Easy Salsa Recipe: How to Steal A Secret Family Recipe

Want to learn how to steal a secret family recipe?

My parents were very good friends with a couple they had actually know since high school. The relationship was always hot/cold, on/off, talking/not talking - I remember the relationship being like this as far back as my memory goes.

Another thing I remember is that she made some mean Mexican food. I do not remember what anything was called or exactly what was in it, but I do remember it was fantastic...and this is coming from the girl who used to order hamburgers and french fries at Mexican restaurants.

To accompany her fabulous meals, she always had salsa - amazing salsa! We would ask her, or more specifically my mom would ask her if she could have the recipe. The answer was always "NO!!!!! It is a family secret." We figured there was a top-secret farm she visited to pick the ripest, yummiest tomatoes, or that her grandmother had passed down a special jar of herbs and spices. We created a mystery around this salsa.

For 2 years we tried to get the recipe...to no avail. One day, she asked if I would like to come over and help get ready for a BBQ they would be having later that day. I was about 10 at the time {old enough to be sneaky and understand what I was doing, but still look innocent}, and as my mom dropped me off at the house, she gave me very specific instructions..."If you make the salsa, you better remember every detail. This is our only chance."

We made the salsa...and the mystery is no more...their is no secret garden, no special bottle of herbs and spices passed down from generation to generation...but I do not care, it is still my favorite and might I add the super-simplest salsa I have ever made. When you see the ingredients, you will be surprised, and you just have to trust me on this, and try it for yourself.

Super Secret Simple Salsa {a.k.a. SSSSalsa}

2 14.5 oz. cans {or 1 large can) organic diced tomatoes {the original recipe calls for 1 can whole peeled tomatoes, but I tend to use these now}

1 4.5 oz can chopped olives

1 7 oz. can chopped green chilies

1-2 bunches green onions, chopped

1 tsp garlic powder {the original calls for garlic powder...I often use 4 cloves of fresh minced garlic instead}

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 T Olive Oil {optional}

Chop the green onions, mince the garlic, crack open all the cans and dump into a bowl...now here is the trick...you must use your {washed!} hands to mix and mash the ingredients together...that is apparently the secret.

Now, I am all about fresh these days...but this salsa is FAB! It does not taste like canned crap {I promise}. I use the right ingredients too....check your labels to make sure the ingredients on the back say the same thing as the label {and you can pronounce them all}.

The salsa is best made 12-24 hours before you need it so the flavors meld together. And apparently, according to my cousins, tastes even better if the prepared salsa is stored in an empty {clean} Skippy Peanut Butter jar. Seriously...when we have a family gathering they think my mom has gypped them if they do not see the Skippy Jar.

For years I have been trying to get my son to try this salsa.."nope, ick, I don't like it." {which is so not him}...until grandma showed up to visit with her Skippy jar...he tried it and came running in the house..."Mom, Grandma makes the best salsa...can you make it some time?" See the Skippy jar is magical.

So that is is the story of how I stole a secret family recipe.

Have you ever stole a secret family recipe?

Do you have your own secret family recipe?

This post is written and created at 504 Main by Holly Lefevre