Salud Dinero y Mucho Mucho Amor!

February 2014 - Mazatlan Mexico

We attended Salsa and Salsa today at the Royal Villas Resort. What a good time we had.
According to their website you will learn to make seven authentic salsas and two types of margaritas. You'll try your new culinary creations with quesadillas, taquitos and corn chips.

Hosted by two lovely ladies originally from Holland this is a fast-paced and interesting way to spend three hours.

Known as The Dancing Chefs they are much more than that. Leonique and Maaike are very community minded. They have Lela, the piggy bank, which they use to solicit donations and donate 100% of the funds raised to many international charities. You can learn more about Lela and the charities she has helped by clicking here.

I took these photos when we arrived, that is when everything was still tidy and before anyone had any margaritas.

As soon as we were attired in our chef's hats and aprons we were served our first margarita.

Our table companions from north (gasp) of Winnipeg.

Time to make our own margarita, easily the best tasting one we've ever had.

Jenny, from California helped make a water drink with watermelon -Aguas de Frutas. We learned that every restaurant makes their own fresh fruit blended waters from various fruits and vegetables. Leonique also suggested freezing the mixture to use as ice cubes.

2 cups cold water
2 cups watermelon (rind removed), seeded and chopped

Juice of 1/2 lime (no more than 1 tablespoon)
Ice cubes or crushed ice (optional)
Blend the watermelon and then strain. Add water and ice. Dip the rim of your glass in lime juice and then sugar.

  First salsa was a traditional tomato salsa.

You always learn something new, a great way to seed a pepper without touching it.

Two "chefs' detailed to make a fiery chili for us all to sample.

John pounding the garlic, pepper and onions until it has the texture of apple sauce.

Sampling. I think John's was hotter.

We were provided with snacks as well.

 Making pico de gallo

Their recipe! Makes 2 kinds.

2 Roma tomatoes

1/2 white onion diced

1/2 jalapeno de-seeded and diced - I say more is better

Pinch of cilantro, lime juice and salt to taste for first kind

Mix the tomatoes, onion and jalapeno together then separate into 2 bowls

To one of the bowls add the cilantro, lime juice and salt.

Mix well

In the other bowl:

Tropical salsa

Add 1 tbls chopped pineapple or your favourite tropical fruit

Mix well and serve

OOPS four glasses toppled over!

We were given shots of this liqueur to  pour over our ice cream dessert salsa.

Papaya tossed in lime juice and chili peppers.

I only provided a sampling of all the salsas we made. Time to learn to salsa!!