Summer time. Time for get togethers and backyard BBQs. Set up the slip n' slide and let the kids play. And and time for the infamous question that lurks in your head: "What can I bring?".
Whether your the guest or the host of the gathering, it's always good to have a few go to recipes that you can rely on to pull out on such occasions.
Here are a few of my salad favorites:
Corn and Black Bean Salad
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can whole corn, drained
1 jalapeno, seeds removed and diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
2 plum tomatoes, diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Dressing:
1/3 cup Italian dressing (sounds strange but is great in this)
2 tbsp of chili powder
1/2 tsp of cumin
1/2 tsp salt
juice of 1 lime
Mix dressing ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. Mix the rest of ingredients, then add the dressing and stir until blended. Allow at least 1 hour to chill in fridge prior to serving, but better if left to chill longer. Can be made a day in advance.
Pasta Salad
3 or 4 garlic cloves
1 box of small shell pasta
1 box of cherry tomatoes, halved
1 bell pepper (your choice of color), diced
1 cucumber, peeled and diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1 small can of sliced black olives, drained
Dressing:
mashed garlic (see directions below)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp basil (I used dried but you can use fresh too)
Boil water for the pasta. Add the garlic cloves to the boiling water and well as pasta (cook this as directed on the box).
In the meantime, add all of the vegetables and black olives together and mix well.
When pasta is done, drain and remove garlic cloves. Mash garlic with the back of a spoon. Then mix mashed garlic and rest of dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Add pasta to vegetables and mix well. Add dressing and stir.
For both of these recipes it is my best gestimate of seasonings. Always taste and add more salt and pepper if needed.
I have a new favorite salad that I wish to share, but I'm going to do another blog for that, as my 2 year old is starting to lose her mind.
