Black Bean Salsa

2-3 avocados (diced)
1 can corn drained
1 can black beans drained
1 pkg zesty Italian dressing made per package directions
Juice from one lime
4-5 Roma tomatoes diced
1/2 bunch green onion chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro chopped
1 red pepper chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients together serve with chips.

Killer Cupcakes

These lovely little cakes are part of the Killer Cupcake recipe. I bake them in these pyramid shaped pans (anyone is welcome to borrow them). I'll give the entire recipe - but just use the chocolate for this lovely dessert.

Killer Cupcakes
4 Squares (4 oz) semisweet chocolate
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 sticks butter
4 eggs
1 1/2 Cups sugar
1 cup flour
FILLING
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/4 Cup sugar
1 egg beaten
dash of salt
3/4 Cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips.
Preheat oven to 350. Line muffin tins with paper cupcake liners. In top of a double boiler over simmering water, melt chocolate with vanilla and butter. In large bowl beat the eggs until thick and add the sugar. Beat in the flour. Fold in the butter-chocolate mixture. Spoon into tins filling the cups 2/3 full. Filling. Mix the cream cheese sugar, egg and salt until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Drop a rounded teaspoon of filling onto the top of each cupcake. Bake for 30 minutes.

RASPBERRY SAUCE
1/2 pint fresh raspberries
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cornstarch.
Put raspberries, water and sugar in a pan and bring to a boil. Strain the mixture removing all the seeds and then return to the pan. Stir in cornstarch and cook until clear and thick.

Chinese Chicken Salad

3 1/2 Chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
1/2 bag tri-colored corkscrew pasta cooked, drained and cooled
1/2 bag baby spinach leaves
1/2 bunch chopped cilantro
1/2 bunch basil (fresh)
1 bunch green onions chopped
1 Cup cut green grapes (halves)
2/3 Cup slivered almonds (toasted)
1/2 small jar sesame seeds (toasted)
Orange and yellow bell peppers sliced
Mix together and toss with dressing
DRESSING
3/4 Cup real mayonnaise
1/4 Cup lite soy sauce
3 TBS sugar
3 TBS vinegar
3 TBS sesame oil
1/4 Cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Magleby's Syrup

Magelby's syrup

1/2 cup real butter
1 cup white sugar
2 TBS light corn syrup
1/2 cup buttermilk

Cook these ingredients in a saucepan until boiling, then add:

1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

Chocolate Bread Pudding - Happy Valentine's Day

6 cups 1-inch cubes crustless French bread (from about 3/4 of a 1-pound loaf of French bread)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 3/4 cups whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup sugar
4 large egg yolks

Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional)

Preparation

Butter 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish. Place bread cubes in large bowl; drizzle with butter and toss to coat. Transfer bread to prepared dish. Bring milk and cream just to simmer in heavy large saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; whisk until melted and smooth. Whisk sugar and yolks in medium bowl to blend. Whisk chocolate mixture into sugar mixture. Pour custard over bread. Cover with plastic and let stand 1 hour (some custard will not be absorbed). (Can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead. Refrigerate.)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake pudding until just set but center moves slightly when dish is shaken, about 35 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature with whipped cream, if desired.

Trader Joe's Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This recipe was in our Relief Society newspaper and we tried it last night and it was wonderful!!!
3 TBS whipped butter (I just used softened butter)
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp pasta seasoning blend (from Trader Joe's - let me know if you want some if you don't have a Trader Joe's near you)
4 slices sourdough bread
4 slices jack cheese
Mix butter, oregano, soy sauce, and seasoning in a small bowl. Spread on 1 side of 4 slices of bread. Layer the sandwich in the pan - bread with seasoned butter side down, cheese, bread with seasoned butter side up. Cook sandwich until seasoned side of bread is golden brown then flip and cook until cheese is melted and other side is golden. Slice and enjoy - Makes 2 sandwiches. (I used that much butter mixture for four sandwiches and it was plenty)

Decadent French Toast

Marybeth made this for us on New Year's day. I made it again this morning for a brunch with Sister Gutierrez and Sister Zylstra and it was fantastic!!!

1 Cube melted butter
1 Cup brown sugar
2 TBS karo syrup
French Bread
5 eggs
3/4 Cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt.
Mix melted butter, brown sugar and Karo syrup in 9 x 13 pan. Slice french bread and place on brown sugar mixture. Mix eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in another bowl and pour over bread making sure all of the bread is soaked. Refrigerate over night and bake the next morning at 350 for 35 minutes. YUM!!!