Recently my son expressed dismay when I bought a large bottle of Chi-Chi’s Salsa from Sam’s Club. I would have preferred Old El Paso but that has not been available for several months. When we lived in Texas Old El Paso was readily available and we could buy it in institutional size quantities at Sam’s. Within a week an America’s Test Kitchen newsletter reviewed the store bought brands and came to same conclusion. Old El Paso was good and Chi-Chi’s Salsa was not. They also said that fresh made salsa beat both of them. So I brought out my America’s Test Kitchen Best Recipe cookbook and gave it a try.

The recipe is pretty simple. It took me about 15 minutes to prepare and an hour to let the flavors blend together.

• 3 large tomatoes, diced small
• 1/2 cup tomato juice
• 1 small jalapeno, minced
• 1 small red onion, diced small
• 1 medium garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice, about 6 limes

It was no surprise that both my wife and son really liked this. The recipe lasted two days. I should of taken a picture of the salsa. My wife and son had cleaned it out before I got home. I think it is the cilantro and lime juice that makes this recipe stand head and shoulders above the store bought brands.