I started to cook while studying abroad in Havana, Cuba. Agromercados sold herbs, beans, fruits and vegetables on the road sides. The salsa is best served with homemade baked tortilla chips and a mojito. : )
Ingredients:1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup cilantro
1 Vidalia onion
2 limes, juiced
3 medium tomatoes
2 mangos, chopped
1 avocado
Cumin
Paprika
Splash of orange juice
1 pack of 20 corn tortillas
Rinse cilantro well and let dry. 
Mince well and add to chopped mangos. 
Mix in black beans and diced onion.
Juice limes and add to bean mixture. (A helpful tip about juicing citrus fruit. If cold, warm up in the microwave for 10-15 seconds, and then roll the fruit on the cutting board, this will loosen the juice and provide more for the salsa).
Sprinkle cumin, paprika and orange juice over beans.
Add diced tomatoes to bean mixture, preferably a few hours before eating, as it will turn starchy if left for a long time in the refrigerator. Add avocado just before serving, as the avocado will brown if it sits too long.
Preheat oven to 425.
Slice tortillas into 6 wedges and bake on cookie sheet until lightly golden.
I like to jazz up my fruit salads by using wooden kebab skewers to make an individual portion party guests can pick up and eat without needing a plate or fork. Arranged around a dip of vanilla yogurt with mint, the finished product is appealing to the eye AND to your taste buds.
Ingredients: Wooden kebab skewers, cut in half
Small container vanilla yogurt
Fresh mint leaves
Pineapple, cut into small cubes
Strawberries
Bananas, thickly sliced
Watermelon, cut into cubes
Honeydew or Cantaloupe, cut into cubes
Rinse mint leaves and mince them finely. Scoop yogurt into small dipping bowl and mix in mint leaves. Cover and refrigerate until eating. Skewer fruit, alternating by color and type of fruit. Typically I use 3-4 pieces of fruit per skewer. Arrange skewers around dipping bowl placed on the center of large round serving plate. Stack them evenly so that the finished product resembles a flower.
*Fruit can be cut ahead of time (minus the bananas, as they tend to brown) and skewered before presenting. Feel free to substitute other fruits like kiwi, mango, papaya, apples, grapes, whatever you like and is in season!
