ground cumin (about 1 tsp)
• fresh lime juice (about 1/3 of a lime, squeezed)
• s&p, to taste

The familiar tangy and spicy flavors of salsa are there, thanks to the the tomato and red onion. The carrots and grapes add sweetness, and the lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper round it all out and tie the flavors together quite nicely. This fresh and healthy salsa is better than the soggy "fresh" salsas you find at supermarkets, and waaaay better than those preservative-filled jarred varieties. You could probably make additions and substitutes to add your own twist, like lemon instead of lime juice, a dash of hot pepper flakes or ground cayenne for a spicier salsa, a handful or two of black beans to add protein, chopped bell peppers...

Enjoy!