Spoiler alert: There’s no direct connection to food this week. Just a glimpse at how random my life is — and I love it.

Sitting there people-watching at one of my favorite establishments, I was focused on the shadows on the wall just over a patron’s shoulder on the other side of the room.

A medley of 1990s hip hop, in the form of country western, just wrapped up on the jukebox (it was surprisingly a good mix). My friend, a couple of seats away, snapped me out of my trance.

“Hey, if I can get tickets, wanna go to the concert?” she asked.

“Sure. Who’s playing? And where?”

Answer: Rascal Flatts. Covelli Centre. In two hours.

“OK, but I’m not changing,” I said.

Truth be told, earlier in the day I sifted through my (clean) laundry for my fashionably distressed (ripped) jeans, layered T-shirt and Youngstown State University hoodie.

I finished the outfit with my teal puffy vest and my cheap combat boots that reach just above my ankles that I didn’t even bother to zip up. To say I looked interesting is an understatement.

“Cool, me either,” she said. She was at least wearing a matching athletic ensemble.

She found some great seats at an even better price, and we were on our way. Listen, life’s a highway and I just want to drive along. To be honest, I’m not a huge country music fan.

I’ve been on a bluegrass kick lately, but actual country music? I can take it in spurts, like a song or two, and then I’ve reached my limit. My cup only holds so much strawberry wine.

I forgot how much fun country concerts are, though.

The week before I turned 21, I went to the Kenny Chesney Flip Flop Tour in Pittsburgh. The only song by him I like is that tractor song, but it was a great time. Joe Walsh even made an appearance and played “Rocky Mountain Way.”

Being up for adventure is how I found out how much I love John Mayer. At another bar — I mean establishment — a friend asked if I’d like to go with her.

“Sure.” See a theme here?

I didn’t like him at all before I saw him live. That day though, he played most of his bluesy album Gravity, a lot of the songs from Battle Studies and some covers.

Now, I try to see him anytime he’s in the region. (This is my plea to the local powers that be to get John Mayer to Covelli — something I’ve asked for a few times. Or Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats. Either works for me.) I’m still not a fan of Kenny Chesney, but that was the night I began to respect and enjoy openers Brooks & Dunn, and I realized Sara Evans has a good voice.

Sugarland blew their performance out of the water. I can say that while I didn’t go out of my way to avoid Rascal Flatts music over the years, I like their hits more than I thought I would. And I knew more of their tunes than I thought I would.

To get ready for summer, let’s dive into warmer vibes and blast country / pop songs and dig into a unique spin on salsa.

Cowboy Caviar

Ingredients

Caviar

â…” red onion, finely diced

1 ½ cups diced bell peppers

â…” cup diced jarred roasted red peppers

¼ cup pickled peppers of your choice

1 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-ounce can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed

1 ½ cups frozen corn, but fresh is better

1 cup fresh tomato, diced (I like Roma)

About ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Tortilla chips

Dressing

â…” cup oil (any kind from a vegetable will work)

â…” cup rice vinegar

1 lime, juiced

3 cloves garlic, minced

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

1 ½ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon cumin

dash of chipotle pepper

Directions

In a measuring cup or small bowl, mix the dressing ingredients and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, dump in all the vegetables.

Add the dressing to the large bowl and give a good stir.

Refrigerate for a couple of hours.

Add cilantro right before serving with tortilla chips.

Share your favorite recipes and memories with Features Editor Ashley Fox at afox@tribtoday.com.