OK, so it's been a few weeks, and I'm a little behind. Maybe I'll try to make up for it, and maybe I'll be just as lazy in the next couple of weeks. With me, who knows for sure!
A lot has transpired since my last post. My mama's baby turned 40 years old (how can my mama have a child that old?), and celebrated with her (much) older sister in Nashville, TN. No, we did not go down there to see any country music stars, we didn't go down to shop (well, not much anyway), and though it may have looked like it to the casual observer, we didn't even go down to make fun of the scantily clad girls whos mama should have NEVER let them leave the house looking the way they did....I can't even describe the things we saw.
What we did go down for was the Professional Bull Riders Built Ford Tough Series event...that's right...we went for the Cowboys. And we love the entire show...from the autograph and photo sessions some of them do before the event, to the pyrotechnics as the show begins, to the big, bad, rank bucking bulls, to Flint Rasmussen as Captain Enterprise; we immerse ourselves in the entire experience. When Ben Jones broke into his crazy Aussie dance after each ride and eventual win, we went crazy with him, and we are not embarrassed. Every 8 second ride represents a heart pounding adrenalin rush like no other, and every buck off is a heart stopping agony, until the cowboy gets up and addresses the crowd with a wave or a tip of his Stetson, and we are all assured he is OK.
Now what's this about caviar? I found a delicious recipe that combines one of my all time favorite things (cowboys) and something that most people that I run with haven't tried (caviar). I for one have actually had caviar, and it's not bad if you like a very strong "pickled-fishy-salty-tapioca" taste and consistency. Now don't worry, this recipe contains no fish eggs, sturgeon or otherwise. I try to always keep a big bowl in the frige and eat on it all week. I can eat it as my main course with maybe a salad on the side, or I eat it as a snack with pita chips or Doritos. Either way, give it a try. There is no cooking involved, so you can't mess it up!!
COWBOY CAVIAR
In a very large bowl, combine:
1 Can Black beans - drained and rinsed
1 Can Black Eyed peas - drained and rinsed
1 Can Chick peas (also called Garbanzo beans) - drained and rinsed
1 Can Whole kernel corn - drained and rinsed
2 Medium tomatoes, chopped
1/4 -1/2 Cup Bell pepper
1 avocado, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper - seeded and chopped fine
1 Sweet onion, chopped
2 - 3 cloves garlic - pressed (or minced fine if you don't have a garlic press)
DRESSING (I don't usually measure anything out, so you can adjust this to suit your taste!!)
1/3 - 1/2 Cup Fat Free Italian Dressing
about 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
3 - 4 TBSP Red Wine Vinegar
A couple of shakes of Balsamic Vinegar
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and Pepper to taste
Combine Dressing Ingredients and mix well. Pour dressing over bean mixture, and gently toss all together. (Tossing with your hands is the best, most gentle way.) You can transfer to a smaller 2 quart bowl for storage in the refrigerator. It will keep for 5 or 6 days, although the tomato and avocado will become soft. This is a pretty healthy recipe. It's full of fiber, and you wash a lot of the salt away with the rinsing of the beans and corn. Hope you enjoy it!
