Black bean & corn salsa

 Ingredients:

1 ear corn, cut off the cob
1 can black beans, drained
2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 -3 TBL chopped cilantro
1 TBL olive oil (optional)
1 TBL white balsamic vinegar (optional)
juice of 2 limes
1 TBL honey
salt, pepper


Combine ingredients.  Refrigerate for awhile so flavors can marry.

Fresh honey is my secret ingredient when using tomatoes!

Roasted red pepper alfredo

This is SO GOOD!

Ingredients:

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 roasted red peppers, chopped

1 eggplant, roasted, peeled and chopped fine (optional)

4 oz plain goat cheese

10 oz good Parmesan cheese

1 TB olive oil

1 TB butter

8 oz heavy cream

1 # linguine

2 TB fresh basil, chopped

Directions:

Cook pasta according to directions on package.  While pasta cooks, heat butter and olive oil in a 2 QT saucepan.  Add minced garlic, red peppers, and eggplant.  Saute for about 10 minutes.  Add cream and turn down the heat to low.  Add cheeses and stir well.  Turn up heat to med low till cheese melts, then with an immersion blender, blend well.  Peppers and eggplant will be finely chopped at this point.  As the sauce heats, it will thicken.  If it gets too thick, add a little milk, or chicken broth.  Add drained, rinsed pasta.  Serve with fresh basil sprinkled on top.

**optional**  You could cheat a little and omit the eggplant and just use Trader Joe's roasted red pepper & eggplant spread.