Cowboy Caviar

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce (I do a bit less as I'm a wimp with hot sauce)
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 firm, ripe avocado
1 (15-ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
1 (11-ounce) can corn kernels, drained and rinsed
2/3 cup sliced green onion
2/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 pound Roma (plum) tomatoes, coarsely chopped
Salt to taste
Tortilla chips

In a large bowl, mix vinegar, hot sauce, oil, garlic and pepper. Peel,
pit and cut avocado into 1/2-inch cubes. Add to vinegar mixture and
toss lightly.
Drain and rinse black-eyed peas and corn. Add black-eyed peas, corn, onion,
cilantro and tomatoes. Mix gently to coat. Add salt to taste.
Refrigerate, well sealed.
Serve as an appetizer with tortilla chips.

Island Vacation Party Mix

2 1/2 C Corn Chex

2 1/2 C Rice Chex

2 C macadamia nuts

1/4 C butter, cubed

2 TBSP corn syrup

2 TBSP sugar

1 C flaked coconut

1 (6oz) pkg chopped dried pineapple

1 C white chocolate chips

In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine cereals and nuts; set aside. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the butter, corn syrup, and sugar. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes, stirring once. Pour over cereal mixture and toss to coat.

Cook cereal mixture, uncovered, on high for 2 minutes, stirring once. Add coconut; cook 2 minutes longer, stirring once. Spread onto wax paper to cool. Stir in pineapple and white chocolate chips. Store in an airtight container.

**WARNING: You will not be able to stop eating this. Plus, it will probably make you wish you were laying out on a beach in Hawaii snacking on this mix and drinking (virgin) Pina Coladas!

Easy Guacamole

Found this on allrecipes.com
I thought it was excellent. I had all the ingredients. Super fast and super easy!
You more experienced chefs may find it a good base recipe for you to tinker with.

2 avocadoes
2 T mayo
2 T salsa
1/4 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. ground pepper
salt to taste

Mix it all up and enjoy!

Sausage-Cheese Balls

These are really appetizers but I cut the recipe in half and made them for dinner! They are soooo good. Aron said they taste like a sausage McMuffin. (I foresee a new Christmas breakfast item!) We didn't even dip them in any sauce (Joshua used ketchup) and they were scrumptious! I got this recipe from the Betty Crocker website. Fast, easy and fabulous. Enjoy!

Sausage-Cheese Balls

prep time: 20 min
baking time: 25 min
Makes about 8 1/2 dozen

3 cups Original Bisquick mix
1 pound bulk pork sausage
4 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese (16 ounces if you like to buy pre-shredded)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves, crushed
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley or 1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes

BBQ sauce, ketchup, or chili sauce for dipping, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease bottom and sides of jelly roll pan (baking sheet)
2. Stir together all ingredients, using hands or a spoon. Shape mixture into 1-inch balls. Place on baking sheet.
3. Bake 20-25 minutes or until browned. (They'll look toasted). Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm with sauce for dipping.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Decrease Bisquick to 2 1/2 cups; stir in 1/2 cup Gold Medal all-purpose flour. Bake 25-30 minutes.

Do-ahead Tips
*Cover and refrigerate UNBAKED balls up to 24 hours. Bake as directed.
*Cover and freeze UNBAKED balls up to 1 month. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Place frozen balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 25-30 minutes or until brown.
*Bake as directed; cover and freeze up to 1 month. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Place frozen balls on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until heated through.
*Bake as directed; cover and freeze up to 1 month. Place 6 frozen balls on microwavable plate. Loosely cover with waxed paper. Microwave in High 45 seconds to 1 minute or until heated through

SUCCESS! It's true, you don't need to cook the sausage before using it when making this recipe. I even temped the balls when they looked toasty done. Pork temp is 170 and they were most certainly done.