Southwestern Salad

Southwestern Salad

Cook's notes:  

Serve salad with side of salsa

recipe adapted from http://www.thegardengrazer.com/p/about.html

this site focuses on healthy eating with vegetarian recipes 

Salad Ingredients:

• Romaine lettuce
• 1- 15 oz . can black beans rinsed 
• 1 orange pepper or red pepper
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• green onion or red onions
• 2 cups of corn (use frozen thawed as a time saver)
• shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 small carrots
• optional 1 chopped avocado

Directions;

Chop all ingredients mix in a large bowl

#1 Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing

Ingredients:

• 3/4-1 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves, stems removed and roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 TB. fresh lime juice
• 1-2 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1-1/2 tsp white vinegar
• 1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

• Puree all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth
• Refrigerate several hours for flavors to meld

#2 Creamy Cilantro Dressing

Cook's notes: Check this site out for some great Mexican recipes

http://www.fortheloveofcooking.net/

recipe adapted

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
• 1/4 cup extra light olive oil 
• 1/4 cup lite sour cream
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro stems removed and chopped
• 1 small jalapeno seeds removed and chopped
• 1 green onion chopped
• 1 clove of garlic minced
• juice from 1/2 lime
• 1/4 tsp. cumin
•  1/4 tsp. oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Blend all ingredients till smooth
• Refrigerate several hours for flavors to meld

#3 Creamy Avocado Cilantro Dressing

recipe adapted from http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/cilantro_avocado_dressing.html

Cook's notes: Be sure to taste test since lime juice can be increased

Ingredients:

• 1/2 avocado
• 3/4 cup cilantro
• 1/2 cup non-fat yogurt or can substitute low-fat buttermilk
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 TB lime juice
• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

• Blend all ingredients till smooth
• Refrigerate several hours for flavors to meld

Outdoor party idea to keep salad ideas cool:

Purchase a child's small plastic pool that has one rim or edge

Fill with crushed ice

Pool will hold 5-6 salad bowls