Too many tomatoes?

Craving a Flavorful Homemade Salsa? Try This Simple Pineapple and Bell Pepper Recipe

Too many tomatoes? Salsas are a great way to use them. No canning is required for this recipe. Plus, this sweet version will add fresh flavor to dishes any time of year. While many traditional salsa recipes call for onions and hot peppers, you can make a tasty salsa without them. The secret is using a combination of sweet and tart ingredients.

This easy pineapple and red bell pepper salsa comes together quickly with just a few ingredients. It highlights the natural sweetness of ripe tomatoes balanced by the tropical tang of pineapple and the brightness of red bell peppers. A bit of sugar and vinegar round out the flavors.

The end result is a chunky salsa with just the right mix of sweet, sour, and savory. Bright orange tomato pieces contrast with the red bell pepper and yellow pineapple tidbits. It looks as good as it tastes!

Best of all, this versatile salsa can be served with tacos, grilled fish or chicken, as a salad topper, quick dinner, or even as an appetizer with tortilla chips. The flavors complement anything from Tex-Mex dishes to Hawaiian cuisine.

Fresh Tomato Pineapple Salsa
Makes about 3 cups

Ingredients:

– 2 – 2 1/2 cups colorful tomatoes, cored and diced
– 1/2 cup fresh pineapple tidbits (from fresh or store-prepared pineapple spears)
– @1⁄4 red bell pepper, diced
– 3 tablespoon white sugar
– 3 tablespoons your favorite vinegar or mix of vinegars (I use ½ rice, ½ balsamic vinegars)

Instructions:

1. Mix sugar and vinegars in a glass container (I use four-cup Pyrex measuring cup) and microwave for ½ to 1 minute. This makes the sugar go into solution. Stir to combine.
2. Chop pineapple and bell pepper into ½ inch pieces. Add to vinegar/sugar mix.
3. I usually peel the tomatoes before chopping into ½ inch pieces.. This step is optional.
4. For best flavor, let the salsa rest for 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
5. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to use. The fresh salsa keeps several days chilled.

Tips for Serving Pineapple Tomato Salsa:
– I use different colored tomatoes.
– I prefer red bell peppers but you can use any color. Yellow and orange are sweet, too.
– Mix with cottage cheese for a quick snack or meal
– Pair it with grilled mahi mahi, chicken, or flank steak
– Spoon over tacos for a sweet contrast to savory fillings
– Brighten up a salad by topping it with a heaping spoonful
– Use as a burger topping in place of ketchup
– Dip tortilla chips or vegetables like jicama and cucumber
– Transform basic rice into something special by mixing in a few tablespoons
– Brush onto salmon or halibut before broiling for a flavorful glaze

This salsa really shines when made with juicy in-season tomatoes. Look for tomatoes that are fully ripe but still firm. The pineapple adds moisture, so drain any excess liquid from the tomatoes before dicing. When I get fresh pineapple from the store, pre-cut, I’ll freeze what we don’t eat. It’s easier to cut into tidbits when it’s partially frozen.

For best results, avoid using out-of-season hothouse tomatoes, which tend to be drier and less flavorful. Though if those are your only option, just boost the sugar slightly to compensate.

The possibilities are endless with this easy pineapple and bell pepper salsa. It’s sure to be a hit any time of year. The sweet and tangy flavors make it truly hard to resist!

Discover Danger, Heroes, and Love!

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The Rise of Use of AI by Authors

Imagine: Two of Zoe Saldana’s alter egos having fun with karaoke. Limitless prompts!

Advances in AI are providing authors with exciting new tools to bring their stories to life. Recently, text-to-image generators like #MidJourney have popularized the ability to create original images simply by describing them. This emerging technology has intriguing implications for writers looking to vividly visualize their fictional worlds. After a lot of soul searching, I’ve decided to add Artificial Intelligence image creation to my creative toolkit.

Benji, THE GREAT BIG FAIRY, as I visualize him.

For any novelist, a core part of the writing process is imagining how our characters and settings look. Translating those mental pictures into words through descriptions is part of the artistic challenge. Our readers take our words and reinterpret them into their own mental images. Something is often lost in translation. After all, we each imagine things in our own unique way.
I enter word prompts to the AI (MidJourney for me) and it generates a myriad of original images. After picking the one that best matches what I imagined, I fine-tune it with more adjectives. The AI helps me crystallize my vision into impressions that I can describe in new ways, boosting my creativity in how I share my vision with readers.
I love the way the technology bends to my will. I control the size of the image, lighting, and settings. I can also employ whatever media and technique I want to use. These images can be photos, woodwork, line drawings, posters,or works of art based on the Masters, all tailor-made to match my verbal prompts. They can also be fun, whimsical, and made out of metal!

My impression of 2004, the Chinese Year of the Metal Monkey.

It’s also useful for advertising books and sharing inspirations with fans on social media. I created the one above to describe my evening with a brown bat that had come in, uninvited. Isn’t this great for conveying a moment of panic?

