Life can be messy when you pursue happiness.
I’ll start this story off with the news, I’m engaged (for marriage, that is.)
Ever since M and I broke up a year ago, we’ve been on this roller coster of trying to figure out who we were, what we wanted, and what exactly made us happy. At the time, we knew being in our relationship didn’t make us happy. We were two people struggling to find our own identity after three years of relying solely on our relationship to dictate everything. We started out too fast, too excited and our growing pains were too much for us to handle. Time apart was needed.
What we realized, however, is that we are darn good together and that we let a few small things get in our way of something really good. Even though I didn’t realize it a year ago, he’s my best friend who is there when I come up with all my crazy life ideas, loves me unconditionally, and motivates me every day to pursue my happiness.
So in a field in Wisconsin, under the stars with perfect weather, listening to Dave Matthews Band, he proposed completely unplanned.
After shock, tears, and speechlessness (which I had no idea could happen to me,) I said yes.
My heart is happy.
A note about this salsa: I’m currently experimenting with exactly how I want to can tomatoes this year. This salsa is a close riff on my favorite roasted tomato salsa. The flavors are amazing here and the hands on time is very limited. I’m very excited to be able to have this salsa throughout the winter.
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Prep Time:
Yield:
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PinIngredients
- 2 lbs cherry/roma tomatoes
- 2–3 cloves garlic
- 1 serrano pepper
- 1 large onion
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 ears sweet corn
- juice from a lime
- 1 cup cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400˚.
- Slice tomatoes in half and place on a baking tray. Roughly chop the serrano pepper, garlic, and onion. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle over tomatoes. Place in over and roast until everything is soft and lightly browning, 45-55 minutes.
- Remove corn from cob. Easiest way to do this is remove husk and place perpendicular in a large bowl, carefully cutting downwards. Toss with remaning tablespoon of olive oil and place on a separate baking tray. Roast until lightly browning, 15-20 minutes.
- In a food processor, combine roasted tomato mixture and cilantro. Pulse until combined. Squeeze in lime juice and salt, pulsing a few more times. Remove, place in a bowl, and stir in roasted corn.
Notes
Makes two pints
the faux martha says
Wahhhhh!! So happy for you Erin—jumping in my seat happy!
naturallyella says
Thank you, Melissa (your text made me super happy!)
Sonja / A Couple Cooks says
Oh my goodness — CONGRAULATIONS!!! So excited for you!! And so surprised!! Can’t wait to chat more on this one 🙂 Yay!!!!!
Erin @ she cooks, she gardens says
Aww, that is so beautiful. Congratulations to you both!
Salsa looks pretty good, too. 🙂
naturallyella says
Thank you, Erin (and the salsa is pretty good ;)!
Addiemwilliams says
Congrats! Not much in the world can compare to marrying your best friend.
naturallyella says
Thank you!
Heidi says
Congratulations and how appropriate to feature a little spice and a little heat that is essential for any marriage! Best to you and your man!
naturallyella says
Thank you, Heidi!
Erin says
I just found your blog through The Faux Martha. So happy for the discovery! Also… Congratulations! 🙂
naturallyella says
Yay! Thank you!
Aggie says
Congratulations!!
Beautiful salsa, looks delicious!
naturallyella says
Thanks, Aggie!
Jeanine says
omg, congrats!!
naturallyella says
Thank you, Jeanine!
Hanna Robinson says
Lovely, lovely. But most importantly, congratulations on your engagement! This is the best time, you must be on cloud nine. Enjoy every second of it (and p.s. it only gets better).
naturallyella says
Thank you, Hanna!
Gina @ Running to the Kitchen says
Congratulations, Erin! What happy news 🙂
naturallyella says
Thanks, Gina!
SallyBR says
Congratulations! I don’t leave comments very often, but your post brought such a huge smile to my face, I had to say something! 😉
beautiful photos, beautiful story, I wish you many decades of marital bliss ahead!
naturallyella says
Thank you so much, Sally!
Katie Clements says
Congratulations on the engagement! Best wishes to both of you moving forward.
Did you end up canning this salsa in a hot water bath? I’m newer to canning, and I’m still trying to figure out the whole process. Thanks!
naturallyella says
Not yet, I’ve been tweaking the recipe but I will next week. As long as I have a tablespoon of lime juice in each pint, it should be good to go!
leaf (the indolent cook) says
Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story with us! Quite the journey, and more to come, hey. Also – that salsa looks ridiculously good.
naturallyella says
Oh, this salsa is ridiculously good (I’ve finished 1 pint in two days). And thank you!
Julia Wright says
Congratulations!! My husband proposed to me while I was peeling potatoes to fry. You’ll remember that exact moment for the rest of your life. I’m excited to try your salsa, it looks wonderful.
naturallyella says
Thank you, Julia! I doubt I will ever forget it!
Courtneyraejones says
Your exciting and wonderful news made me so smiley! Congratulations!!!!! I am so glad to hear you’ve found happiness with someone who is both your best friend and biggest supporter 🙂
naturallyella says
Thank you, Courtney! I feel pretty lucky (he also works wonders on webservers, so I know he’s a keeper 😉
Joanne says
Major congratulations girl! You deserve all this happiness and more!
naturallyella says
Thank you, Joanne!
Shanna says
Congratulations, Erin! Being engaged is a real ride but, take it from this newlywed, being married is wonderful! Wishing you two all the best in this happy season. : )
naturallyella says
Thank you, Shanaa! I’m pretty excited to see where life leads us!
