A Santa Fe Salad: Recipe Style

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GUYS! My failure of a garden made a tomato. One single solitary gorgeous, delicious, red, beautiful tomato. I'll TAKE IT! Since I had said miracle tomato on hand, I wanted to make a salad worthy of a miracle tomato. This salad was totally vegan because momma can't do dairy and I was feeling like we had eaten a lot of meat this week.  However, you could add grilled chicken and shredded cheese just because you want to. Trust me though, it doesn't need it. Slide1

Here's what you'll need to make enough salad for three people or two really hungry humans:

  • 3 sweet bell peppers
  • A large handful of baby spinach
  • Cilantro (just a handful of it chopped) No need to go crazy with it
  • 1/4 cup frozen corn or fresh if that is how you roll
  • 1 avocado
  • 1 miracle tomato
  • 1 can black beans
  • 1 cup quinoa
  • Daiya shredded pepperjack cheese or other-dairy filled cheese option (optional)
  • Dairy free ranch
  • A dash of cayene pepper
  • Crushed tortilla chips (optional)

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Get the quinoa going first. I used to be afraid of quinoa and now I am not. Just buy a box, read the directions, cook it. It is easier than rice (real talk). IMG_2496

I then heated up the corn and black beans cause I like a little warm something or other in my entree salad. After heating them up I gave the beans a good rinse in warm water.

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I then chopped and sliced and diced the bell peppers, the cilantro, avocado AND the...

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MIRACLE TOMATO!

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GAH. She's was so pretty and yummy. Okay moving on. I LOVE YOU TOMATO!

At this point, you can grab a handful of spinach, the tomato, peppers, avocado, and cilantro and throw it into the large salad bowl.

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Looking pretty good already, no? And then because you are fancy but not too fancy (AKA, I am not making my own dressing from scratch) take some dairy free dressing and add a dash of cayenne pepper to it. Like this:

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Voila! Chipotle ranch for a Santa Fe Salad.

Now add in the warm stuff... black beans, corn and quinoa.

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And if you're real crazy, add in this goodness. Just a litttle.

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Tada. Look at this deliciousness. Now go forth and eat what is likely the healthiest thing you will eat all week. (I mean, until you add in some crushed up tortilla chips cause you are a rebel like that).

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