With the approach of Fall and football season, I'm starting to crave tailgating food, and I don't even like watching sports on TV! But every year about this time, it never fails; I want to bust out the football food and put on my old cheerleading uniform. *Does high kick.* Go team! *Throws back out and rips pants.* Okay, so maybe my cheerleading days are far behind me, but I can still dream of showing off my cute black IHS fly-away skirt during a chili, packed-out football game while I stuff my face with chips and salsa.

The problem with store-bought salsa, other than the preservatives and additives, is the fact that it can cost $5 on average for a tiny little jar. My solution? I came up with my own recipe for homemade salsa.

This recipe makes a ton; I usually freeze a jar, set one big jar aside for taco night and put the rest in a jar for snacking throughout the week. You can always cut the recipe in half if you don't want to make that much.

-8oz dried black beans

-1/2 C liquid from boiling the beans

-2 large or 3 medium sandwich tomatoes

-16oz frozen corn kernels (or fresh from the cob-cooked)

-zest and juice from 2 limes

-juice of 1 lemon

-3 heads garlic

-1/2 bunch fresh cilantro (about 1 cup chopped)

-2 tsp ground red pepper (more is optional if you want it extra hot)

-2 tsp ground paprika

-2 tsp garlic salt

1. Soak the beans overnight. Next day, boil for about an hour and a half or until soft and fully cooked. Set aside 1/2 C of the water from the boiling pot.

2. Wrap garlic heads in foil and roast at 450 F for 30 min. Set aside to cool.

3. Put beans and 1/2 cup liquid in extra large bowl. (If using canned beans, pour them into bowl uncooked and without draining the liquid.)

4. Put the corn into a bowl of water to defrost. (No need to cook them.)

5. Slice tomatoes into small cubes and add to beans. Chop cilantro and add to bowl.

6. Add spices, lemon and lime zest/juice to bowl.

7. Drain corn kernels and add to bowl.

8. Once garlic is cooled, slice of the bottoms and squeeze out the cloved into the salsa. Mix well with a spoon and serve.