Red Leaf Lettuce with Roasted Corn & Pico De Gallo

It's almost time to get into the swim suit. And I'm feeling the effects of too many "treats" basking around my bottom half.

SO, it's back to 2 salads a day for a while. Do thoughts of salads make you cringe? I know it's hard in McDougall world to find a dressing that's fat free and palatable - I don't care for the bottled fat free varieties. But I DO love rice vinegar paired with different things...like PICO DI GALLO.

You can make your own pico de gallo or buy it pre-made at the store - it is one of my staples. And the kids don't like the chunkiness so they don't touch it - but recently my hubby tasted my salad and was like, "Oooh - that pico de gallo rocks!" Now I think I'll be sharing with him.

In addition to salads, I use it to top baked potatoes, brown rice and even oatmeal!! Just kidding on the last one. I wanted to make sure you are paying attention.

I learned from Susan V that you can roast corn on the cob super easy by throwing them in the oven with their husks still on. 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. And because I LOVE corn on the cob I almost always have leftovers on hand for this salad. But if you don't, you can use frozen corn or * gasp * canned if you must. ; ) Read more about how to roast corn here.


Red Leaf Lettuce with Roasted Corn & Pico De Gallo
This isn't so much a recipe as it is a combination idea - use your own amounts. To make this more filling you can add warm brown rice too. Warm rice on a cold salad? Try it! It's so dang good.

red leaf lettuce (or whatever kind you like/have on hand)
1 cob of roasted corn, sliced off the cob
pico de gallo
sprinkling of seasoned rice vinegar
salt & pepper

(Make your own) Frozen Burritos

Most of my greatest discoveries are made out of desperation.
I desperately need to eat.
Now.
And make it healthy.

I LOVE eating bean & rice burritos for lunch - I make them ahead and freeze them. I could eat one everyday. If you work or are going to be away for lunch, take one with you and it will be room temp by lunch. I like them like that - or you can find a way to heat them up. They are surprising filling too!

Not a real complex recipe - but here is my latest -


Mexican Rice (in a hurry!)

Into your rice cooker goes:

3 - 4 cups of short grain brown rice - (or white)
correct amount of water (look on package - I use my hand to measure - but hard to explain)
1 can Rotel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies
1 package Burrito seasoning packet (or your favorite)

Press "cook" and walk away.

Serve in (my favorite) Mission white or wheat 96% fat free tortillas with (my favorite) canned pinto beans (or make your own - some times I do) with NO cheese for you - but add some cheese for the natives. (I call them natives cause sometimes my kids remind me of natives scouring the land for food, meat, and anything with loads of fat and sugar. - hope that's not a politically INcorrect word)

Some thoughts:

You can serve these for dinner the day you make them- adding veggies like: lettuce, tomato, sprouts, avocado ( if losing weight isn't an issue) and fresh or canned salsa. OR freeze like I said above - without the veggies.

I wrap mine in wax paper - so I can microwave them in it.

Experiment with different seasoning packets, make up your own, or use a packaged seasoned rice and DON'T add the butter/oil.

Let the natives put on: cheese, sour cream, gobs of butter, whatever will make them eat it. (I'm joking - but not really - at least they are eating brown rice and that's a start!

If you make your own beans, then this might not be "in a hurry" anymore. Unless you froze your homemade beans and defrosted them.

You may need to add salt to the rice per your liking. I love salt. Probably not a great thing.

Try dipping your burritos in your favorite taco sauce ( I Love Taco Bell's mild) or try barbecue sauce!

A note on fake cheeses:
They are expensive.
The ones that taste like anything are full of fat.
If I want fat, I'd rather have avocado.
Therefore I don't use them.


Have I talked enough about these things that are supposed to be EASY???
Enough.

Mangia!