Fresh fruit salsa

Does anyone else have spring on the brain?
This recipe is the tastiest fruit salsa ever!

1 Cup diced fresh pineapple
1 C diced fresh Mango
4 T Minced Red Pepper Seeded
2 T Serrano Chili with Seeds ( I substitute canned green chilis and add to taste)
4 T Fresh Chopped Cilantro
1 T sugar
1 T Lime Juice

Combine all above ingredients and serve with tortilla chips. This is just as good the next day.
The recipe is from a local chef, David Grover who gives cooking classes under the name, Culinary Fusion.

White Cheddar Scalloped Potatoes

2 1/2 cups whipping cream
3/4 cup finely chopped shallots
2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 pounds russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds
2 cups (packed) grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Whisk cream, shallots, rosemary, salt and pepper in medium bowl to blend. Place half of potatoes in prepared baking dish, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese. Top with second layer of potatoes. Pour cream mixture over potatoes in dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover gratin with foil and bake 1 hour. Uncover and bake until top is golden brown and potatoes are tender, about 45 minutes longer. Let gratin cool 10 minutes before serving.

As always, I use skim milk instead of cream, onions instead of shallots and I leave out the rosemary. The key to this recipe is the white cheddar. It's expensive but worth it. You can get Tillamook Extra Sharp White Cheddar at Costco for about $9 for 2 pounds. That's the cheapest I've found it. Also, use a disposable pan, the mess is horrific!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

From Margaret

5 lb. potatoes

1 (8oz) jar chive & onion cream cheese

1 tsp. garlic salt

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

6 T. butter

8 oz. sour cream (light or fat free)

1/4 cup almonds (optional)

Paprika (optional)

Boil potatoes (leave some skin on) in salted water.  Mash potatoes.  Add all ingredients and blend into potatoes.  Sprinkle almonds on top and bake, covered at 350 for 30 minutes.

These are killer!!!