Savory and Sweet Fall Treats

From delicious harvest vegetables to gorgeous, colorful leaves, this is definitely a great time to throw a party to celebrate the season. Get in the autumn spirit with browns, yellows and reds, like the ones in today's sweet and savory recipes.

BLACK BEAN SALSA

CANDY CORN - PEANUT MIX

Whether you're planning a Fall-themed party or you just enJOY having snacks available for family and guests to munch on, today's recipes will help you please almost any appetite. These are great any time, but especially during the colorful days of autumn when the daylight hours grow shorter, and we need a little something to nibble on between meals.

Let's get started with the savory Black Bean Salsa. Go get your ingredients!

Drain black beans, corn, Rotel, and tomatoes.

Combine in a large mixing bowl.

Add dressing and toss until mixed. Cover and refrigerate.

Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

Ok, let's make the sweet treat that no one can resist -- Candy Corn-Peanut Mix. Some folks think these taste just like Payday candy bars, and I have to agree that they are very similar. Once you get started munching, you don't want to stop!

Here are your ingredients (very simple!):

and here are your directions (also very simple! :-):

Mix the candy corn and peanuts together. (I just dumped the whole package of candy corn with the whole container of dry roasted peanuts and mixed.)

Serve in a bowl. Store remainder in Ziplock bags or use the Peanut container for storage (see the two in the background of the photo below. I used these empty peanut containers to store the extra mix and shared it with the "grands.")

great for storage or for sharing your "extras"!

Whether you plan a Fall party or just make these to enJOY as a family, I hope you're creating some memories with your loved ones. Fall is the perfect time to get outside. Nature walks are fun and educational. Let your little ones collect leaves and pine cones and other things they find. Answer their many questions about the things they see as they take a nature walk. Take lots of photos to record the event. Go to a local pumpkin patch and pick out some produce for carving or just for decoration. Most of all, just enJOY each other's company as you enJOY this wonderful time of year.

Don't forget to copy and paste the complete recipes below to your computer and print or save them for future reference. (These are NOT in "A Pinch of This... A Smidgen of That" Cookbook.)

For more Fall party planning ideas or just fun games to do at home, check out these Web sites: http://www.reasontoparty.com/harvestparty.htm and http://www.amazingmoms.com/parties/fall-harvest-party-ideas_63135.

BLACK BEAN SALSA

INGREDIENTS:

3 cans Black Beans

2 cans Shoe Peg Corn (or 1 can White Corn)

1 can Mexican Rotel (Cilantro and lime)

1 can Petite Diced Tomatoes

1- 16oz. bottle Zesty Italian Dressing

DIRECTIONS:

Drain black beans, corn, Rotel, and tomatoes. Combine in a large mixing bowl. Add dressing and toss until mixed. Cover and refrigerate. Serve with tortilla or corn chips.

CANDY CORN - PEANUT MIX

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup candy corn

1 cup salted, dry roasted peanuts

DIRECTIONS:

Mix the candy corn and peanuts together. (I just dumped the whole package of candy corn with the whole container of dry roasted peanuts and mixed.) Serve in a bowl.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, Bye-bye from the Punkin' Patch! :-)