Mixed Fruit and Blueberry Salsas | End of the Steelers Reign: 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes

Bad news Steelers fans.  This is the last week to celebrate the reigning Super Bowl champs and not look like complete homeristic douchecakes.

Granted, some people may say the celebration should have ended February 2, 2009.  Others may have given Roethlisberger and company until September 10 to drain the last of the SB XLIII champagne.  Even the most optimistic black and gold faithful were ready to pack away their “Sixburgh” gear after the Steelers dropped five close games in a row during what should have been an easy stretch of games against the Chiefs, Browns, Ravens, Bengals and Raiders.

The rest of us, held out hope until the end of January 3, 2010.

I’m planning on enjoying these last few days of the Steelers championship.  All of my complaints about what went wrong with the 2009 squad are going to be tempered by the joy that last year’s Super Bowl win gave me for just a little bit longer.  I’m going to make annoying comments about how great the Steelers are around other websites, on Twitter (annoying rival fans along the way), wear my Steelers purse around town, dress my Spaniel in her little Steelers collar, and listen to “Steeler Ladies” as if it won the Grammy for song of the year instead of Beyonce’s version.  And it is my hope that all of my other Steeler-loving friends do the same.

Because in less than a week, it will be someone else’s turn to crow.

So one last time –

Suck it, Buzzsaw fans.  Both feet were in.

14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: Blueberry and Mixed Fruit Salsas

You will need…

Blueberry Salsa

12 ounces of blueberries, roughly chopped
1 shallot, finely minced (Or 1/4 cup of red onion)
1 jalapeno, seeds removed and finely minced
1-2 tablespoons of cilantro, stems removed and finely chopped
1 tablespoon of lime or lemon juice
1-2 teaspoons of kosher salt

Mix all the above ingredients. That was almost too easy.

You know what is hard to do?  Setting a Super Bowl record with a 100-yard interception touchdown return.  Hey, look!  James Harrison did just that in Super Bowl XLIII last year!

Refrigerate for at least six hours before serving.  Can be made up to two days ahead of time.

Mixed Fruit Salsa

1 orange, peeled, seeds removed and chopped
1 yellow bell pepper, seeds removed and chopped
2-3 kiwi fruit, peeled and chopped
1/2 a cup of pineapple, chopped
1 – 1 1/4 cup of strawberries, chopped (Wait until serving to chop.)
2-3 scallions, minced
1-2 tablespoons of cilantro, stems removed and finely chopped
1 jalapeno, seeds removed and finely minced
1 tablespoon of lime or lemon juice

Combine everything except the strawberries in a bowl and refrigerate for at least six hours.  When ready to serve, chop and add the strawberries.  (Adding them beforehand will result in mushy strawberries, eaten away too quickly by the citrus juices and jalapeno.)

If you want to do something extra special, make your own sweet cinnamon and sugar tortilla chips.

Preheat your oven to 350º.

Cut the thinnest flour tortillas you can find into wedges, and then brush with melted butter (vegetable oil if you’re vegan) on one side.  Lightly dust with a cinnamon and sugar mix.

Bake for four to five minutes on each side.  Remove when golden brown. Can be made up to two days ahead of time.

Both the blueberry salsa and the mixed fruit salsa can be served with regular salted tortilla chips, but the sweet chips pick up the mixed fruit salsa nicely.

One last time?

Day 7 – 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: Pro Bowl Pretzel Bread
Day 6 – 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: Wasabi Peas
Day 5 – 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: New Orleans Style Pimm’s Cups & Cucumber Tapas
Day 4 – 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: Smokey Cowboy Caviar
Day 3 – 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: Citrus Marinated Warm Olives
Day 2 – 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: Fried Chickpeas (Ceci Fritos)
Day 1 – 14 Days of Super Bowl Recipes: Salted Honey Roasted Pecans

Blueberry salsa adapted from Kitchen Parade, Mixed Fruit Salsa adapted from the Better Holmes and Gardens Red Plaid Cookbook.