Taking #SundaySupper Outdoors With a Fun Picnic…Featuring Spicy Pinto and Black Bean Salad with Roasted Corn and Avocado
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| A simple al freco dinner...featuring Spicy Pinto and Black Bean Salad with Roasted Corn and Avocado. |
First, don’t plan your outing for the hottest part of the day...wait until later in the day, when the temps cool off a bit as the Sun sets. Even better, find a location that’s under a tree or covered sitting area that allows for a bit of shade and a nice breeze. To further beat the heat, wear lightweight, light-colored clothes. By following these simple tips, you may be a bit warm...but the heat shouldn’t be unbearable. Make sure to keep the meal light and refreshing too: chilled salads, fresh fruit, and plenty of cold beverages are your best bets for Summer outdoor dining.
Second, don’t let the menu stress you out: the focus of the meal is spending time together! The menu should be fuss-free and simple -- but that doesn’t mean it has to be plain or boring! I like to bring components that can be mixed and matched in a variety of ways. For the menu I’m sharing today, I wanted to feature a healthy easy-to-tote salad. Ideally, I wanted a dish that could be eaten alone or paired with a few store-bought components to create a light and easy meal. I knew I had found exactly what I was looking for when I stumbled across a recipe for a bean and corn salad with avocado at Cooking Light’s website.
This salad is substantial enough to eat on its own, but it’s versatile enough to be eaten several different ways! Check out this menu: Spicy Pinto and Black Bean Salad with Roasted Corn and Avocado, grilled chicken breast, salsa-ranch dressing, tortilla chips, and my favorite bakery cookies. These components give you lots of meal options: wrap sandwiches, chips and salsa, and a veg-friendly main dish salad for starters. This flavorful salad takes about 30 minutes to assemble, but it needs to chill for a few hours. I made the base of the salad the night before, but waited to add the avocado until just before serving.
Step 1: Place a grill pan on the stove over med-high heat. Let the pan heat for 5-6 minutes while you prep the veggies. Liberally rub two shucked ears of corn with olive oil. Grill the corn for about five minutes per side, until it is cooked and some of the kernels are browned.
Step 2: Remove the corn from the pan and immediately wrap in foil so it can steam and finish cooking. While the corn rests, add three thick slices of purple onion and one jalapeno to the hot grill pan -- you will likely need to add a bit more oil to keep them from sticking. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, until the pepper is blistered and the onion has grill marks.
Step 3: Set the onion and jalapeno aside to cool. Add the following ingredients to a large mixing bowl: 1 can drained pinto beans, 1 can drained black beans, 1 cup grape tomatoes (halved), and 2 sliced green onions. Using a sharp knife, remove the kernels from the corn...add to the bowl. Chop the onions, and seed and dice the jalapeno...add those to the bowl too.
Step 4: Make a dressing by combining the following ingredients in a measuring cup: 1/4 cup olive oil, the juice of one large lime, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, 1 tsp. dried cilantr0, 1 tsp. chile powder, 1 tsp. cumin, and salt & pepper to taste. Whisk and pour over the ingredients in the bowl. Stir well to evenly coat everything with the dressing. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Just prior to serving, dice one avocado on top of the salad and squeeze with the juice of an additional lime.
This salad is really fantastic! The roasted corn and grilled onion pair nicely with the beans, the tomatoes and zesty dressing bring a bit of brightness, the jalapeno brings just enough heat, and the avocado is creamy and cooling. I loved eating this salad on its own, but it was also tasty scooped with tortilla chips! This recipe makes quite a bit of salad, so it would be perfect for Summer potlucks or parties.
#SundaySupper is a fantastic group of food bloggers who share a common bond: we're all passionate about keeping the tradition of the family meal, whether your family is big or small. Merrell is a supporter of our #SundaySupper mission, and they're partnering with us this week for a fun giveaway. If you're not familiar with Merrell, they sell shoes, clothing, and other items that support an active, outdoor lifestyle. They’re teaming with 10 #SundaySupper bloggers -- including me -- to give away some of their products! The product that I’m giving away is from their Barefoot line of shoes. The specific shoe that I'm giving away is the Women's Barefoot Life Delight Glove Wool. These cute shoes come in three colors, and they look so comfortable!
If you want to win a pair of these shoes (a $100 value!), here’s what you need to do:
(1) First, leave me a comment below letting me know what #SundaySupper means to you and your lifestyle.
(2) You also need to take part in today’s #SundaySupper Twitter chat at 700CST. In order to win the shoes, you must comment AND take part in the Twitter chat! The winner will be announced on Monday. Please note that the giveaway is for U.S. residents only...
You can follow Merrell on Twitter @merrelloutside and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/merrell. While you're at it, please stop by and check out all the delicious food that my fellow #SundaySupper bloggers are sharing today! Merrell has chosen 9 other bloggers to host a giveaway on their site, so stop by to see all the fantastic items that are being offered.
- Blueberry Muffins by Magnolia Days
- Korean Ribs – Alaska Camping Edition with MrsMamaHen
- Fresh Corn on the Cob by In the Kitchen with Audrey
- Hearts of Palm Salad with Avocado by Basic n Delicious
- Shallot BBQ Shredded Beef by Juanita’s Cocina
- On Top of Our Game with Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars by The Watering Mouth
- Chicken & Dumplings Around the Campfire by Daily Dish Recipes
- Wine & Food Festivals; a lifestyle the whole family can enjoy! by Wine Everyday
- Outdoor Grilling Filipino Rice Cakes in Coconut & Banana Leaves by The Queen’s Notebook
In addition, check out these great #SundaySupper recipes:
- Embracing Old Family Traditions while Creatiing New Ones Enchiladas de Chile y Ajo by Girlichef
- The Embassy´s Nut Crescents by Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Chicken Curry Pie by Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Prosecco Sangria by Pippi’s in the Kitchen Again
- Bringing #SundaySupper to All by Doggie at the Dinner Table
- Honey Mustard Baked Beans by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- S’mores Brownies: Desserts Make #SundaySupper by Mama Mommy Mom
- Tandoori Salmon Rolled in Whole Wheat Couscous by Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Whole Wheat Macaroni with Spinach Pecan Pesto-Enjoying by Soni’s Food for Thought
- Southwestern Chicken Wraps Fam Friends Food
- Ahi Tuna Salad Family Style Family Foodie
- Wines For The Foods That Move You ENOFYLZ
Going to graduate school was a positive decision for me. I enjoyed the coursework, the presentations, the fellow students, and the professors. And since my company reimbursed 100% of the tuition, the only cost that I had to pay on my own was for books and supplies. Otherwise, I received a free master’s degree. All that I had to invest was my time. Hovuz mozaykalari
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