Celebrate summer with easy recipes

In honor of the unofficial beginning of summer, I thought that I would post a few of my favorite light and easy meal ideas!

Corn & Black Bean Salad (I just made this tonight)
1 Can corn
1 can black beans, rinsed
1/2 large bell pepper, diced
handful of grape tomatoes, sliced in half
1/2 red onion, diced
Couple of squirts of lime juice
Couple of splashes of olive oil (extra virgin - best quality you can find)
Couple of splashes of red wine vinegar
A palmful of fresh cilantro
salt, pepper, assorted herbs

Mix all ingredients together and enjoy.

Italian Pasta Salad (in honor of Ciccio)
Interesting cooked pasta, like farfalle or penne
Super-fresh, super-ripe tomatoes
Fresh Mozzarella (buffalo mozzarella if you can find it - but it has to be fresh - soaking in salt water variety)
Fresh Basil
Extra Virgin Olive Oil (again, best quality you can find)

Mix all ingredients and enjoy. This works super well when the pasta is still warm, melting the cheese a bit.

Assorted pasta salad ideas, using cool multicolored pastas with spinach, tomato, etc in them, should be dressed with a high quality extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, herbs like basil and oregano (fresh or dried). Stir in grilled veggies like peppers, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and yellow squash or raw veggies like peppers, tomatoes, onions, and cooked small salad shrimp.

Yummy Couscous salads could have couscous, cucumbers, onions, black olives, diced red bell pepper, and feta cheese. Don't forget your seasonings and olive oil!

Feel free to add your own ideas.

MMMmmmm. Now I'm hungry.