Black Bean and Corn Salsa

Here's a great recipe for any New Year's Eve celebrations.

I can eat this stuff by the bucket. I use it to top lots of different things, but of course it is good with chips or by itself if you are a real purist.

I made some recently to take to a party, but I threw together a cheeseball at the last second so I could keep this home.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa


1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, cut fine
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1/3 bottle of Fat Free Italian Dressing (about 2/3 cup)


Mix all ingredients in bowl and serve with chips. (This is also better when you make it ahead and let all the flavors "marry")

Christmas Cornflake Wreaths

Do you have a Christmas treat that we used to make growing up that you just love? I only remember making these once, but they sure stuck with me. And they stuck TO me while making them; butter your hands.

CHRISTMAS CORNFLAKE WREATHS
1/3 cup butter
1 10 oz pack large marshmallows or 4 cups of mini
1 tsp green food coloring
6 cups corn flakes
red cinnamon candies


1. in a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
2. add marshmallows and stir until completely melted
3. Remove from heat and stir in food coloring
4. add corn flakes, stir until coated
5. using 1/4 cup dry measuring cup coated with cooking spray, evenly  portion warm mix
6. QUICKLY shape into wreaths and dot with cinnamon candies

Oreo Truffles

These were decorated by my children.

I am certainly not the first to make these, but I thought they should make it into this blog recipe file. They are easy and delicious.

1 package of Oreos

1 8 oz package of cream cheese (I used fat free and it was still good)

dipping chocolate

sprinkles

Blend the oreos to fine crumbs in a food processor. Mix together with softened cream cheese until its a greasy  pasty mess. (I have found this is easiest to do with your hands)

Make it into a bunch of little balls and put them in the freezer for a while so they will be easier to dip.

Melt chocolate and dip the oreo balls in. Decorate with sprinkles.

I really want to try this with mint Oreos. Sounds delicious to me.

Quick Chocolate Softies

I needed to make some cookies to send to Scott's office on his birthday. I had some holiday swirl white chocolate chips to use up and wanted to find a quick soft chocolate cookie to bake them in. When I found this recipe right away in a book called Baking Secrets I felt I had been led there. :) 


We gave these cookies two thumbs up. They stayed very soft and were loved by all.




Quick Chocolate Softies (from Baking Secrets)


1 package devil's food cake mix
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 cup white chocolate baking chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheets.  Combine cake mix, water, butter and egg in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer at low speed until moistened.  Increase speed to medium and beat 1 minute. (I had to set my hand mixer on high. This dough is THICK.) Stir in chips and nuts; mix until well blended.  Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets.


Bake 10-12 minutes or until set.  Let cookies stand on cookie sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks and cool completely.


The recipe said it makes about 4 dozen. Thats pretty optimistic. I got about 2 1/2 dozen.