Black Bean & Avocado Salsa

1 can or 2 c. frozen corn
1 can black beans (drained)
1 can sliced olives (drained)
1 pkg Italian Seasons dressing (make according to package directions)
3-4 Roma tomatoes
2-3 Avocados
Fresh cilantro

Mix everything together except for avocados and tomatoes and cilantro. Chill 2-3 hours. Add avocados and tomatoes and cilantro just before serving.

Yummy and Pretty Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 Cup Butter
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup White Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla
3 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Baking Soda
3/4 Tsp Salt
1 Bag of Chocolate Chips or I sometimes switch it up and put half bag white chocolate chips and half bag milk chocolate chips or white chocolate chips and dried cranberries... yummy.

Mix butter and sugars until blended (med speed for 2 min), add the eggs one at a time mixing well after each, add vanilla.  In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Once blended add to the wet ingredients and mix well.  Add choc. chips.

Bake 350 for 8-11 minutes.

Lemon Tomato Chicken Pasta

Ingredients:

8 oz. Rotini Pasta (or your choice), uncooked

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 Lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1 - 14.5 oz can Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes, undrained

1 - 8 oz. can Hunt's Tomato Sauce

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup soft cream cheese spread

1 - .75 oz. package fresh basil, coarsely chopped

1/4 tsp. shredded lemon peel

Cracked black pepper (optional)

Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt.

Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and garlic; cook 4 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Remove from skillet; keep warm.

Stir together undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, and lemon juice in same skillet; bring to a boil. Add cream cheese; stir until cream cheese is melted completely. Simmer 2 to 3 minutes to thicken slightly.

Drain pasta. Add to sauce in skillet; stir to coat. Stir in chicken, basil and lemon peel. Sprinkle with pepper, if desired.

Variation: Sprinkle garlic salt on the chicken while it's cooking if you don't want to use actual cloves. Add dried basil when combining the tomatoes, sauce, and lemon juice if you don't have fresh basil.

Recipe from hunts.com

Mexican Casserole

Ingredients:

4 tsp. olive oil

6 Tbsp. sour cream

4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms

1 - 16 oz. jar salsa

2 cups cooked white rice

8 oz. boneless chicken halves, cooked and diced

Directions:

In a skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Saute mushrooms.

Combine mushrooms, sour cream, cheese, salsa, rice, and chicken. Place in a greased casserole dish.

Bake at 350 F for 25-35 minutes

Recipe from allrecipes.com

Amy's Banana Bread

2 well beaten eggs
1/3 c. canola oil
3/4 c. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
3 or 4 ripe bananas
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
Mix first 4 ingredients, then add remaining ingredients.  Bake for 60 minutes at 300.
My most important part for it turning out:  Right when I take it out of the oven, I remove it from the pan and wrap it tightly in tin foil or large ziploc (if it doesn't melt) to keep the heat in, which is what keeps the bread moist  :)