fresh summer salsa

hello!

yes, i know. i've been mia for four months now. pathetic really. and i could go on and on about how busy i was with graduating with my bachelor's (woo!!), applying for my master's, work, managing health issues, family, vacations, church responsibilities, blah, blah, blah... but i'm not going to. 'cuz we all know that stuff is boring - and that's the last thing we want, right?

so instead, i'm sharing with you one of my favorite summer recipes. it's such a refreshing blend of tomato, corn, beans, cilantro, and avocado. i doubt you'll be able to walk away with only one bite!

fresh summer salsa
* a family recipe

ingredients:

• 1 can black-eye peas
• 1 can white beans or black beans
• 1 can corn
• 2-4 green onions, chopped
• 5 medium Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1 avocado, chopped
• 1/4 - 1/2 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
• 1 pkg. Good Seasons Italian dressing, mix according to directions on pkg.

directions:
1. drain all cans.
2. mix everything together.
3. add dressing.
4. chill & serve with tortilla chips.

enjoy!


sincerely,
mrs. b

creamy blackbean tortilla soup

* follow along on pinterest for all the latest and greatest from mister b & me! *


guys, this is a serious post. seriously important. this recipe will change your life!

okay, maybe that's a little dramatic, but this soup is amazing.
so easy.
so fast.
and so delicious.
isn't that we all want?

make it. i know it won't disappoint :)

ingredients:
(serves 3-4)

• 2 frozen chicken breasts
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can corn, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning
• sour cream
• grated cheddar cheese

directions:
1. place chicken in crock pot. pour broth, salsa, corn, beans, and taco seasoning over chicken.
cook on low for 6 hours. (or high for 3 hours)
2. remove chicken and shred.
3. add sour cream and cheese to crock pot and stir until smooth. re-add chicken and warm. (about two minutes)
4. serve with tortilla chips.

(if you want to cook it faster, use thawed chicken and turn it on high.)

enjoy!

sincerely,
mrs. b

baked instead of fried.

confession: i crave fast food... all. the. time.

it's ridiculous. i know it's bad for me and i need to stay away from it, but mcdonald's always sucks me in to buying their heavenly fries, arby's with their to-die-for roast beef sandwiches, and wendy's with the frosty.

so instead of caving in last night, i decided to make a healthy alternative.

 

 baked chicken nuggets with baked fries. 

have you had either of these? oh my. 
we have been making the fries for awhile now and both the husband and i love love love them. we tried the chicken nuggets for the first time last night and will definitely be making them again very shortly. super good!

 recipe for baked parmesan fries found here.

 recipe for baked chicken nuggets found here.

enjoy!

sincerely, 

mrs. b

p.s. remember when i begged for your help with the whole snow dog photo contest? well, the first voting day opened and i realized how difficult it was to figure out. sooo... rocky and i made an executive decision to drop out of the competition. i'll just find another way to make $250... maybe i'll enter him into competitive dog napping... he would win for sure!!

chocolate chip cookies.

for as long as i can remember, i've had an obsession with ccc (aka chocolate chip cookies). growing up, my sister and i would make them together almost every sunday. after she grew up and moved out (saddest day of my life), i took over the responsibility. basically - these cookies have become a family tradition.

 

and i don't mean to toot my own horn or nothin' but - they are to die for.

the weird thing is,  nothing about them is unique. it's just your basic recipe. but somewhere through the process of mixing all these ingredients together... something amazing happens and out pops a heavenly cookie.

make them.
i know you won't be disappointed!

chocolate chip cookies
-makes about 4 dozen

2/3 c. butter
2/3 c. butter (ok really the recipe calls for shortening but i always substitute butter.)
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
flour (i know this sounds pathetic but i honestly don't know how much. just add as much as it takes so the dough isn't sticking to the bowl anymore. around 4 cups.)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 - 1 bag chocolate chip cookies (depending on how much chocolate you need that day.)

*bake at 375 for 8.5 - 9 minutes. 

tips:
*don't even think about using semi-sweet chocolate chips. only milk chocolate makes these things truly amazing. (even though the papa would argue.)

*leave them in the oven until they look a little golden brown... but still a little doughy. this way they are extra soft in the days following.

*while baking these delightful things, sing to jack johnson, michael buble, or norah jones. for some reason this always makes them turn out better... and even make you a happier little baker :)


enjoy!

sincerely,
mrs. b