Black Bean & Corn Salsa

A few years ago, my friend Abby brought this into the Governor's office with tortilla chips and I've been making it every spring/summer since. Hallie makes a similar version and serves it as a side dish. It is also great on top of grilled chicken or fish. Really, you could put whatever vegetables you like in it. It's a lot of chopping, but very worth it in the end. This salsa is also always better the second day.

-1 can of yellow corn, drained (I guess you could use frozen)

-1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

-1 red pepper, diced fine

-1 orange pepper, diced fine

-2 or 3 jalapenos, diced fine (leave the seeds if you want some heat)

-1 small red onion, diced fine

-1 pkg cherry tomatoes, cut in quarters or halves

-1 bunch of cilantro, chopped

-juice of 1 or 2 limes

-salt and pepper to taste

Dice everything and combine in a large bowl. Chill and serve. This feeds and army! I have also started zesting the limes and adding that as well. YUM!

Jalapeno Jack Corn Muffins

I love corn bread and I love messing with it. Sometimes I add black olives, black beans, jalapenos, cheese... whatever. This recipe is one of my favorites. I'm making another big batch of Shana's Turkey Chili this weekend, and these will be a perfect side.

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup buttermilk (I usually use sour cream instead)

2 tbsp butter, melted

1 egg

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal

1 tbsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 12 one-inch cubes

Heat oven to 425. Line 12 muffin cups with paper baking cups or spray tin. In medium bowl, combine milk, buttermilk, butter, and egg; blend well.

In large bowl, mix flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt; mix well. Push dry ingredients to sides of bowl to form well in center.

Add milk mixture; stir until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups. Press cheese cube into center of each.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Mom's Corn Casserole

I know I just posted a recipe for a Corn Bake, but I wanted to share this one as well. My mom made this to go with our Thanksgiving dinner. It was so delicious - I'll be making it often as a side. It also got the thumbs up from my always-hungry baby girl, who had never eaten corn until Thanksgiving. Yum, I hope you try this.

1 (15 oz) can creamed corn

1 (15 oz) can whole kernel corn

1/4 pound butter, melted

1 (8.5 oz) package corn bread mix (Mom uses Jiffy)

1 (8 oz) container sour cream

Preheat oven to 350. Mix creamed corn, kernel corn, corn muffin mix, sour cream and butter. Pour into a greased casserole dish. Bake for 30 minutes.

Corn Bake

This is my sister's recipe that she got from a friend years ago. It's become quite the family favorite and is an excellent and unique side dish with just about anything. Easy, too. Enjoy!

1 can creamed corn; do not drain

1 can regular corn; do not drain

1 cup uncooked macaroni

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon grated onion

Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients together and pour into a 13x9 greased casserole dish. Cook covered for one hour.