Recipe: Black Bean and Corn Salad

This is a tasty salad and one of my fall favorites.  It's so simple and quick to make - you simply cannot fail at this one!
Here's what you will need:

1 can of organic whole kernel corn
1 can of organic black beans
1 medium organic tomato (heirlooms are great in this recipe)
1 bunch of organic cilantro
1 organic lime
1 small organic red onion (a vidalia will work well too)
some extra-virgin olive oil (evoo)

Drain the corn and the beans and add them to a large mixing bowl.  Cut the tomato into a small dice - you can peel and seed it if you like - I don't.  Cut the onion into a small dice.  Add the tomato and onion to the bowl with the corn and beans.  Drizzle the evoo on the veggies and beans just enough to glisten them - you don't want them swimming in the oil - this is part of the dressing.  Then add the juice of the lime and toss well.  Finally, add to the mix about a cup of cilantro leaves (cilantro can often be a bit sandy or dirty, so make sure you wash it well - you can substitute flat leaf parsley, but it just doesn't have the same taste and does change the flavor of the salad).  Season with a tiny bit of salt and ground pepper if you like - not really necessary.  Garnish with a nice sprig of cilantro to serve.  This serves about 4 people.  This is so easy and quick to put together!  Enjoy!

Fresh Mozzarella Salad

One of my favorite summer meals is a fresh mozzarella salad.   It's tangy and delish!

Here's how I make mine - you will need:

1. About 3-4 ounces of organic baby mixed greens.  I have a preference for baby arugula and red and green leaf lettuces.
2. About 4 ounces of fresh mozzarella (this is the kind you get in a ball in water) - sliced and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
3. 1 medium organic tomato - cut into bite-sized pieces.
4. A heaping handful of fresh organic basil - break the leaves onto the salad - it releases the flavor better than cutting them.

Arrange all of the above on a platter.  Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar to taste - I use close to a 1 to 1 ratio - I really love the taste of balsamic vinegar!

Add a liberal sprinkle of freshly ground black pepper and a very scant pinch of salt (take a pinch and then put at least half of it back in the salt dish - sprinkle the rest on the salad)

Enjoy!!!!