Saturday, August 24, 2013

Summer payoff salad! Corn and tomatoes are ready.



From the table of Victoria Abbott!
Grilled corn salad 

We love this time of year. Our summer corn is just at its peak and those juicy tomatoes are finally here too. This salad seems to be a perfect way to combine some of our favorite late summer flavors. It’s easier than it sounds. Plus it’s one of those salads that you could add whatever else you have on hand. We changed the original by adding the red pepper and green onion and leaving out the cumin (not a popular spice with a certain someone).



We served it with simple roasted chicken breasts and it was a perfect summer dinner.  
 
The man of the house was thrilled with this salad. He’s very fond of Mystery Lovers Kitchen and said so as he polished it off!  


We all like the smoky taste of grilled fresh corn and for this recipe we just added a few extra cobs to the grill. We husked the corn and made sure to remove all the silk as they burn. We grilled the corn until blackish brown on each side – 15 to 20 minutes, but of course that varies from grill to grill.  
You can make this right away or save the corn and make your salad the next day. Next time we'll add an extra ear of corn. Stay tuned. 



 Salad ingredients


3 cobs of corn, ‘charred’ and cooled
I cup black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes (halved)
1 avocado, cubed
3 green onions, sliced (green parts only)
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped















Using a sharp knife, slice kernels from corn. Combine in a bowl with the beans, tomatoes, avocado, green onion and red pepper. 









Spicy Vinaigrette

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup (you can use less, but why would you?)
1 tsp lime juice
¼ tsp chili powder
¼ cumin (optional)
S & P to taste

 
Whisk together the cider vinegar, oil, maple syrup, lime juice and chili powder.










And add to salad, tossing to coat.  








Enjoy!








We know you will.





Easy summer meals like this leave more time for reading mysteries. And speaking of reading mysteries ...


Victoria Abbott is a collaboration between Victoria Maffini and her mother,  Mary Jane Maffini (who insists this IS on her diet).. The Christie Curse, their first book collector mystery, launched in March 2013 and  The Sayers Swindle, the second in the series will be out in December. Please let them know how you like it! 







There are lots of ways to reach them. Sign up for their newsletter at www.victoria-abbott.com.





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13 comments:

  1. Wonderful looking recipe MJ! The chili powder is a clever addition...

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    1. Thanks! I wish it had been my idea, Lucy! I loved it with the corn, beans and avocado.

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  2. The salad looks delicious....and hooray for the maple syrup in the dressing!!!!

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    1. Thanks, Sharon! We've been adding maple syrup to lots of salads this summer and still somehow losing weight. Magic ingredient?

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  3. Wow! This could become our favorite salad. It's chock full of things we love. Thanks to living in the new rain forest, our tomatoes still haven't ripened, though. They're hanging on the tomato plants, taunting us, but green as can be.

    ~Krista

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    1. It is amazing that my tomatoes from my Ontario backyard have been ready for over a week while your Virginia ones are still green. Mind you, we love fried green tomatoes!

      I hope they're ready soon, Krista!

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  4. I wish that my family would eat salads more at home (they prefer them when we are dining out), but I love salads for lunch time and use lots of farmers market produce in them as we can't do a garden in our townhouse development. I have used maple syrup in salad dressings and in marinades for Asian themed dishes and it really is a wonderful flavor. I do a grilled tuna steak with the maple glaze that is like the salad dressing and it is delicious. I miss our garden so much especially at tomato time. I am salivating just thinking about home grown tomatoes and other produce. Ummm.

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    1. Thank you. I am going to try the tuna with the maple glaze! I will be a hero. We have been very busy and just have three tomato plants on our deck, but we are in walking distance of the farmer's market and our next door neighbor keeps leaving tomatoes at our front door. I would miss not having any plants!

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  5. Love all the salad ingredients separately. Love cumin. Together,this must be awesome. I am so glad it is on your diet, MJ, because I am declaring it legal for my diet as well!! (If anyone questions me, I'll point to you.)

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    1. I'll defend your choice, Terrie! I've lost 13 pounds and my hubby has lost 15 and we're eating stuff like this. No bread though ...

      Cheers!

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  6. This dish is lovely to look at and , I'm sure, delicious to eat.

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    1. Hi Libby! Thanks!
      I thought of you the other day when I bought rainbow chard. I think you suggested that some time back.

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  7. I love this combo. So fresh! Have a great rest of the summer!

    Daryl/ Avery

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