Cowboy Caviar

This salsa is fresh and flavorful!  The veggies combined with the beans and corn make for a hearty and healthy side dish, or snack.  The dressing adds a nice tang! You're going to love it!  I love to use my food chopper so the tomatoes and peppers are diced perfectly.

3 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

2 - 3 avocados, diced

1 bell pepper (orange, yellow, red or green - or any combination of them)

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced into very small pieces

1/3 bunch cilantro

1/3 cup red onion, diced

15 oz black beans, rinsed and drained

15 oz black eyed peas, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups frozen corn (toss in frozen, they usually thaw by the time we're ready to enjoy)

Dressing:

1/3 cup avocado oil

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Combine all salsa ingredients into a large bowl, and toss together until well combined.

In a separate bowl whisk together the dressing ingredients.  Pour dressing on salsa and mix until the dressing coats the salsa.  Serve with tortilla chips.

White Chocolate Cinnamon Popcorn

This popcorn is addictive!  It's sweet, crunchy and has the flavors of a cinnamon roll!  Thanks to my friend Natasha, I'm hooked on it!

1/2 cup popcorn kernels
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
12 oz bag of Ghiradelli white chocolate, or almond bark

Line 2 cookie sheets with heavy duty tin foil.  Preheat oven to 250º.  Pop popcorn kernels into a large bowl.  Separate out any unpopped kernels.  

In a 2 quart glass bowl, combine brown sugar & cinnamon.  (Do not use a plastic bowl - it will melt.  Trust me!) Stir until combined.  Chop butter into pieces and place on top of sugar mixture.  Pour corn syrup on top.  Microwave for 30 seconds to soften the butter a little.  Stir to combine.  Microwave for 2 more minutes.  Remove and stir.  Microwave for another 2 minutes.  

Remove from microwave and stir in vanilla and baking soda.  When combined, pour over popcorn and stir until all the popcorn is coated.  

Spread popcorn onto the 2 foil-lined cookie sheets.  Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Stir carefully so you don't rip the tin foil.

Spread out waxed paper or parchment paper on your counter.  When the popcorn is done baking, pour the popcorn onto the paper so it can cool. 

Melt white chocolate in the microwave using 50% power, stirring every 30 seconds until melted.  Drizzle over the popcorn.

When the popcorn has cooled, break into pieces and enjoy!