Black Bean, Farro & Corn Summer Salad

One of the things I love about spending time out at my brother's ranch is the super abundance of fresh produce.  It just makes me want to eat healthy.  So, with fresh corn, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, avocados, black beans and farro in hand, I went in search of something to make.  I came across this recipe at Cook Smarts.  Below is my version of their salad.  It is DELISH!!!

 

Black Bean, Farro & Corn Summer Salad

1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup of farro, cooked (1/3 cup uncooked)

fresh corn kernels, trimmed from 3 cobs, cooked for about 2 minutes in the microwave

1 cup of sliced grape tomatoes

1 avocado, rough chopped, sprinkled with lemon juice

3 green onions, thinly chopped

Chopped fresh cilantro or basil to taste

3 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette (I used Newman's Own)

Salt & Pepper to taste

 

Combine above ingredients.  Chill or serve at room temperature.

 

Enjoy!

Smiles!!

The Best Guacamole, EVER!

There are two places that I love to get guacamole...Boudro's in San Antonio and Tracy's house.  Tracy is one of my friends that has a recipe box full of yummy appetizers.  Seriously, we can make meals out of appetizers!

She was kind enough to share her recipe with me and now I'm going to share it with you.  If you're not a cilantro fan, just leave it out.

THE BEST GUACAMOLE

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon garlic

2 teaspoon onion

Mix in a mortar and pestle bowl.

Add 2 avacados; mix.

Stir in 1 teaspoon cilantro, 2 heaping teaspoons tomato and 1/2 freshly squeezed lime.

(I add lemon or orange juice as well...yummy!)

Excellent served with Julio's Chips...delish!!!

Enjoy!!

To keep leftovers fresh for the next day, I top it with more lemon juice and press a sheet of plastic wrap directly to the top of the dip, leaving no spaces for air to touch it.  This works really well.  Also, you can coat a ziploc baggy with lemon juice, add the guacamole, again being sure there are not gaps for air to touch the dip.  You'll still have fresh guacamole for the next day!

Smiles!

May share this yummy guacamole recipe with some of the fun parties in the sidebar=>

Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies

Looking for a quick and yummy cookie recipe?

Well, here you go!

1 (18 oz) package brownie mix

2 eggs

1/4 cup canola oil

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup toffee bits (optional)

Mix first 3 ingredients with a wooden spoon until well combined.  Stir in last two (or three) ingredients.

Drop by rounded teaspoon fulls on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 12 minutes.  Let cool for a few minutes on cookie sheet then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

Yields: About 4 dozen

Enjoy!
Smiles!

May be sharing this yummy recipe with the fun parties located in my side bar =>