Welcome to the final recipe in our Simple Sides series.  I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I have.  So far we’ve had some Beautiful Tomato & Basil Bruschetta, Refreshing Melon Citrus Salad and a lovely Mango Summer Salad. 

This week I offer you this Fresh Summer Corn Salad…  

This recipe can be made year round using frozen corn and tomatoes from the supermarket but it really shines with fresh in season produce from your garden or local farmer’s market. 

Is there anything that says summer more than fresh corn on the cob and homegrown tomatoes?  Throw in some chopped bell pepper, onion and cilantro and toss them with a simple dressing made of lime juice and olive oil and you have a delightful summer side dish with a zing. 

If you have any leftovers, add some gluten-free taco seasoning and transform your salad into a Mexican corn salad.  Special thanks to Tatertots & Jello for sharing this recipe!

Fresh Summer Corn Salad

Ingredients:

• 8 ears of Sweet Corn cut off the cob or 4 cups of Frozen Corn, thawed
• 1 Large Red Pepper, chopped
• 1 Red or Vidalia Onion, chopped
• 25 Cherry or Grape Tomatoes, sliced in half
• 1/3 cup Cilantro, chopped
• 1/3 cup Lime Juice
• 1/3 cup Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper

Optional Add-ins:

• Avocado, chopped
• 15 oz Black Beans, rinsed
• 2-4 Tbsp Gluten-Free Taco Seasoning

Directions:

1. Cut the corn off the cob.  The easiest and mess free way to do this is to stick the cob it in the center of a bundt pan and cut away.
2. In a large bowl, gently combine all the produce (corn, pepper, onion, tomatoes, and cilantro).
3. In a small bowl, whisk the lime and olive oil together.
4. Liberally salt and pepper the corn mixture and add the dressing to the salad.  Toss gently and chill.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Take a minute to enter to win one gallon of Tropical Traditions Palm Shortening while you are here.

You may also enjoy Asian Chicken Salad and Grilled Asparagus and Artichoke Salad.

This week’s simple side is brought to us by Anne of  Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy.  As the title implies, Anne regularly shares healthy recipes that don’t require tons of time or money.  Anne has a child with food allergies.  While Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy is not completely allergen-free, most of them are easily adapted.  I should mention that Anne has a second blog When Food is Dangerous that is top 8 free.

Today at Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy, Anne shares this Refreshing Melon Citrus Salad.   I love how she takes a humble fruit salad to a new level with coconut milk and toasted coconut.  Here’s what she writes:

I often just chop up whatever fruit is in the fridge into a take-it-or-leave-it conglomeration, but I also like to come up with intentional creations that take into consideration flavors, textures and colors. There are a few such standbys that serve me well, but now and then the urge strikes to try something new and perk up the taste buds with some additional, unexpected flavor.

This was the position I found myself in a couple weeks ago, when I had a strange new melon I had bought at the Farmer’s Market…

You can read the rest of the story and find the recipe for this Refreshing Melon Citrus Salad here.

I hope you are enjoying this simple sides series as much as I am.  In case you missed it, last week Steph at The Cheapskate Cook shared a beautiful Tomato and Basil Bruschetta recipe.  I can’t wait to see what Mary at Barefeet in the Kitchen comes up with next week.  Then it’s my turn!

I am thrilled to announce a new series called Simple Sides.  Every Thursday during the  month of August, some blogger friends and I will be sharing a few of our favorite summer side dishes.

Up first is Steph at The Cheapskate Cook .  Steph’s blog focuses on real food on a budget.  Make sure you read this inspiring series on how she and her husband survived spending only $25/week on whole foods.

This week she is sharing this beautiful Tomato and Basil Bruschetta recipe. 

What a wonderful idea for the tomato bounty in our garden!  Here’s what she says about the recipe:

While our culture tends to equate easy meals as something that comes from a box or is popped in the microwave, I’ve found it isn’t always practical. When you’re trying to eat healthy and super frugally, routinely making up meals based on convenience food literally doesn’t fit the bill…

So true Steph!  These are the other ladies that will be joining in on the fun:

• Anne at Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
• Mary at Barefeet in the Kitchen

I can’t wait to see what they come up with!