Traditions and Local Customs

As I sit here on this lovely December 23, 2016 I am struck by several things I’d like to share. How traditions and local customs really reflect how I (we) spend our days, especially late in the year. I’m home today preparing food for an upcoming family dinner. In my family traditional means salsa, tamales, turkey, ham, FUDGE and salsa counts as a vegetable doesn’t?

The noon horn just blew. In Rockvale, Coal Creek, Williamsburg, Florence and Canon City the horn goes off every day at noon. Oddly enough a few seconds off from one another. The horn originally sounded to announce lunch time to the local coal miners back in the day. The horn is used not only to announce mid-day but to let the locals know when there is an emergency. If there is a fire or police activity in the area this horn means locals should be aware the emergency vehicles will be in the area soon. Visitors should ask “what’s that sound?”

Today tempature is a lovely 58 degrees, pretty nice for December. So nice in fact I have the windows in the house cracked for some fresh air. An added bonus when I’m cutting onions for my salsa.

We’ve all heard the saying “Real Estate is Local” and I hope I’ve conveyed that here. Most likely only a local agent could tell you what the sound of horns mean, why we eat tamales at holidays and what the weather really might be like at the end of December.

Denas Salsa - It has many names and variations. Have fun with this and make it your own. But beware! Once people taste this you'll be asked to bring it to dinners, fund raisers and pot lucks :)

One bowl:

5-6 Roma Tomatoes diced up

1 Bunch of Cilantro cut up small

1 small onion

1 can of diced tomatoes

Juice from 1 lime

1 tsp of rice vinegar

1 small can of diced jalepenos

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix and set aside in the fridge for one hour allow the flavors to blend

In a second bowl:

1 cup of small salad shrimp

1 jar of Heitz cocktail sauce

Juice from 1 lime

1 tbsp of horseradish

Mix and set aside in the fridge for one hour allow the flavors to blend

After each bowl is completely chilled mix the 2 bowls together and chill again. Best used after the flavors have blended for 12+ hours. Serve with chips or over eggs for breakfast.