Margarita says
Erin, congratulations! So excited for you! I like your kind of love story… yes, time apart and big trials are what we need in relationships sometimes to know if it’s for real or not. Glad you both figured things out! 🙂
naturallyella says
I always said I wanted a love story and thought I wouldn’t get one, turned out I was wrong 🙂 Thank you, Margarita!
Elizabeth says
Another double congrats to you! One for the engagement, and another for this amazing looking salsa. Roasted tomatoes are my favorite.
naturallyella says
I’ve have such a weakness for roasted tomatoes! (and thank you!)
Kathryn says
Congratulations! It sounds like it’s been quite the whirlwind for you but this post sounds so wonderfully happy 🙂
naturallyella says
It has been a bit of a whirlwind but happiness prevailed 🙂
alexandra at sweet betweens says
Congratulations on your happy news! I’m a particular sap for DMB so that made my heart sing. 🙂
Coming out of the shadows [long-time follower] to say that I love your blog – and this recipe is awfully timely thanks to piles of tomatoes on my counter + ears of corn in my fridge. Will be making this weekend!
naturallyella says
Thank you so much! It’s funny because DMB was my teenage music- it’s all I’d listen to, so for this happen made it that more special (and caused me to have more tears 🙂
Eileen says
Congratulations! And that salsa does look truly spectacular to boot. 🙂
naturallyella says
Thank you, Eileen!
sarah kieffer says
hip hip! so so happy for you, friend.
naturallyella says
Thank you, Sarah 🙂
Kathryne says
Woah! Erin! Congratulations!!!
naturallyella says
Thanks Kathryne!
Shannon says
congrats!!
i am new to canning, but would love this idea for tomatoes! i know you have to be careful with acid levels when canning tomatoes… would you need a pressure canner for this or is there enough acid to do in a water bath?
naturallyella says
From my research, as long as there is 1 tablespoon of lemon/lime juice in each pint, you are fine with just a hot water bath.
Jacqui says
Congratulations Erin! So happy for you!
naturallyella says
Thanks, Jacqui!
S.O. says
This looks delicious. Adding it to my to-make list .Very big congratulations on your engagement!
naturallyella says
Thank you!
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
Congratulations!!!
Your salsa looks fantastic!
naturallyella says
Thank you, Heidi!
lauren{thetalkingkitchen} says
Congratulations! I had a similar experience with my (now husband) when we were dating, time apart lead us back together with clearer eyes and loving hearts. Many blessings to you and your future man.. the fun is yet to come! Also this salsa looks amazing I cannot wait to try it!
naturallyella says
Thank you, Lauren! Sometimes time is really all a person (or people) need 🙂
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal says
Wow congratulations, Erin! I’m happy for you and glad to hear you are happy!
naturallyella says
Thank you, thank you!
Laura says
Congratulations girl! So happy that you’re happy and that all’s right in the world 🙂
xoxo
naturallyella says
Thank you, Laura! It’s been a few years coming 🙂
Brianna Soloski says
Congratulations!
naturallyella says
Thank you, Brianna!
Gretchen says
Congratulations! I love it when good people get to enjoy life’s better moments. I wish the very best to you both.
naturallyella says
Thank you, Gretchen!
Lulucooks says
Congratluations Erin! Good luck. 🙂
naturallyella says
Thank you 🙂
VogueVegetarian says
Ella, to can this recipe would any additional ingredients be needed, do you know? I’m new to canning. I know I’d have to do the usually heat and boiling bath etc., but curious if I’d need any more acid, etc. Thanks!
naturallyella says
I’ve yet to can this recipe (that’s a Monday project) but with the addition of the lime juice and according to canning standards, it should be fine with the boiling water. Just make sure you have 1 tablespoon for every pint you fill.
Warm Vanilla Sugar says
Congratulations!!! Also, this salsa looks mad delicious!
Home is Where The Cookies Are says
Oh my goodness! This looks perfect and wonderful!
Kasey says
Congrats Erin! Though, I am kinda bummed I didn’t find him for you with that promise of cupcakes for life you gave. I’m so happy for you!
Jen says
Congratulations! Canning tomatoes is a challenge to me. I have not yet found the perfect recipe.
Leanna Tu says
Oh my goodness, congratulations!!
on that other note, this salsa looks delicious 🙂
freetoeatandbe.blogspot.com
Ricki says
Congratulations! My honey and I had a similar roller-coaster beginning. . . and here we are, almost 15 years later! 😀 And love the salsa. 😉
Pam List says
Wow, just stopped by for the first time and read this! How sweet. My DH opened for Dave Matthews a decade ago when they were first starting out. I enjoy Dave Matthews but am a total U2 fan and of course my husband who retired from music to become a husband. : – )
Enjoy the journey and check out the Wedding Song on the Zero album by August Burning on Itunes or Amazon. That is my husband singing and he totally rocks the song and the idealism of marriage.
Pam
Kee says
Hi! Do you have directions for canning this salsa?? I’d love to have local, homemade salsa all year long 🙂
Thanks!!
erin says
I don’t- I just followed traditional canning guidelines from a few google searches.
Tora says
So I realize I’m really late to this party, but I’m hoping to can both this recipe, and your black bean and corn salsa recipe. In your experience, is it best to cook these salsas before putting them in cans to boil off some water, or is it fine to just let them cook in the waterbath? Thanks!