Avocado Corn Salad with Cilantro Grapefruit dressing

Salads are my thing right now.  When it comes to health, a salad is what most people think dieting is all about.   I've heard it referred to as grass, rabbit food and a bunch of weeds, but what a salad is to me is a bunch of delicious mixtures of texture, taste and variety.  It's not only color  and balance for a diet but a delicious blend of fiber too.  Have a salad, you'll thank me later.  Or better yet, have This salad and thank me now.  It's fun, fresh and mostly raw with a deliciously delightful dressing.  So go ahead and Enjoy...

Avocado Corn Salad~
serves 3

1 ear of corn (cut corn off cob)
10 yellow grape tomatoes cut in halves
1 avocado (diced)
2 green onions (sliced)
5 Tbs Mediterranean Herb Feta Style soy cheese (diced into small pieces)

Put everything in a bowl and chill while making dressing.

Cilantro Grapefruit Dressing~

1 tsp mustard powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 Tbs balsamic vinegar ( I used fig balsamic but any will do)
2 Tbs grapefruit juice
1 teaspoon grapefruit zest
2 Tbs fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup grape seed oil

Mix all ingredients in a blender until incorporated. Pour over salad and mix gently.  Serve over a bed of mixed baby lettuces or eat just the way it is. Yum.

Optional ingredients~
Vegan Shrimp
Diced Yucca

 

Another favorite salad I love is my California Citrus Salad.  I'll include the recipe along with another recipe for my homemade candied pecans that go perfectly on top of the California Citrus Salad.

 

 

California Citrus Salad~

 

4 Strawberries (sliced)

1/4 cup blueberries

1 clementine ( into segments )  Optional:  You can use canned mandarin oranges

5 yellow grape tomatoes (sliced)

2 green onions (sliced)

1 endive (sliced)

1 avocado (diced)

5 Tbs soy blue Cheese Crumble (diced finely)

2 cups mixed baby greens

 

Sweet Grapefruit Dressing~

 

1 tsp mustard powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 1/2 Tbs balsamic vinegar ( I used fig balsamic but any will do)
4 Tbs grapefruit juice
1 teaspoon grapefruit zest
1 tsp sugar
1/3 cup grape seed oil

 

 

Add all ingredients in a bowl and toss with Sweet grapefruit dressing. Sprinkle Candied pecans or any candied nut on top and serve.

 

 

Have you ever been to a fair, an event or even the super store Bass Pro Shop when they're cooking up their spiced nuts and the aroma is so heavenly, you make your first stop to pick some of those bad boys up?  The scent is captivating.  The scent is Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving...all rolled up in one. And then the taste.

 

When I make them, they're irresistible to anyone on the premise. 

 

Do you know how people make chocolate chip cookies before prospective buyers come to look at a home?  Well they should make these...

and for sure...

their home would be...

SOLD!

 

So, there we go.  Story told.  Enjoy your nuts on your salad or off. 

 

Candied Nuts

 

1 Tbs vegan Butter

1/4 cup white or brown sugar

1 cup nuts

1/4 tsp cinnamon

 

Over stove, cook all ingredients on med-high heat until sugar starts to melt and starts to coat nuts. At this point, about 2-3 minutes, turn off burner, sprinkle with cinnamon and continue to stir until all nuts are coated.  Lay flat and separate slightly onto foil and let cool.  Break apart.