Southwestern Salad with Roasted Corn and Avocado

Ingredients:

Avocado Dressing:

• 1 lime
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp white vinegar
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 chopped Anaheim pepper (mild Hatch green chili)
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 Tbsp sea salt
• 1 Tbsp cumin
• 1 medium avocado

Combine above ingredients in a food processor and puree.  Set aside in the refrigerator for several hours or over-night to let flavors meld together.

Corn Medley:

• 4 ears of sweet corn, shucked and cleaned
• 1 medium red onion, chopped
• 1 chopped Anaheim pepper (mild Hatch green chili)
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped yellow bell pepper
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp sea salt

Grill corn over high heat until kernels brown evenly on all sides.  Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.  Cut the kernels off of the cob.  Add butter and oil to large sauce pan and bring to medium high heat.  Add the red onion and cook for about 5 minutes until translucent.  Add peppers and cook another 5 minutes.  Add salt, then corn.  Cook 10 minutes more, then remove corn medley from heat and let cool to room temperature.

Salad:

• 3 hearts of romaine lettuce torn into bite-size pieces
• 1 cup crispy tortilla strips
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced in half long-wise
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 avocado, sliced

Toss tomatoes with salt and pepper, then set aside.  Toss romaine with avocado dressing until thoroughly coated (don't over-do it!).  Add cheese, tomatoes, tortilla strips, several large spoonfuls of corn medley, and sliced avocado.

This salad tastes great with anything grilled.  Enjoy!

Beets Around the Bush Salad

Putting Color in Your Salad Theme

Instructions

In a shallow oval or round salad bowl position the pickled beets inside the outer rim while slightly overlapping each slice until you have completed a circle around the bowl. Next, place a couple fresh lettuce leaves in the center to form a cup (the bush) into which you may fill your favorite cut-up vegetables or fruit.

One of my favorite "Beets Around the Bush Salad" includes freshly cubed vine-ripened tomatoes, sliced cucumber, thinly sliced white onion and cubed avocado. I highlight my salad with a pinch of basil, a couple splashes of balsamic vinegar, and of course my favorite salt and spices - sea salt and black pepper.

But, you can let your own imagination kick-in and add the ingredients and spices which you and your guests prefer. Give it a try sometime. It is simple to make and rather delicious - even without salad dressing.

Enjoy! Ahheee!!