Fiesta Salsa

This item is on our 4th of July menu tomorrow! It is a huge hit in our family. My Mother-in-law loves to add diced avocado and imitation crab to this dish. Me, I like it just the way it is. I love how refreshing it is!

Fiesta Salsa

3 (14.5 oz.) cans petite diced tomatoes, drained well

1/2 red bell pepper chopped

1 green bell pepper chopped

1/3-1/2 C. Chopped cilantro 

1/3 C. Shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 purple onion chopped

1-2 cans pinto beans, drained (I use 2)

1 C. Catalina dressing

Combine all ingredients into a medium sized bowl. Serve with corn chips. (I like the big scoops ones.)

Chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Nutella Snacks

If you have not yet discovered Nutella, you are totally missing out!!!  The first time I tried this delectable treat was when I was visiting Mozambique with a group called Care For Life. They are an amazing non profit organization that goes to Mozambique and teaches the people the skills they need to have a better chance of survival.

One night we were all sitting around chatting about the next days events out came the Nutella from someones suitcase.  We ate in on a regular ol piece of bread, and I'll tell ya, that bread wasn't so regular after that!  Delicious!!!

One day, about a year ago, Nutella came back into my life. My mom had made some snacks for us while we were hanging at their house.  She made the usual, celery with peanut butter and then decided to try some nutella on the celery.  Man oh Man was it good!  This is a super easy after school snack for your kids! Give it a try, everything is better when Nutella is involved!

Nutella Snacks

Nutella

Celery 

Wash celery and cut into desired size pieces.  Spread Nutella into the groove of the celery stick.  Scarf!

Autumn Harvest Trail Mix

Even though it doesn't feel like it outside here in AZ...it's autumn time!  We are making our way into baking season and I am so excited!   To kick it off, I've got a simple yet delicious one for ya.

My mother-in-law made this for us a few years ago and it has become a must have for me ever since. As soon as they put those candy corn on the shelves... I'm there!  I actually like it even better without the m&m's just cause they aren't my favorite... but either way it's still pretty good.  I have always like the sweet and salty combo.  You know, like back in high school when we would by fries and a shake for lunch every day, and use our fries as the spoon?  Yeah, weird I know... but don't knock it until you've tried it!

This time I used the autumn candy corn mix. It has the pumpkins and chocolate ones in it too. But usually I just use regular candy corns. Totally up to you.

Autumn Trail Mix

1 ½ cups salted roasted peanuts

1 cup candy corn

½ cup m&m’s
Pour all items into a bowl and scarf!

Raspberry Chipolte Appetizer

Another simple and delicious snack for you. This one literally takes 30 seconds to pull together.  Not quite a recipe, but more of a snack idea.  It's so delicious, you'll want to eat the whole thing yourself!

It's served with the same sauce that I used with my Easy Chipolte Meatballs.  Tons of fabulous flavor in one bottle!  This is also a really pretty dish to bring to parties and such. 

Raspberry Chipolte Appetizer

1 (8 oz) block of Cream Cheese

1/4 cup Raspberry Chipolte Sauce

Crackers of your choice

Place cream cheese on a serving plate.  Top with chipolte sauce.  Serve with your favorite crackers.

Chewy Granola Bars

Our dear friends are heading out to Washington today. I wanted to make them something to snack on while they drive that is a little more on the healthy side.  I found this recipe over at Real Mom Kitchen.  I changed it up just a bit. I got a tub of mix nuts from Costco that are honey roasted, by Ann's House. They are so yummy and have a great medley of nuts.  I thought they would be so good to add to this mix.  I was right! So instead of the almonds... I just did 1 cup of chopped nuts. I also accidentally forgot the apples.  They were sitting on my counter and everything.  The granola bars are good, but the apples would really add some yummy flavor! Come to think of it... I forgot the cinnamon this time too.  Wow this prego brain is really getting to me!!! I guess that goes to show, this recipe is so easy, and you can mix and match any flavors that you are after.

This recipe is super easy. Don't let the list of ingredients intimidate you.  If you don't have something... leave it out. Except the oats of course :) They are the main attraction. Although I didn't have quick oats so I used my

Coach’s Oats that I had in the pantry.

Chewy Granola Bars



 3-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 Cup chopped nuts (I used honey roasted Cashews, almonds and macadamia nuts)
1 egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup sunflower kernels
1/2 cup shaved sweetened coconut (regular coconut will do)
1/2 cup chopped dried apples (I left this out)
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I left this out)

Spray a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with cooking non-stick cooking spray.  Add oats and nuts to the pan. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until toasted, stirring occasionally.

In a large bowl, mix the egg, butter, honey and vanilla together. Then add the sunflower kernels, coconut, apples, cranberries, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir to coat.

Then stir in oat mixture and press into a cookie sheet that has been coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 13-18 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

My older brother came to a family dinner with these almonds and we were all in heaven. They are so yummy!  I really like this recipe made with pecans also.  He found this one and changed it to make them even better. So thanks dear brother for this recipe!

It calls for 4 cups of whole almonds. I like to use only 3 cups so that they are coated nice and thick. Yum!

Cinnamon Roasted Almonds

1 egg white

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 cups whole almonds (I use only 3)

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 cup melted butter cooled

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Lightly beat the egg white and add vanilla.  Beat until slightly frothy. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated. Add the butter, stir to coat.  Mix the sugars, salt and cinnamon and sprinkle over the nuts.  Stir to coat, and spread evenly onto a 10x15 inch cookie sheet.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Stir every 20 minutes. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.