Uncovering Clues to Success
Find out how these local women broke the secret code.
JULY 2010 Todays Woman Magazine

Marie Harper, 56, believes there is hope for everyone. “Even if you have made early bad decisions, you can make good ones.” She has survived the suicides of both her late husband and one of her sons, only a short time apart. Marie has brought hope back into her life by pursuing her passion: creating healthy foods. “Cooking is my relaxation,” she says. Marie, along with business partner and husband Greg Holt, is the founder, owner, and head chef of Maria Louisa Salsa (www.marialouisasalsa.com).

Maria Louisa Salsa gets its name from Marie’s grandmother who was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and influenced Marie to start cooking. “The salsa is my grandmother’s recipe. It has always been popular at parties.” Maria Louisa played an even more important role in Marie’s life after her mother, Mary, passed away when she was still a teenager. “My grandmother was a staple in my life.” Marie’s father, Joseph, was a first generation Italian American and his heritage has also influenced Marie’s cooking. She devises a unique blend of Mexican and Italian in her recipes.

Marie’s salsa is all natural and homemade. She keeps her own garden at her Lake Forest area home which “is enough to supply ingredients for what I make during the summer.” During other months, she searches local whole food markets for her ingredients. “The limes and tomatoes act as preservatives,” she says when asked how she keeps the salsa fresh if the recipe is all natural. When asked if she has a secret ingredient she joked, “Me and the colonel have a pact.” She says she thinks it is the unique blend of the herbs and spices she chooses that give the salsa its exceptional taste. With only 65 grams of sodium per serving and no added sugar or salt, the salsa is not only delectable, but good for consumers.

She tells me over orange juice and omelets topped with salsa — prepared while I dug deeper — that “my whole thrust in this business is to create a foundation for families affected by mental disorders and suicide issues.” Marie started her business only last year, and hopes one day to be able to financially help and provide support for those who are struggling with some of the same problems she and her family have encountered in the past. She wants others to know that “There is hope for single moms.” Marie, mother of three — Marissa Harper, Steven and Donny Overton — is proof that there is hope for women who refuse to give up. 

Maria Louisa salsa can be found on Molly Malone’s menu, where Marie’s salsa made its first public appearance. If you seek a jar for your own kitchen look no further than Burgers Supermarket, Paul’s Fruit Markets, and Dolls Supermarket.

A spy’s gotta eat. Junk food is a no-no for keeping trim and strong. This woman has perfected a late-night snack for the busy spy who is in from the cold.