Texas Caviar

I first tried this at a Halloween Party. I serve it for every occasion now. Everyone raves about it.It's easy, just a little time consuming.Prep time doesn't include refrigeration.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Yields: 4-5 cups

Ingredients

• 2  ripe avocados, peeled & chopped
• 2  firm ripe tomatoes or 3 -4  roma tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 1  can  of chopped black olives or 1⁄2 can  sliced black olives, drained & chopped
• 1⁄3 cup green pepper, chopped fine (can use yellow & red for more color)
• 1⁄3 cup  chopped green onion, use tops also
• 2  cans black-eyed peas, drained
• 1  bottle  Italian salad dressing or 1  bottle  spicy  Italian salad dressing (don't use creamy Italian)
• 1 -5  tablespoon  pickled jalapeno pepper, chopped according to taste
• 1⁄2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon  Mrs. Dash seasoning mix

Directions

1. (no need to add salt, the Italian dressing will take care of that).
2. (can use other ingredients, such as green olives, hominy, whole kernel corn) Add ingredients in the order as listed, (the vinegar in the dressing and the juice from the jalapenos keeps the avocado from turning dark) Stir gently.
3. Pour into a bowl that can be tightly covered and refrigerate until all ingredients are cold.
4. Better if refrigerated overnight.
5. Stir again gently.
6. Serve with tortilla chips.