Appetizer is easy to make and can be hot or not

Dear Heloise: I remember seeing an appetizer in your column that had black-eyed peas and hominy, as well as other ingredients. I have searched through my recipes and can’t find it. I’m having the girls over for a get-together and would love to make this. Can you please share the recipe again? Casandra Ridge, Schertz, Texas

Casandra, this Heloise favorite appetizer or dip is easy to make, and is healthy, too! To make it you will need:

Texas Caviar

1 large jar picante sauce (medium or hot)

2 cans (16 ounces each) black-eyed peas, drained

1 can (16 ounces) white hominy, drained

1 cup diced green bell pepper

1 cup chopped white onion

1 cup chopped fresh tomato

1‚Ñ2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro (Chinese parsley)

1‚Ñ4 cup seeded and chopped jalapeno peppers

1 cup chopped green onions (include green tops)

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon salt

2 tablespoons coarsely ground black pepper

2 tablespoons ground comino (cumin)

Mix all ingredients together well. Marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours before serving. If you don’t care for “hot”-tasting food, leave out the jalapenos.

This is a yummy appetizer that can be served with tortilla chips or crispy bread slices. This recipe, as well as seasoned salt, no-salt seasoning, spiced vinegar and sweetened condensed milk, can be found in my Seasonings, Sauces and Substitutes pamphlet. For a copy, please send $3 and a long, self-addressed, stamped (59 cents) envelope to: Heloise/SSS, P.O. Box 795001, San Antonio, TX 78279-5001. Ready to bake and find you don’t have any flour? Don’t fret! Use pancake mix in a pinch — just leave out the baking soda or powder. Keep in mind that substitutes can change the texture of a recipe. Heloise

Dear Heloise: Ever wonder what to do with those cut-to-fit table pads when not in use? To keep from folding them and ending up with noticeable bumps under the tablecloth, I roll mine onto the cardboard upholstery/decorator fabric tubes and tie off with a length of ribbon, with a note identifying what size (or number of leaves) table each pad is for. I then store them, standing up, in the closet until needed. Of course, under the bed is a good storage place, as well. Sandy Mauk, Grapevine, Texas

Dear Heloise: A timesaver when making peanut blossom cookies: An easy way to coat the cookie balls is to put them in a round cake pan containing about 1‚Ñ2 cup of white granulated sugar and shake it gently in a circular motion until they are coated. You can coat as many as 12 to 16 at a time before replacing the sugar. Lonnie Blasko, Warren

Dear Heloise: When I couldn’t find my round doughnut/biscuit/cookie cutters, I found that round teapot lids work well — they even have an air hole! J. Leah N. Berlin, Livingston, Texas

X Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate