Ah summer. When I was a kid summer was THE BEST. School was out, the weather was great, there were more things to do and everyone had plenty of time. I grew up in Michigan, and summer was definitely my favorite time of year. I remember swimming and bonfires and camping and FOOD. It was magical. We even ate differently in the summer. Fresh fruits and vegetables were plentiful, whereas they really weren't even available throughout the rest of the year.

As I grew older I somehow lost that summer magic. I moved to southern California with my husband and 3 kids, and summer became just another season, so much like the other seasons. I did my best to create the magic while my kids were young, but by the time they were grown it was gone.

Last year I caught myself dreading summer, and actually heard myself saying the words, "I hate summer." I realized it was time for an intervention. I made a "Summer To Do List" and forced myself to get out there and have fun. I went to the beach, enjoyed Shakespeare in the park, picnicked, swam, watched movies under the stars and ate homemade lavender ice cream AND recruited lots of friends and family to do it all with me. Summer was back! It was such a valuable lesson, as I learned that I have to continue to create my life, my fun.

So as June 21st approaches I've started my new Summer To Do List. I really don't need it anymore, but I'll keep it there as a reminder to create, to enjoy, to have fun.

This blog is part of that. Those of you who know me know that I love good food, and I love to share it with people I love. In an effort to try new things and eat healthily, I've challenged myself to make and share 60 Salads of Summer. My daughter Danica, who is a very creative cook, is helping me. And we're looking forward to sharing the fruits of our labor. I can't promise they'll all be healthy, but I can promise they'll all be delicious. Enjoy!

Sunday, July 27, 2014

28. Frito Salad





























I come from a big family, the youngest of 10 kids.  Every other year one of us takes a turn to host a family reunion.  This year we all converged on the small town of Fremont, Michigan, where many of us grew up.  We laugh, we play, we cook, we eat, and cook and eat some more.  When you have so many cooks in the kitchen, you’re bound to get a wide array of dishes.  

Witness salads 27 & 28:  Kale on one side, Fritos on the other.  My niece, Jill Smolinski, shared this salad.  We joked about it, and I daresay she was even mocked for it.  The word “appalling” might have been thrown around.  But when that salad hit the table, it wasn’t appalling that you heard, but amazing.  I can best describe it in her own words:  “The powder from the chili cheese fritos blends with the mayonnaise, and creates this deliciousness.”  That might be a misquote, but you get the gist.

This salad is pretty amazing.  You’re not going to win any healthy awards, but I guarantee it’ll be the first one to disappear from the potluck table.  

Ingredients

42 oz canned corn, drained
1/4 red pepper, diced
1/4 green pepper, diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated
1 1/4 cup mayonnaise
9 1/4 oz bag Chili Cheese Fritos

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a bowl.  Fold in the mayo and fritos.  Let the flavors mingle for 10-15 minutes before serving (so the powder from the fritos and the mayo can do their magic), but not too long or the fritos will get soggy.

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