Corn Salsa

This recipe is very similar to Jessica's salsa, it just adds a couple of extra ingredients, and is delicious!

4-5 roma tomatoes, chopped

2-4 green onions, chopped

1 can sweet corn, drained

1 can white corn, drained

1 can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed

1-2 avacados, chopped

1/2 cucumber, chopped

1 can olives, sliced

1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 pkg. Italian dressing, prepared as directed (you will need olive oil, vinegar, and water)

1-2 bags tortilla chips

Combine all ingredients above. Pour in dressing and stir. Let it refrigerate for at least two hours before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Caramel Chex Mix

I got this from the Crazy Daisy Blog and made a batch for neighbors/visiting teachees for Christmas...it was delicious and I was just glad that most of it was given away before I ate it all!!

1 pound butter

3 cups brown sugar

1 cup white corn syrup

2 (14 oz.) boxes of Chex cereal (I used one corn and one rice)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

2 brown paper bags from your grocer's checkstand

First, open paper bags and place one inside of the other. Set aside. Cover table or counter top with wax paper. Spray with non-stick cooking spray. Bring the first three ingredients to a boil on the stove in a large kettle, stirring frequently so as not to burn. When everything is all melted and incorporated, take off of heat and add vanilla and baking soda. Stir until foamy. Pour over the double bagged Chex. Roll down top and shake well. microwave for 2 minutes and shake well. Microwave for 2 more minutes and shake again. Make sure to turn the bag on all sides each time you shake to spread the caramel. Open bag and check to make sure the caramel is spread evenly throughout the Chex. If not, shake it up again. However, you should be able to dump the Chex onto the sprayed wax paper. Gently spread the Chex a little. Give it a stir every once in a while as it cools, so that it doesn't dry in one huge clump.

Elise's Homemade Vanilla Granola

I got this recipe from favorite family recipes, and took it to a ward Christmas Party...I can't even remember now how many people asked for the recipe!

8 cups oats

2 cups sliced almonds

1 cup wheat germ

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

craisins or raisins, to taste (optional)

3/4 cup canola oil

1 cup honey

3 Tblsp. vanilla (the real stuff!!)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine first 8 ingredients (dry ingredients) in a large bowl. In a saucepan combine oil, honey, and vanilla and bring to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute then pour over oat mixture. Mix until all ingredients are moistened. Divide and spread mixture over 2 large cookie sheets and bake at 300 degrees for 20-30 minutes (I did it the full 30). Remove from oven and leave on pans until the granola hardens (it will be a little chewy when it comes out of the oven...if you don't like it chewy at all then let it dry on the cookie sheets completely before storing it...that's what I did because I like it pretty crunchy). Break up granola and store in large Ziploc bags or containers. Serve plain, with yogurt, or with milk.

Granola

4 cups rolled oats
1 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup flax seeds
3/4 cup whey protein powder (vanilla flavor)
1 Tblsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
6 Tblsp. canola oil
2 Tblsp. water

Combine all dry ingredients. Heat oven to 275 degrees. Pour liquid mixture over dry ingredients. Stir thoroughly. Spread evenly onto cookie sheet. Bake about 45 min. or until lightly golden brown.

After cooked add any of the following ingredients:

slivered almonds
coconut
raisins
craisins
dried fruit

This will store up to two weeks in and air tight container

Jessica's Salsa

1 can of strained black eyed peas
1 can of strained whole kernal corn
3 or 4 tomatoes
2 avacados
2 or 3 green onions
1 bunch cilantro (cut small)
1 pkg. of Italian dressing (you will need vinegar, oil, and water to make)

Put cut vegetables and canned vegetables in bowl. Make Italian dressing as directed on the package then pour over and stir enough to evenly coat veggies.

Serve with tortilla chips (I like the Hint of Lime Chips)

Mom's Chex Mix

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 tsp. worchestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. celery salt
1/4 tsp. garlic salt
1 1/2 cups Kix cereal
1 cup Cheerios
2 cups small cheese crackers
2 cups thin pretzel sticks
1/2 lb. mixed nuts

Melt butter and seasonings together and pour over all ingredients. Stir. Bake for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes