Super summer salads

I'm not the biggest lover of salads but I am convinced that I discovered the most amazing salad ever.  I want to share that one with you, plus the one other salad that I absolutely love.

 First, the 'other' salad is one that is loved by almost every single person that has tried it.

         Mandarin Strawberry Spinach Salad

• Baby Spinach
• Sliced Strawberries
• can of drained Mandarin Oranges
• Strawberry Vinaigrette Dressing
• Sliced sugared almonds (yum!) 

Directions:

1. Combine Spinach, Strawberries and Mandarin Oranges.  Toss lighty.

 Yep, that's about it.  You can either make the dressing yourself or buy it from the store.  And I've always kept the dressing and the almonds on the side because you never know who likes what.

Here's a pretty good recipe for homemade strawberry vinaigrette.

The Dressing

• Strawberries, 1/2 cup when chopped and mashed
• Olive Oil, 1/2 cup  (I used  extra light olive oil for this.  I didn’t want the heavy flavor of extra virgin to overpower the berries.)
• Raspberry Balsamic Vinegar, 1/4 cup
• Sugar, 2 tablespoons
• Heavy Cream, 3 or 4 tablespoons
• Salt/Pepper

Salad numero dos:

This is the delicious little number that I made yesterday.  Definitely a make again!

              Southwestern Salad with Black Beans

• 1/2  ripe avocado
• 3/4 cup(s) packed fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup(s) non-fat plain yogurt
• 2  scallions, chopped
• 1 clove(s) garlic, quartered
• 1 tablespoon(s) lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt
• 3 cup(s) mixed greens
• 1/2 cup(s) black beans, canned (rinsed) or cooked
• 1/2 cup(s) corn kernels, fresh or frozen (thawed)
• 1/2 cup(s) grape tomatoes

Directions

1. Place avocado, cilantro, yogurt, scallions, garlic, lime juice, sugar, and salt in a blender; blend until smooth.
2. Place greens in an individual salad bowl; toss with 2 tablespoons of the dressing. (Refrigerate the remaining dressing.) Top the greens with black beans, corn, and tomatoes.
   
   
   This recipe makes enough salad to have as a side for about 5-6 people.
   
   
   This salad was A-MA-ZING-A.  Hello?!  It has 3 of my most favorite flavors in it!  Avocado, check, Lime, check, Cilantro, check. :)  Delicioso!!!  
   Warning.  If you don't like cilantro, DON'T make this dressing!
   I, however, adore cilantro.  I could literally just eat the dressing.  (like last night, what?  I didn't do that.........)