Black Bean Salsa

YIPPEE! Let the summer begin! The kids are out of school, it's finally starting to warm up outside, and it hasn't even rained here for a few days. Best of all...my garden is finally all planted!
One of my favorite things about having a garden is so I can have fresh salsa and pico de gallo all summer. It's soooo much better with fresh tomatoes and cilantro.
I have several different recipes that we like, but this is probably my fave. I ♥♥♥ salsa with lime, so I added it and cumin to the original recipe that I had and this is where it ended up. Mmmm...can't wait 'til those maters start ripenin' in my garden!

Black Bean Salsa
3/4 to 1 cup of your favorite bottled Italian dressing (I use Kraft Free Zesty Italian, but any kind will work.)
1 Tbs cumin
2 to 3 Tbs lime juice
1 tsp salt
4 to 6 tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 to 2 avocados, diced
1 can or 1 1/2 cups corn, drained (Fresh cooked corn is REALLY good here too.)
1 can black beans, rinsed
Cilantro as desired (I use about 1/4 cup)

Just mix everything together and eat with your favorite tortilla chips...or with chicken...or with fish (I like Tillapia)...or on a taco...or whatever way you can imagine.
It tastes best after it has sat in the fridge for an hour or so, but I usually have kids staring at me with chips in their little hands before it ever makes it that far. But hey, if it gets 'em to eat veggies, they can dig right in. Yup, I'm just fine with that...'cause I'm usually right there with 'em. Ü

Here's what's on the menu here this week...
MONDAY - Buffalo Sticky Finger Wraps, Broccoli Salad, Honeydew Melon
TUESDAY - Pasta Carbonara, Green Salad, Bread Sticks
WEDNESDAY - Leftover Buffet
THURSDAY - Baked Macaroni & Cheese, Honey Glazed Carrots
FRIDAY - French Toast, Sausage, Fruit Salad
SATURDAY - BBQ Little Smokies, Sliced Potatoes, Fresh Veggies & Dip
SUNDAY - Roast Beef, Smashed Potatoes, Steamed Veggies, Sour Dough Bread

Have a great week everybody!

Menu Monday - Sweet & Sour Meatballs

Wow...my little wanna' be cooking blog just hit 1000 viewers today. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it still makes me feel good. Ü  Thanks to everyone who keeps coming back! Hopefully you're enjoying some of my recipes.
The recipe I want to share today is probably one that most people have heard of by now, but out there somewhere, is someone looking for that quick, throw it together meal. I love this one because it's pretty versatile and it really doesn't get much easier than this.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs
1 16 oz pkg frozen meatballs or homemade meatballs (depends on what I have in the freezer)
1  12 oz bottle chili sauce
1  18 oz jar grape jelly (or 16 oz can jellied cranberry sauce if you want your sauce more tangy)

Combine jelly and chili sauce in a crock pot set on high heat. Mix in the meatballs. Cook on high for 1 - 2 hours or low for up to 6 hours. We love to serve them over rice.

It doesn't get much easier than that! I've also made them in a pan on the stove top and cooked until the meatballs were heated through and they still tasted great. I've also used Popcorn Chicken in place of the meatballs and the kids loved it! (Just don't cook as long.) This is definitely one quick meal I always try to have in my pantry/freezer for those days when the menu plan just isn't going to happen. And I never have to worry about the picky eaters...there's rarely any leftovers!

Here's the menu for this week...
MONDAY - Chicken Alfredo, Green Salad, Bread
TUESDAY - Orange Chicken, Teriyaki Rice, Mixed Veggies
WEDNESDAY - Leftovers
THURSDAY - Spaghetti, Green Salad, Garlic Bread
FRIDAY - French Toast Casserole, Fresh Fruit
SATURDAY - Loaded Beef Nachos
SUNDAY - Beef Chuck Roast, Smashed Potatoes, Brown Sugar Carrots, Rolls

Have a great week!!

Pineapple Mango Salsa and Sticky Buffalo Chicken

Pineapple Mango Salsa and Sticky Buffalo Chicken
When I went to pick up my Bountiful Basket order Saturday morning, I was a little worried about the 7 mangoes I was taking home. I had no idea what I was going to do with them all. So, I started searching Tasty Kitchen for mango recipes and found one that I knew I wanted to try. It was Pineapple Mango Salsa from The Pioneer Woman and Oh. My. Goodness. It was sooo good! I added an extra mango just because I was a little worried about them going bad before I could use them all, but we liked it so much I think I'm going to make more for an Easter get together this weekend. Go check out that there link and make ya some Pineapple Mango Salsa....yum! If you have a favorite way to use mango, give me a holler! I'd love some more ideas :)

The other day I realized that I had promised Buckaroo #1 that I would share the recipe for his favorite chicken right now. He loves his Sticky Buffalo Chicken and wishes I would make it every week. He doesn't usually like anything with any kind of a kick to it, so I was really surprised that he liked it so much. Maybe I'll start sneaking in a little more heat each time I make it and see if I can spice him up just a bit. Ü
I love how easy this recipe is...

Sticky Buffalo Chicken
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water
2 Tbs Franks Red Hot Buffalo Wings Sauce- add more or less if ya want to
1 lb breaded chicken tenders (At my local grocery store, the meat dept sells bulk "chicken fritters" and they are more bite size pieces.)

Bake or fry the chicken according to the instructions on the package. (Just so ya know, I bake mine.)
In a sauce pan, combine the remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat, stirring until the brown sugar dissolves. Cook about 15-20 minutes until it starts to thicken.
When the chicken is done, transfer it into a large bowl and pour the sauce over the top. Carefully toss the chicken to make sure all the pieces are coated with the sauce.
Serve with extra sauce, ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Tasty stuff I tell ya!

Before I get to carried away posting recipes, here's what I have on the menu this week...
MONDAY - Chicken Bow Tie Salad
TUESDAY - Evil Chicken and Rice, Green Beans
WEDNESDAY - Leftover Buffet
THURSDAY - Joyce Gale Casserole, Green Salad
FRIDAY - Belgian Waffles with Fresh Fruit and Whipped Cream
SATURDAY - Easter Picnic with family
SUNDAY - Easter dinner

Have a fun holiday weekend!