BY KATE GALLAUGHER
Los Alamos Co-Op Market

After working at the Los Alamos Co-op Market for three years now, I’ve come to look forward to certain seasonal products and recipes. This recipe is a Los Alamos Co-op Favorite. As a transplant from the south, I love spicy dishes. This dish has all the kick of New Mexico flavor and all the nostalgia of traditional Thanksgiving. Throw it on cheese, eat it with your turkey, sprinkle it over a salad, eat it plain with chips; there is no wrong way to enjoy this dish!

Our produce manager, Chelsea, is responsible for bringing this salsa recipe to the Co-Op. She suggests serving it over almost any soft cheese: brie, cream cheese, Neufchatel, mascarpone, ricotta, and even any of the vegan soft cheeses. Serve with Back to Nature’s crispy wheat crackers for the perfect mouthful. Right now and throughout the winter holidays, you can buy this salsa, freshly made in our grab-in-go (while it lasts).

Here is the recipe, so folks can make this dish fresh, at home, and take all the credit for it!

Cranberry Salsa (with a kick)

12 oz fresh cranberries (Patience Fruit & Co. organic fresh cranberries)
3/4 cup granulated sugar (add more to taste)
1 jalapeño (leave the seeds in if you like it spicy)
1/2 cup cilantro 
4 green onions 
2 tablespoons lime juice
Pinch of salt

Preparation:
Place all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until desired consistency. Then chill in the
fridge for a couple of hours (preferably overnight) to allow the salsa to macerate.
Serve over softened cream cheese or ricotta.

Tip: Depending on how tart your cranberries are, you may want to add more sugar.

The Los Alamos Co-Op Market is located at 95 Entrada Drive. Phone (505) 695-1579.

Editor’s note: Watch out for more columns from Los Alamos Co-Op Market staff in the Los Alamos Reporter