Here’s what I got when I asked for a red-haired 18th-century Scot. No names or books were mentioned. Since he also happens to look like Jody Pomeroy in THE FAIRIES SAGA series, he’s a keeper

Fleshing out my fictional characters with AI-created images has allowed me to promote my books in exciting new ways. For readers, AI art shared by authors grants a peek directly into their imaginative process, a glimpse inside their heads to see how they see their characters. Like concept art in movies, it makes the fictional realm feel real.

Here’s Grace from THE SET UP and THE WHOLE SHE-BANG collection

As with all new technologies, there are debates on ethics we must consider, too. However, used judiciously and with respect for human creatives, text-to-image generators like MidJourney feel akin to any new tool in an author’s creative kit. Much like concept artists at Pixar using digital software, these AI can enhance imagination in fresh ways. But human creativity, skill, and labor still remain essential! Someone has to tell the ‘bot what to create!
At the end of the day, it’s the writer who breathes life into her worlds and characters through meaningful stories that connect with readers. In the hands of skilled creatives, AI image generators are an innovation to get excited about. This fusion of emerging tech with the enduring craft of storytelling will be fascinating to watch unfold.

Thanks for tuning in! Dani Haviland

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Guarding Your Peace in Today’s World

In these fast-paced days we’re living in, it’s not always possible to stay peaceful. We are buffeted by life, work, and many situations that don’t always leave us feeling at peace. Here are few tips to keep you grounded.

Set boundaries: Most often, we don’t do this until it’s too late, but it’s important to establish clear boundaries in both your personal and professional life. Learn to say “no” when necessary and make yourself a priority. 

Practice self-care: Engage in activities that nourish your body, mind, and soul. This can include exercise, meditation, spending time outdoors, engaging in hobbies you enjoy, or simply taking time for yourself.

Associate With Positive People: Choose your company wisely. Surround yourself with supportive individuals who contribute positively to your life. Avoid toxic relationships or environments that drain your energy or create unnecessary stress.

Limit Your Media Intake: Limit exposure to negative news, social media drama, or any content that makes you anxious or uneasy. Take breaks from technology and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation.

Remember that protecting your peace is an ongoing process requiring different strategies for various situations. Take time to think about what brings you peace and make conscious choices to move your life in a positive direction.

In keeping with the theme of peace, I’d like to introduce you to Samantha DaCosta, Queen of Kingston. Her life is anything but peaceful on the family front. Her father is a source of discord in the family and affects her life in other ways. Try out this romantic suspense novel and see how she comes into her own. You won’t regret it. http://microlinks.io/QueenofKgn

What’s Your Reading Preference?

Reader preferences are as varied and diverse as the books they love to read. From romance to mystery, science fiction to historical fiction, and everything in between, readers have their own unique tastes and styles when it comes to choosing what they want to read.

So, what are some of the most common reader preferences out there? Let’s take a look.

First up, we have the romance readers. These readers love a good love story, with all the ups and downs that come with it. From steamy passion to heart-wrenching breakups, romance readers crave the emotional rollercoaster of falling in love. They’re also suckers for a happy ending, and will devour any book that promises a satisfying conclusion for their favorite couple.

Next, we have mystery lovers. These readers are all about the suspense and intrigue, as they try to solve the whodunit before the protagonist does. Whether it’s a classic detective story or a modern thriller, mystery readers love to be kept on the edge of their seats, piecing together clues and unraveling the plot.

For science fiction fans, it’s all about exploring the unknown. These readers love to imagine what the future might look like, and are drawn to stories that take them to other worlds, introduce them to alien life forms, and challenge their understanding of the universe. Whether it’s hard sci-fi or more fantastical space operas, sci-fi readers are always looking for new frontiers to explore.

Then we have historical fiction aficionados. These readers are fascinated by the past, and love to dive into stories set in different eras and cultures. From ancient Rome to medieval Europe, from colonial America to the World Wars, historical fiction readers want to experience the sights, sounds, and emotions of a bygone era, while also learning something new about the world and the people who inhabited it.

Of course, these are just a few of the many reader preferences out there. Some readers might prefer non-fiction, while others love a good fantasy epic. Some might be drawn to literary fiction, while others want a fast-paced thriller. Whatever your reading tastes, there’s a book out there for you.

Speaking for myself, I love romantic suspense and have written a fair number of these novels. What’s your preference? Are you a romance reader, a mystery lover, a sci-fi fan, or a historical fiction aficionado? Or perhaps you’re something else entirely. Whatever your preference may be, happy reading!

If romantic suspense floats your boat, I invite you to dig into Taming Celeste, which explores the world of software piracy.

Blurb – Taming Celeste

After racking up one disaster after another, Celeste flees Jamaica, intent on changing her life. On the island of Cayman, she encounters Mark Weekes who makes her forget she’s sworn off men.

He’s everything she wants in the romance department; if only he’d stop running. A decision to follow him to his island home, Xantrope, puts her in the orbit of a killer.

After escaping a kidnapper and murderer five years ago, Mark turns his life around. The only complication is Celeste Davies, and trouble follows her the way night follows day.

Instead of the calm life he envisions, Mark ends up neck-deep in the world of software piracy. He has two choices. Walk away and leave Celeste to deal with a stalker by herself, or admit she means the world to him and help the police catch the man who’s determined to kill her.

Purchase Link – http://microlinks.io/TamingCeleste