Simple Summertime Snack Time

It's happened!  The time I never thought was coming has finally arrived!  I've spent the last few weeks preparing for it, hoping and praying it would arrive soon, thinking with each passing day of monsoon that it was all for naught, but it's here!  Like a child waits for Christmas morning with eager anticipation, I waited for summertime to come, and it finally has.  On Memorial Day weekend no less! Sunny, 85 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.  Sounds like the perfect day to me for sitting on the patio with a bucket of beers and a delicious snack.

Shaun and I had the beer under control (its a rare day when there isn't at least a 12 pack of something cold in the fridge).  The snack, however, was all me.  I wanted something that wouldn't take long to prep and would be nice and cool and delicious.  I've always loved guacamole, but I wanted to make it a little more summery.  So, I made a slight twist to the avocado and tomato guacamole that most people are used to.  Instead, we're having Strawberry-Avocado Salsa with Cinnamon-Sugar Pita Chips.

Strawberry-Avocado Salsa with Cinnamon Pita Chips
(Make the chips in advance, cool completely, and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.)

• 2 tsp. canola oil
• 8 Pita pockets
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped peeled ripe avocado (about 2)
• 1 cup finely chopped strawberries
• 2 tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
• 1 tsp. minced seeded jalapeno pepper
• 2 tsp. fresh lime juice
• 1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

To prepare the chips,brush the oil evenly over one side of each round pita chips.  Combine sugar and cinnamon ins a small bowl, sprinkle evenly over oil-coated sides of pitas.  Cut each pita into six wedges and arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until crisp.

Combine the avocado, strawberries, cilantro, jalapeno, lime juice and salt in a small bowl.  Stir gently to combine.  Serve with chips.





Now you have great little summertime snack that takes next to no time to make, especially if you make a large batch of chips ahead of time and store them for a up to a week.  This was the summer treat I was eagerly awaiting, served up perfectly on the patio with a nice cold summery beer.  I suggest you do the same!