Roasted Corn Salad

Warm weather calls for fare that can be thrown together in a matter of minutes, with minimal cooking or prepping. It also calls for lighter, fresher, flavors, healthier ingredients, and food that is made to share.

Since it rains and/or snows or is cloudy and cold in Massachusetts always most of the year, it often seems hard to imagine eating summery food, but sometimes you just have to pretend.

I almost thought about not sharing this very simple “recipe”, but it is delicious, and I like to share. When we get home late from a walk or other outing, I still like to make some sort of “real” dinner, and last week it was in the form of tuna burgers and this easy corn salad. This one is al Trader Joe’s. I started by quickly heating up some frozen roasted corn. I love how the Trader Joe’s roasted corn takes the flavor of corn to a whole new level.

Into the corn went a whole can of fire roasted green chile, also from Trader Joe’s. These chiles are not very spicy at all. Instead they offered a piquant and roasted flavor to the dish. I stirred the corn and chiles together for about four minutes, just until well heated through, then mixed in two avocados, chopped.

Add a little black pepper, and you are done. If I had grape tomatoes on hand, they would make an amazing addition to this salad. It would also be great with a variety of different beans to round it out and make it a simple vegetarian dinner. I love how endless the possibilities of getting creative are when it comes to veggies!

Hopefully the weather will be inspired by our food and warm up for us!

What is your favorite summer salad?

And now for some Facebook information and a request!

As you may know, I am the Marketing & PR Chair of the American Institute of Wine and Food, Boston Chapter. Well, this week, the Robert Mondavi Winery is doing something wonderful. For every new like of their Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/robertmondavi ) they will donate one dollar (up to $10,000) to the AIWF’s Days of Taste program which is dedicated to teaching children about good, fresh food. Think Jamie Oliver, but they have been doing it for decades! If you are so inclined, please give the winery a “like”. Thank you!

I thought you might also want to know about the new online baking community I have been doing some PR work for, Sprinkles & Grins. They have some delicious recipes and some cute theme ideas for summer holidays, including lots of S’mores. Check it out if you are looking for some drool-worthy dessert photos, recipes, and new blogs to read!