pineapple, black bean and red pepper salad

If you've never looked through a Costco cook book, you have got to get your hands on one.  Their recipes are absolutely stunning.  This recipe, is such a refreshing, flavorful treat.  The lime, and cilantro combo is always a winner .

For the vinaigrette:

1 lime, juiced
3 TBSP marmalade, apricot, or apple jelly
1 TBSP olive oil

For the Salad:
2 cans black beans, rinsed
2 cups fresh pineapple cut into tidbits
2 cups frozen corn kernels
1 red pepper cut up into small bits
1/3 cup red onion finely chopped
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
**optional** seeded and dices jalapeno pepper

Whisk dressing together in a small jar or bowl.  Add all the salad ingredients into a large container.  Toss with dressing.  Refrigerate for several hours.

This is a perfect summer salad.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

Potato chips

Ok, another mandolin recipe for you all, and if you weren't sold on getting a mandolin slicer for my apple chips, you need to get one for these potato chips.
Easy. Low fat. Crunchy.  Healthy!

Russet potatoes ( as many as you need for your crew)
Olive oil for drizzling
Salt

In a large bowl add thinly sliced potatoes. I used a number 2 thickness on mine and they were fabulous. Add enough olive oil to coat them, not too heavy on the oil. Add salt and line them on a parchment lines cookie sheet. Bake at 300' for 15 minutes, turn each chip over and then watch them for the next ten minutes or so. If you like them more crispy and brown leave them in longer.

The result is amazing. They taste like potato chips you buy, but so much better. You would never guess they were a healthy snack!

Enjoy these ones!
Xo
L.

Apple chips

I himmed and hawed about buying a mandolin for years. I've always wanted one, but thought that for the amount of times that I would use it, it was not worth the money. Well, let me tell you, if you get one for these chips alone, it is worth every penny!

These "chips" are more like candy really. You may find other apple chip recipes that don't call for the simple syrup used in this recipe, and you just simply bake the chips. This recipe is a special one....

Boil 2 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar in a small saucepan for about ten minutes until you get a light syrup consistency. In the meantime, while the syrup is boiling, wash, core using an apple correr ( you can omit this step if you don't mind the center core being in the chip) then using your brand new mandolin, slice very thinly 8 Granny Smith apples, though I'm sure any kind would be delicious. Add apple slices to the pot of syrup. Add enough so syrup can cover each apple, you may need to do a couple of bathes. Bring to a boil for two minutes. Using tongs, carefully place each apple slice onto a cooling rack placed onto a cookie sheet.

Bake at 300' for about ten minutes. Watch them because they will turn brown quickly thereafter. Once you remove them they will continue to crisp up.

Now go on, grab those apples that have been sitting in your fridge and make some apple chips! You are going to love them!

P.S. don't throw away the syrup when you're done. It has an amazing apple flavor to it. Refrigerate it and add it to a martini!