Summer Eating...

Those of you who know me, know that I am a woman of cravings.  Lately since it has started to feel more like summer around here, I have been craving things that I would term "summery".  Like homemade lemonade and BLT's,  or delicious salsa that you can whip up in a flash without heating up the kitchen.  So, I thought I would share some recipes that we have been enjoying these last few weeks...
Here is the recipe for the salsa:

 1 can crushed tomatoes

A few more tomatoes that I have on hand, diced

1 red pepper, 1 yellow pepper, 1 green pepper all finely chopped (I use the Pampered Chef chopper)

1 small red onion finely chopped

1 lime juiced

1-2 T. olive oil

lots of salt and pepper (to taste)

1 handful of cilantro finely chopped

Best if made ahead of time so the flavors can marinate, but not necessary...you can also make it spicy if you want!  Serve with chips of your choice.

And while I know swimsuit season is just around the corner, I was craving this little number above too...A Vanilla Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Coconut frosting.  I adapted the cake from the "Cake Mix Doctor" cookbook and the frosting from The Barefoot Contessa Coconut Cupcakes recipe.

Here is the cake:

1 French Vanilla boxed cake mix

1 package(3.9 oz) instant vanilla pudding mix

4 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup warm water 

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon almond extract

3/4 cup coconut

Mix together and bake in a bundt pan for 40 mins. at 350 or (until toothpick comes back clean) 

For the frosting I sort of guessed, so you might want to look up the specific amounts on the Food Network site

1 package cream cheese softened

1 stick butter softened

1 box powdered sugar (give or take a little)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. almond extract

Beat together with mixer until smooth.

Once the cake is cool, frost and then sprinkle with some leftover coconut!  Yummy!  

It sort of feels healthy cause there is coconut on it:)  

Happy (almost) Summer Eating!