Cafe Rio Rip-Off Salad/Burrito

Now that you've got all the recipes you need, here's how to put together your salad or burrito:

• Tortilla
• Grated cheese
• Black beans (I like to warm them on the stove with cumin, garlic, onion, and a little cayenne pepper)
• Rice
• Pork
• Lettuce, shredded (if you're doing the salad)
• Pico de Gallo
• Tomatillo Dressing

Add family. 'Cause it just taste best that way. (Cheesy, I know, but seriously).

Holiday Chicken Salad

This is the chicken salad from our beach trip to Stanley Lake. My only real modifications from the original allrecipes version were adding dried blueberries and using a red bell pepper instead of green. Enjoy!

4 cups cubed chicken breast

1 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon paprika

1.5 cups dried cranberries

1 cup chopped celery

2 green onions, chopped

1/2 cup minced bell pepper

1 cup chopped pecans

1 teaspoon seasoning salt

pepper to taste

In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, paprika, seasoning salt, and pepper. Mix remaining ingredients, then fold in the mayonnaise mixture. Chill for an hour before serving. Ellie thinks this is best eaten with wheat thins on a blanket as part of a "picnic."

Bean Salad

This is a family summer favorite. I especially like to take this salad to picnics because I don't have to be concerned with mayonnaise getting too warm. It is best assembled the night before to allow the vegetables to marinate.

Dressing:
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cups extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup or less sugar
choice of seasonings, depending on what's ready in the garden: oregano, thyme, chives, mixed seasonings

Salad:
2 cans of sliced green beans, drained
1 can yellow wax beans, drained
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

Gently combine the vegetables in a large bowl. Stir together the dressing with a whisk and pour over the salad. Cover and refrigerate to allow the flavors to meld. It's always better the second day.

Country Dressing

My new favorite salad dressing! I got this from my friend, April, who served it on a spinach, apple, pecan, bacon salad at her tea party. The dressing has only four ingredients--which you probably already have--and it's super delicious!

1 clove garlic

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

Add salt to taste. So simple, so good!