Black Bean and Corn Salsa

2 - 16 oz. bags of frozen corn, I used mixed white and yellow, it is also recommended to use all white corn
1 can black beans, I used black beans and jalapenos in lime juice and picked out the jalapenos. You can also use black beans with cumin and chile spices.
1/2 c. lime juice
1/2 c. honey
1 t. minced garlic, I just used 1 clove, pressed
1/2 t. cumin
1 1/2 t. rice vinegar
1 t. salt
1 t. dried cilantro, this has a more mild flavor than fresh
1 t. tobasco sauce
Thaw corn, do not cook it though. Rinse beans and stir the beans and corn together in a large bowl. In another bowl mix up the sauce, make sure the honey and salt dissolve into the mixture before you mix it with the corn and beans. Slowly add the sauce to the corn and beans, stirring gently, making sure not to break up the beans. Serve with Tostitos Multigrain chips. Enjoy!!

When I made this I was having a major craving for it so I doubled the sauce recipe and added an extra bag of corn and an extra can of beans. I think having extra sauce was good, and make sure that if you leave it sit for a bit before serving, that give it a good stir before you dig in, this will redistribute the sauce.

Corn, I thawed it in the microwave until just barely thawed

Rinsing beans, I picked out the jalapenos, if you want more kick, go ahead and leave them in

corn and beans in a large bowl

Ingredients, here is a tip, the small bottles of lime juice are 1/2 c.

Oops, forgot the cilantro

And also the cumin

Whisk all the ingredients together

pour over mixed beans and corn

MMMMMMmmmmmmm, this is sooo good.
It is great served with Tostitos Multigrain chips.

Key Lime Pie

*Note, I changed the baking temperatures and times for both the crust and the pie, so double check them before you bake!

1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c. sugar
4 T. butter, melted
Mix until well blended, press into a 9 in. pie pan, bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Cool.

2 cans sweetened condensed milk
1 c. lime juice
2 whole eggs
Whisk condensed milk and eggs together, then whisk in juice, pour filling into cooled crust. Bake at 325 for 15 minutes and cool for at least 2 hours in the fridge before serving.

1 c. sour cream
2 T. powdered sugar
Blend together, put a dollup on top of each slice of pie, garnish with lime zest

1 T. lime zest

crust

You can buy lime juice, or this Pampered Chef lime juicer makes quick work of it. 1 lime is about 1/4 c. of juice.

Filling mixture

Sour cream and powdered sugar, I added about 3 or 4 T. of powdered sugar

Pour filling in cooled pans

MMMMMmmmmmm.

Cliffy wanting to cut the second pie.

Spicy Pulled Pork

4-7 lbs. pork shoulder or pork butt
1 onion
1 t. chili powder
1/4 c. brown sugar
3-5 garlic cloves
1 t. dried oregano
1 t. ground cumin
1-2 T. salt
pepper
1-2 T. olive oil
2-3 T. white wine vinegar
Lime wedges (for garnish)
Blend all ingredients in a food processor and spread mixture over pork roast. Cook in oven at 300 for at least 3 hours or I did mine in the crock pot on low for 12 hours, it turned out delish! Once roast is done remove fat and shred pork, serve garnished with lime wedges. We ate ours as pulled pork burritos, yum.

Wedge onion

Add all the other ingredients and blend until no chunks remain

I couldn't find any pork shoulder roasts, so I used two 3 lb pork butt roasts

I took off the netting and covered them in the spice mixture

Here it is all cooked in the crock pot

Finished Pulled Pork, yummm, will definitely make this again

Black Bean, Chicken and Corn Bean Dip

So, we didn't have anything to make for supper last night and I ended coming up with this combination of ingredients and it turned out pretty tastey. It is a bean dip I suppose.

Black Bean, Chicken and Corn Bean Dip
1 cans black beans, rinsed
1 or 2 c. frozen corn
2 chicken breasts
1 T. cooking oil
3 cloves of garlic
1 t. chili powder
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1 t. salt
juice of 1 lime
On the side:
salsa
sour cream
shredded cheese
black olives
Cook frozen corn in microwave add rinsed beans and cook for a couple more minutes. Cook up chicken breasts in oil with garlic, then add cayenne pepper, chili powder and cumin to the meat. Mix corn, beans and chicken in a large bowl and add salt and juice from one lime. Serve with your choice of bonus side items.

corn and black beans

chicken and corn and black beans

I mixed the salsa in with the corn, beans and chicken, I think next time I will leave it on the side, the lime makes it great!

ready to dig into!

Best Burgers!

Almost everyone has a burger that they claim is the BEST burger, so here is mine.

Jana's Salsa Burger
2 lb. 90/10 ground beef
2 lb. 80/20 ground beef
1 egg
1 small onion finely chopped
1 c. oatmeal
1 c. sharp cheddar cheese
1 c. salsa
1/2 c. ketchup
Mix all ingredients together shortly before grilling, this mixture will keep for a day or so, but it is best mixed fresh. Separate into equal portions and press into patties that are about 3/4 inch thick. Grill to perfection.

All the ingredients

Oatmeal, egg, onion, salsa, ketchup and sharp cheddar cheese

Grill the burgers to perfection, this recipe is forgiving, since they are so moist, but do not overcook. Grilling also gives them a smokey charred flavor. I personally prefer to make smaller burgers and use are dinner roll size bun instead of the giant burger buns.

Served with homemade baked beans, homemade potato salad and yummy fruit salad. The classic summer meal