in case you skipped a beat, a few months ago i spent some time focusing on serrated knives and many of their glorious uses. honestly, it is number two in my list of must have knives. and here is one of the most important reasons. 

pico de gallo is one of my staples. when i can get my hands on good tomatoes, i make sure to keep it around at all times. i love it on its own with chips, on a quick quesadilla or spooned over freshly grilled chicken or steak. 

the bonus is that is requires no cooking and is as simple as chopping things. be sure to use your serrated knife for the tomatoes to get nice clean cuts. 

pico de gallo
serves: 4 cups
total time: 20 minutes
ingredients: 3 cups diced (about .5 inch) vine ripe tomatoes. 1 small brown onion, diced (about .25 inch). 4 garlic clove, minced. 2 tbs chopped cilantro. 1 tbs lime juice. 1 tbs kosher salt. 1 tsp fresh ground pepper. 

in a large bowl, combine the tomatoes with half the salt and pepper. 

add in the onion, cilantro and garlic. 

sprinkle the remaining salt and pepper over the top and drizzle with the lime juice. stir well to combine. 

serve with your favorite chips. or store on hand for up to a week.

xo, a

pico de gallo
serves: 4 cups
total time: 20 minutes
ingredients: 3 cups diced (about .5 inch) vine ripe tomatoes. 1 small brown onion, diced (about .25 inch). 4 garlic clove, minced. 2 tbs chopped cilantro. 1 tbs lime juice. 1 tbs kosher salt. 1 tsp fresh ground pepper.
n a large bowl, combine the tomatoes with half the salt and pepper. add in the onion, cilantro and garlic. sprinkle the remaining salt and pepper over the top and drizzle with the lime juice. stir well to combine. serve with your favorite chips. or store on hand for up to a week. 

we all know that alcohol isn't exactly "good for us." sure, some of the different varieties offer a few benefits. but the real benefits of booze are measured in my mind by how it makes you feel. sure, overindulging in some libations is not good for you, but the relaxation and release you receive from a drink or two is undeniable.

so how do you balance the benefits of relaxation with what we know isn't necessarily "healthy?" 

duh, just add more healthy stuff to it.
and the benefits of ginger are undeniable. it is a great anti inflamitory, helps hearth health, increase digestions and is fabulous in a margarita. 

ginger margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 7 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. 1 oz grand marnier. 1 lime. 1 inch of ginger, peel removed. 1 tsp sugar. couple pinches of salt. micro plane. stainer or cheesecloth. tumbler. 1 cup of ice. 1 lime wheel. 

start out by zesting your lime. on a plate, combine the salt, zest and two pinches of the sugar and set it aside.

in a glass, combine the tequila, grand marnier and the juice of the lime. 

use the squeezed lime to rub some lime juice on the edge of the glass. 

dip the lime juice rubbed lip of the glass into the zest mixture, coating the rim of the glass. 

grate your ginger with the micro plane over a strainer or some cheese cloth. 

when you have grated all your ginger, press all the juice out. you should end up with about 1 oz of ginger. 

pour in your tequila mixture. stir well to combine. 

top with ice. garnish with a lime wheel. enjoy. 

xo, a

ginger margarita
serves: 1 cocktail
prep time: 5 minutes
active time: 2 minutes
total time: 7 minutes
ingredients: 2 oz tequila. 1 oz grand marnier. 1 lime. 1 inch of ginger, peel removed. 1 tsp sugar. couple pinches of salt. micro plane. stainer or cheesecloth. tumbler. 1 cup of ice. 1 lime wheel.
start out by zesting your lime. on a plate, combine the salt, zest and two pinches of the sugar and set it aside. in a glass, combine the tequila, grand marnier and the juice of the lime. use the squeezed lime to rub some lime juice on the edge of the glass. dip the lime juice rubbed lip of the glass into the zest mixture, coating the rim of the glass. using your micro plane. grate your ginger with the micro plane over a strainer or some cheese cloth. when you have grated all your ginger, press all the juice out. you should end up with about 1 oz of ginger. pour in your tequila mixture. stir well to combine. top with ice. garnish with a lime wheel. enjoy.