Southern Caviar aka Black Eyed Pea Salad Recipe

Over the years, I have been to several events where a special dish called "Southern Caviar" was on the buffet table. I have tried it a few times and loved it so much. If you've never tried it before, it's a flavorful and fresh dip/salsa/salad that you eat with tortilla chips. I recently got to thinking about making it myself and did a Pinterest search for recipes. I was overwhelmed by the number of recipes that popped up. I think I gave up after viewing so many and finally decided on a few that really looked delicious. 

I ended up using those recipes as a guide to making my own version. When I made it, I was afraid because it was A LOT. Trust me, we didn't have a whole lot left over once the family tried it. It is so good that you can't stop eating it. The best part is that it's easy to make with no cooking required, which is perfect during the hotter months. Check out the recipe below. 

Ingredients:
2 cans of black eyed peas (drained and rinsed)
1/2 can of black beans (drained and rinsed)
1/2 bag of thawed frozen sweet corn
1/2 cup of finely diced cucumber
1/2 of a medium red onion finely minced
1 jalapeno seeded and finely minced
1 rib of celery finely diced
3 Roma tomatoes chopped
chopped cilantro to your taste, about 3 tbsp

Dressing:
Kosher salt and cracked pepper to taste
5 tbsp olive oil
5 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp of sugar

Place all ingredients into a large bowl. Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl or measuring cup. Toss everything together and serve with your favorite tortilla chips. Easy, huh?

You are supposed to let it sit in the fridge for a couple hours, but some of us could not wait. It is so good with the scoopable variety of tortilla chips or even corn chips. This would be perfect on top of Jasmine rice and then topped with chopped avocado as a vegetarian bowl. Yum!

Check out these other delcious recipes:
The Perfect Potato Salad To Take To A Cookout
Perfect Margarita Recipe
4 Ingredient Greek Pasta Salad

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by!

Display Your Special Memories With Canvas Factory (Giveaway)

Something that I believe many of us have in common is the outrageous amount of photos we have on our phone camera rolls, memory cards and on our computers. I think of all of the vacations, birthdays, graduations, celebrations, and everyday moments we have captured digitally. Our younger daughter graduated last month from the University of South Carolina, and I immediately knew I wanted our family picture with our graduate on a canvas.

I was recently introduced to Canvas Factory. They offer an easy way to upload your photos, even from your social media accounts, and turn them into a beautiful canvas. Your canvas will arrive ready-to-hang on your wall because the canvas is stretched and wrapped around a wooden frame. It's a nice way to display your memories to enjoy for the years to come.

The process of ordering your canvas couldn't be easier. It took me around 7 minutes from start to finish. Thankfully I had already chosen my photo ahead of time, so that helped to speed up the process. You have the choices of canvas size/shape, how you want the "wrap" (the edges that get wrapped around the sides of canvas), and if you want to add any type of color effect. You can check out as a guest or sign up for an account. It's just so easy! Also, they offer amazing sale prices all the time, so make sure you sign up for their email list.

This is what we had made. Isn't it beautiful? The quality is top notch, and the color is rich and vibrant. We are excited to add it to a wall of canvas prints in our living room. I have the biggest smile when I glance over and see this print.

Now that you've seen how easy it is to use Canvas Factory for your canvas prints, it's time to try them out for yourself. One lucky reader will win a code good for a FREE 20"x16" Canvas (40x50cm) or 18x12inch (45x30cm). Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to Canada & U.S. Residents only and ends on July 15, 2019. Must follow rules in Rafflecopter. One winner will be chosen randomly. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

How to Create the Perfect Accessorized Look in a Unique Way

Accessories can make or break an outfit, yet people often put on those things they are most comfortable or familiar with rather than truly using these items to enhance their outfit. Don’t make this mistake. With the right accessories, you can create a look that is truly your own and one that makes you look and feel great everywhere you go. Following are some guidelines to help you achieve this goal.

Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash

Choose All Accessories Carefully

Every item in an outfit is of importance. This includes the accessories one chooses to put on each day. For example, men and women often wear the same pair of glasses every day, never stopping to consider that their glasses should coordinate with their entire look. Check out the Zig eyewear selection to see how changing up your glasses can transform your look and enhance your style in no time at all. With many styles to select from, finding multiple pairs you love will be easy.

Go Bold

Don’t hesitate to go bold when it comes to choosing accessories. For instance, pair an outfit in neutral colors with a bright handbag and shoes. Not only does this add interest to the outfit, but it also helps to break up the monotony of the neutral tones. A person will find by making this simple change he or she can take a boring outfit and turn it into one that makes a fashion statement in a matter of seconds.

Scale the Accessories

Outfits with a big and bold pattern pair well with simple accessories. In contrast, a solid color outfit can easily be dressed up with some oversized, statement pieces. Keep this in mind when choosing accessories for an outfit to create a look that is truly your own. The size of the wearer should also be taken into consideration. A woman who is very petite should not choose accessories that are oversized, as they may leave her looking as if she is playing dress up with her mother’s items.

Skin Tone

Humans either have warm or cool skin tones, and this should be kept in mind when choosing accessories. For instance, a person with cool skin tones tends to look better in silver jewelry. In contrast, those with a warm skin tone find their appearance is enhanced when they choose pieces in gold. Anyone who is unsure of which category they fall into should obtain this information before choosing new accessories to ensure they pick those items that truly add to their appearance and help them look and feel their best.

Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash

Communicate a Message

The clothing a person chooses communicates a message whether they want it to or not. For example, a person in a business suit tends to look professional. However, when the business suit is paired with athletic shoes, others may get a different impression. For this reason, all parts of the outfit should project the same image. This helps other people to get a clearer sense of the person and what he or she is trying to convey with their clothing choices.

Don’t overlook accessories when putting together an outfit. By taking the time to add one or more items that truly complete the look, a person can transform their appearance in no time at all. Furthermore, the accessories help the individual create a look that is truly unique even when someone else in the room is wearing the exact same items. Small details do make a difference, so remember this when dressing every day for great results.

Thanks for stopping by today!

The Perfect Potato Salad To Take To A Cookout

I don't know about you, but I think the side dishes at a cookout are the best part of the meal. I admit I will often pass up the grilled meats for a plate of just sides. One of my all-time favorites is potato salad. That is one dish that not everyone can make well. The food snob in me judges other people's potato salad mighty hard. HA! Seriously though, I make an excellent one that everyone raves about. Today I am sharing my recipe with you all.

Ingredients: 

Red potatoes (about 6-7 medium size)
2 whole large eggs
Finely chopped red bell pepper, green bell pepper, red onion, and Italian parsley
1/2 cup frozen sweet peas, thawed
Dressing ingredients:
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp yellow mustard
2 tbsp pickle relish
1 tsp white sugar
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
a few splashes of hot sauce (optional)

How to make it: 

Slice potatoes in even pieces, about 1/4 inch thick. I like to leave most of the skin on mine for added color and texture. Rinse and place them in a large pot of cold water. Salt generously! Place the 2 whole eggs on top of potatoes so they can cook at the same time. Boil until potatoes are fork tender about 10 minutes. Do not overcook! Scoop eggs out and place in ice water (this makes for easier peeling). Drain potatoes and place on a large plate or dish to cool down.

While potatoes cool, combine your dressing ingredients so that the sugar dissolves. Peel and chop the boiled eggs. Once the potatoes are mostly cool, you gently toss together all of your ingredients. Add salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste. Be careful with adding salt since your potatoes should already be salty and the dressing ingredients have salt in them. Chill in refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Enjoy!

Quick tips:
If you do not care for mayo, you can substitute it with fat-free sour cream or Greek yogurt.
You can customize your vegetables or add-ins by using celery, carrots, bacon, or whatever you fancy.

This potato salad recipe took me a few years of tweaking and perfecting and is what I have been using for years. I'm often asked to bring it to a cookout or party. I love that you can make it ahead of time so there is no stress on the day you need it. I hope you try my recipe. Thanks for stopping by today!

You may also like:
Best Deviled Eggs Recipe
The Perfect Margarita Recipe
Shelly's Easy & Moist Meatloaf

A Healthy Diet: 3 Health Benefits of Non Alcoholic Red Wine

There is a lot of evidence that points to the many health benefits of drinking a glass of red wine. It contains antioxidants, it helps with heart health and it can lower cholesterol. These are just a few of the noted health benefits.

If you prefer not to drink alcohol, no worries. You can drink non alcoholic red wine and still enjoy some of the same benefits. In fact, some studies suggest that non-alcoholic wine might actually have stronger health benefits. Let’s take a closer look at some of those benefits.

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1. Lowering blood pressure

Both red wine and non-alcoholic red wine contain antioxidants called polyphenols. This antioxidant helps to boost levels of the body’s nitric oxide, which helps to lower blood pressure. This happens when the nitric oxide helps the blood vessels to relax, and it allows more blood to reach the heart and other organs.

Studies have also found that polyphenols are good for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This can be helpful for those who are combating Type 2 diabetes, as well as being beneficial for heart health.

Interestingly, some studies show that the alcoholic version does not help as much as non-alcoholic wine. The theory is that the addition of alcohol somehow diminishes the health properties of the antioxidants.

2. Fewer Calories

Many people spend a good deal of time at the gym and trying to eat a healthy diet. This may be because you want to lose some weight or you are just trying to live a healthy lifestyle. With all the health benefits of red wine, is it possible to fit in a glass with your diet? Yes!

In fact, non alcoholic red wine has 3 times fewer calories than their alcoholic versions. This is a win for those looking to add glass in for the antioxidant benefits. It is absolutely possible to enjoy a nightly glass of non-alcoholic red wine, and you can easily fit those few calories into your daily diet and exercise plan.

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3. More natural ingredients

Not only are non alcoholic red wines full of heart-healthy benefits and fewer calories, but they also contain better ingredients. When alcohol is added to wine, usually sugar, artificial colors, and dyes are added as well. The non-alcoholic red wine is not likely to contain these ingredients. This can be beneficial to those who are sensitive to artificial colors and dyes.

Drinking a non alcoholic red wine allows you to enjoy the taste of wine, benefit from the antioxidants and not fill up on sugar or empty calories. Some people also feel that their sensitivity to artificial dyes and colors are what contributes to their headaches when drinking wine. So, people with these sensitivities can continue to enjoy a glass of non-alcoholic wine without fearing a headache.

Conclusion:
Non alcoholic red wine is a great alternative to an alcoholic version. You will still reap the same health benefits, consume 3 times fewer calories, and will not be bothered by artificial dyes or colors.