Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Tasty Tuesday


Today is the most delicious "Black Bean and Corn Salsa".

Perfect for using garden produce and herbs. It is light and fresh. Some people call it "Cowboy Caviar", but this version needs a more descriptive name. It makes you want to just eat it by the spoonful. I was leary at first . . . but I'm a believer!
Black Bean and Corn Salsa
*This is delicious as Salsa with chips or topped on a salad or grilled chicken breast. Can be made with fat-free dressing for a very healthy snack/lunch! A meal in itself!

1 can Whole Corn, drained

1 can Black Beans, rinsed and drained

5 Roma Tomatoes, seeded and diced small

1 bunch Green Onions, chopped, using about 3/4 ths up the green part

1 bunch Cilantro, chopped small

1 8-oz. bottle Zesty Italian Salad dressing, regular, light, or fat-free

1 fresh Lime, juiced

1-2 Avocados, chopped into small 1/4" pieces, optional

Combine Corn, Beans, Tomatoes, Onions, and Cilantro.

Add Dressing and Lime Juice. Toss together.

Just before serving, stir in Avocado. The Avocado really adds a lot to this. Try to serve within a couple hours of making it. Drain a little if too much liquid collects in the bottom of the bowl or with any leftovers the next day. You most like won't have leftovers!!

Tasty Tuesday!!
*This is a great recipe to let rise on a Sunday while at church. I usually double it.

Homemade Butter Rolls

1 C. Warm Water 3 beaten Eggs

1 T. Yeast 3/4 t. Salt

1/2+ C. Sugar 4 C. Flour

1/2 C. Butter, melted

Mix Yeast and Warm Water together in a large mixer. Let stand for 5 minutes to activate.

Add Butter, Sugar (I add about 2 T. extra), and Salt to beaten Eggs and mix well. Pour into yeast mixture and add Flour. Mix well. You may need to add a little bit more flour. Add it until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the bowl while on the "knead" cycle. Don't add too much or it will make a tough dough. Knead according to your mixer's instructions. (You can hand knead until smooth and elasticy, but works best in a Kitchenaid/Bosch type mixer.

Let rise 3-4 hours. Knead by hand gently, but briefly. Make into desired rolls: crescent, cinnamon, Parker House, etc. The ones in the photo were made by dividing dough in half, rolling each half into a narrow rectangle, brush with softened butter, and then using a pizza cutter, cut into alternate triangles. Roll up.

Let rise another hour or so for the larger, fluffy rolls, or bake immediately.

Bake at 375 degress until browned, about 15 minutes. The outside will need to get a little brown to ensure that the inside isn't doughy.

About 20 rolls depending on the size you make.

American Fork Canyon, Utah

This is how we spent a couple of days over 4th of July week-end. Truly one of the most beautiful canyons. This is Tibble Fork Resevoir:

Caity getting ready to take Candace on the beginning of our 6 hour ride! (You can tell she's thrilled!)

Picnicing (and texting) near a stream in a clearing we found. No one else on earth.

This river ran through right where we parked. Mike decided to cool off and clean up just a little after all day in the heat and dust! It was a perfect day . . . and even Caity enjoyed it.

Tasty Tuesday Recipe: Nectarine Strawberry Jam!

This is one of everyone's favorite jams that I make. So much "brighter" and fresher tasting than peach. It came about accidently when I had some really ripe nectarines that needed to be used, but not quite enough . . . so I added strawberries to make up the difference. The family fights over it and everyone is sad when we run out of this flavor! This combination will be one of the best jams you've ever made!



Nectarine Strawberry Jam
2 cups peeled, mashed Nectarines
1 cup mashed Strawberries
1 T. Lemon Juice
4 cups Sugar
1 box Pectin

Follow directions on the pectin box for freezer jam. If you happen to buy one that needs Karo Syrup, add it. I prefer pectins where you don't need it. I also pulse my jams in a blender or food processor (even though instructions say not to) and the result is beautiful. I don't obliterate the fruit, but just give it a few pulses.

Next week's recipe: The homemade yeast rolls you see pictured with the jam!