Amazingly Easy Black Bean Salsa Dip

One of my co-workers made this for a work party a couple of years ago, and I asked her for the recipe.  Over the years, I've simplified it again and again until now it's so easy I can make it while holding a small child.  And isn't that the kind of recipe every mom needs? :)

All you need to do is drain a can of corn, a can of black beans, and a can of diced tomatoes (choose a zesty one for more flavor).  Dump them all into a giant bowl, mix it together, and top it off with some Paul Newman's Balsamic Dressing.

The original recipe listed this specific dressing and I haven't wavered from that.  I'm sure other balsamic dressings would be fine, but I haven't tried yet...  Serve with tortilla chips and you have a snack, an appetizer, or even a simple meal for a relaxing night watching a movie.  You could even put this in a fancy bowl and bring it to a party.  I promise everyone will think you put in more work than you did!  The best part of this recipe is that my fussy children love it and they eat some corn, tomatoes, and beans (3 things that they are often fussy about when served by themselves or in different forms).

For all you adventurous chefs, the original recipe called for scallions and garlic and a few other little additions, but then you would need full use of both extremities. :)

**Please enter my giveaway!  The chances of winning are very good!

Nothing to Brag About at Shoprite, But Bragworthy Meatballs at Home!

My Shoprite trip is really not blog-worthy due to lack of planning and organization.  I didn't go food shopping at all over the weekend, and we were really in need of some of the basics...  But here it is...

3 SR spring water .79 each

2 Marcal toilet paper .99 each (used 2 freebie coupons)

Gerber baby food .99

6 Alpo dog food 6 for 3.99

SR tortillas 1.50

pampers jumbo pack 8.99 (used freebie coupon I received for complaining about Dry Max) (wanted to use this at Rite Aid this week for +up bucks but the freebie coupon for wipes when you buy diapers expires today and I just couldn't get over to rite aid...)

5 Earth's Best baby food .55 each (used 1/5 from a magazine)

Kraft mac and cheese cup 1.00

4 Campbell's Shrek soup 1.00 each (used 1/4 manu. IP) (*Shrek soup is on clearance still!)

5 cans of Apple Juicy Juice reduced to 1.09 each (*apple juicy juice is the only one I saw marked down)

bimbo wheat bread 1.69

2 SR ground turkey 3.00 each

reduced oranges 1.62

organic apples 2.03

Hillshire farm turkey 3.50 (used 1/1 peelie)

egglands best 1.99

milk 3.21

2 eggos .99 each (used 1/2)

blue bunny ice cream 1.99 (used 1/1)

1 pk rolls 1.74

pampers wipes 2.99 (used freebie coupon when you buy diapers 8/1 P&G)

organic baby carrots raincheck price of .99

total: 45.06, received 1 catalina for Campbell's soup, will submit for $5 Hillshire Farm rebate

I really don't enjoy cooking.  It's one area of my life where I feel really insecure, and my fussy children don't help to boost my confidence in the kitchen.  I'll try out a new recipe, work really hard on it, and it's met with "yuck - can I have spaghettio's instead???"  So I was initially a little hesitant to try a recipe that was stuck on the top of a jar of Ragu that I got during an Extra Bucks deal at CVS a few weeks ago.    

But "Mama's Best Spaghetti and Meatballs" sounded really easy.  My family likes spaghetti, but I'll admit I've never made meatballs before.  I don't use ground beef, hence the ground turkey I got at Shoprite today.  All I needed was 1 lb. of ground turkey, 1/2 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs, 1 jar of Ragu, and 1 egg.  And spaghetti, of course.  I used Ronzoni Garden Delight from my stockpile.

First, I cooked the spaghetti.  Easy.

Then I mixed one egg, 1/2 cup of Italian seasoned bread crumbs, and the 1 lb. of ground turkey together.  Shaped it into about 12 meatballs.

Then in a separate pot, I boiled the Ragu sauce.  Dropped in the meatballs, covered, and reduced to simmer for 20 minutes.

Poured it over the spaghetti and Done!  I was hoping for a meatball sandwich for lunch tomorrow, but there are NO leftovers - a sure sign that this recipe is a winner, even in my house o' picky eaters!  And nobody asked for spaghettio's tonight!