Texas Caviar

This recipe.....I don't even have words. You know it's bad when you're at someone else's house and they pull this out of the fridge and you stop in the middle of your conversation to ask, "What. Is. That?!" 

Texas Caviar. Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? Maybe I've been living under a rock. 

Here's what you're going to need: black beans, black eyed peas, corn, red and yellow bell peppers, a jalapeno or two, cilantro, onion, lime juice, some kind of oil, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Most of this you will already have in your kitchen. 

This caviar is so fresh. I think it's supposed to be a snack/appetizer but I could eat it as a meal. I could even eat it without tortilla chips. Honestly, I'm in love with this stuff.

Texas Caviar
Servings: 15 or so

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can black eyed peas, rinsed and drained

1 can yellow corn, rinsed and drained

1 can of petite tomatoes, rinsed and drained (or two small fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced)
1/2 onion, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and diced

1/2 yellow or orange bell pepper, seeded and diced

2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
1/2 C chopped cilantro

1 Tbsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. cilantro

2 Tbsp. safflower oil (or extra virgin olive oil)

1 Tbsp. lime juice

salt and pepper to taste

a dash or so of cayenne pepper if you please (not pictured)

Mix all ingredients together and let sit overnight in a glass container for best results. Enjoy with tortilla chips!

The older this mix gets, the better it tastes. If you're making it for a party it is best to put it all together the night before so all the juices can marinate in the fridge. I only used one jalapeno when I made mine and it turned out hot enough. I also pulsed the cilantro and onion in the food processor because I was feeling lazy. Also, please please please PLEASE use latex gloves or some kind of protection for your hands when you are seeding and dicing the jalapenos. Jalapeno pepper burned hands are too painful to be overlooked here! 

Apple Walnut Flax Seed Bread

This bread is glorious. It can be a nice breakfast bread and it is sweet enough to serve as a light dessert in the evening. If you like the taste of apple, I suggest you just very roughly chop half of the apple up so you can really taste them when you are eating the bread. I chopped mine up too fine and I forgot they were there.

You could also use pecans instead of walnuts if you want to, just throw in whatever you have on hand. I didn't have 3/4 of a cup. I also added 1/2 cup of ground flax seed instead of 1 tablespoon. Why, you ask? Look at Facts about Flax here.

I got this recipe from the wonderful Joy the Baker. She has a new cookbook out.

Apple Walnut Flax Seed Bread

Makes 1 loaf
1 C All-Purpose flour
3/4 C Whole Wheat Flour (Or 1/2 C Whole Wheat Flour and 1/4 Buckwheat Flour)
3/4 C Brown Sugar, Packed
2 t Baking Powder
1 t Baking Soda
1/2 Salt
pinch of nutmeg
2/3 C Buttermilk
1/3 Cup unsalted butter (**You can substitute butter for ground flax seed - 3 tablespoons of ground flax per tablespoon of butter)
1 t vanilla extract
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup grated apples
1/2 coarsely chopped apples
1 Tablespoon (to 1/2 C) ground flax seed
3/4 C coarsely chopped walnuts, divided (or whatever you have on hand)
cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling on top

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
In a bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.
In a smaller bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract, and unsalted butter together. (**If you are using flax seed instead of butter, add it to the dry ingredients instead.)
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, slowly incorporating all ingredients together. Add grated apples, chopped apples, and half of the chopped walnuts to the batter and fold to incorporate.
Transfer batter to loaf pan. Sprinkle the rest of the chopped walnuts and cinnamon sugar on top.
Bake in the oven for 40-50 minutes.
Let bread cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes before consuming.

Pumpkin Muffins

I made these muffins so I could still have a tasty breakfast without spending too much time in the kitchen before class. They taste so much better than those muffins that come out of a bag and you just add milk. No thank you. One can of pumpkin makes two batches of pumpkin muffins.

Pumpkin Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
Recipe from Smitten Kitchen

1 1/2 C flour
1 t baking powder
1 C canned solid packed pumpkin
1/3 cup vegetable oil (olive oil would work too)
2 large eggs
1 t pumpkin pie spice
1 1/4 cups sugar plus 1 T sugar
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon

Eggnog Pancakes

These pancakes make me feel fancy.

Eggnog Pancakes

Recipe from Joy the Baker

Makes enough for two

1 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
heaping 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of ground allspice
3 Tablespoons butter melted until browned
1 egg
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

The Best Bread

I have a new favorite bread recipe. This bread is super easy to make and only has four ingredients. I had to make sure I planned ahead since there's a lot of rising that needs to happen with this bread. The actual hands-on process is very easy and not nearly as time consuming as all the rising that takes place with this bread. This bread is simple and satisfying and is sure to leave your guests impressed. Seriously, I don't think I've made a better bread. It is a very nice, simple, white bread that is great with a nice southern dinner or just to snack on during the day. I would suggest planning on giving one of the loaves away since this recipe makes two. Yes, I think you could eat both loaves. Yes, I think I could eat both loaves. But we both know we should share and not indulge too much.

Simple White Bread
Originial Recipe from Joy the Baker

1 1/2 C hot water
2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
2 teaspoons of salt
4 cups of bread flour

Fruit Salad

This post is mainly to show off the nice camera on my new phone. This salad was very light and didn't make me feel weighed down like those cake batter cinnamon rolls did the other day. I used the 'vintage' setting on my camera to give the pictures that nice...vintage look. I think it's a nice change.