A Blog Hop Recipe Edition! Yum!

I can't wait to read everyone's recipes!!!! I had a REALLY hard time narrowing my favorite recipes down to one, so I am listing TWO. :)

First things first...don't forget!!!!! Only a few more days to enter the Five Blessed Bow's $20 Gift Certificate contest!!!! CLICK HERE for entry information!!!

The first is my favorite summertime/BBQ dish. It's super healthy, and is a flavor explosion! It's also a great vegetarian dish:

Corn and Black Bean Salad

2 (15) ounce cans of black beans, rinsed and drained.
2 cups of FRESH, sliced off the cob, corn
2 fresh large ripe tomatoes, diced
1 medium red onion, diced
2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
2 tsp minced garlic
6 tbsp cider vinegar
1/2 cup EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
3 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper.

Directions: mix the beans, corn, tomatoes, onion and parsley together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients....whisk to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad. Can sit at room temperature for up to 6 hours. Make the day of your party...you really don't want this to sit overnight in the fridge! :)

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This next dish is my husbands FAVORITE all time meal. I mean, I like it, but he LOVES it. This recipe came from the April '04 mom's book, and it's fabulous:

Ham and Cheese Bow ties

1 box of Farfalle pasta, cooked and drained
1/4 cup butter
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 cups of milk (preferably whole)
1 tbsp prepared mustard
2 1/2 cups of shredded colby cheese
4 ounces of cubed ham (or 1 pkg of prepackaged cubed ham)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Melt butter over low heat. Saute garlic in butter for 30 seconds. Whisk in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute. Stir in mustard and colby cheese. Cook, stirring occasionally until chesse is melted. Stir pasta and ham into cheese sauce. Pour into an uncovered 13 x 9 casserole. Sprinkle with parmesan, and bake 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy!!!