Southwest Chicken Salad

Becky and Parker were eating this at the Davis family party.   It looked really good.  It is similar to Black Bean Salsa but has chicken in it so it is a main dish.   They were eating it in pita bread.

Southwest Chicken Salad

4 cups cooked cubed chicken (I like to saute my chicken on the stove in some olive oil)

2 cups frozen corn (I just use one can)

1 cup chopped red peppers

1 cup chopped red or sweet onion

1 cup minced fresh cilantro

1 avacado (or more, if you're a lover like I am)

1 can black beans

Dressing:

3 Tbsp. lime juice

3 Tbsp. olive oil

4 tsp. honey

2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. coarsley ground pepper

In large bowl, combine salad ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing ingredients; pour over chicken mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate before serving. Can serve as a salad with/without salad greens or in a pita or in a tortilla wrap.

Fiesta Pasta Salad

So for those of you who went to Ashley and Emily's bridal shower at Michael Davis' home you may remember eating a yummy pasta salad as the main dish.  Soon afterwards I got the recipe from Michael and have made it since then.  I think it's quite delicious and is a great summer dinner because it's a cold pasta dish and it's super easy.   Or it's a great dish to take to a potluck dinner!


Fiesta Pasta Salad            
1 Packet Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch mix
(can be difficult to find- she's had the most luck at Wal-mart). 
2 cups mayonnaise
2 cups buttermilk

Mix well and chill in refrigerator.  Or you can buy Hidden Valley Southwest Chipotle Dressing. 

1 ½ pkg. bowtie pasta                   1 can sliced olives
1 red pepper                                  1 can corn
1 green pepper                              1 can artichoke hearts – cut in pieces
1 bunch green onions                    Chicken (opt.)
1 can black beans                          2-3 cups grated cheese       
1 can kidney beans                        Tortilla chips

Cook and drain pasta.  Mix together pasta, all remaining ingredients (except for cheese and tortilla chips), and dressing and refrigerate over night.  Just before serving add cheese and tortilla chips.