The good old summertime! Time to relax and celebrate warm Illinois weather, grillin’ and chillin’ with family and friends. Nowadays, casual get-together etiquette requires everyone to pitch in and bring a delicious dish. Some pass-and-share favorites include fried chicken, creamy potato salad, and plenty of gooey brownies and chocolate chip cookies.
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So what’s in your picnic basket? I recommend bringing a refreshing salad spotlighting the season’s best veggies. Something light and healthy to balance heavy, traditional picnic fare. Go ahead and show off your locally grown sweet bell peppers, crisp cucumbers and vine-ripened tomatoes. And if you need inspiration, check out these four crowd-pleasing, go-to summer salads. Each takes only minutes to prepare and incorporates seasonal vegetables and grab-and-go ingredients, making them perfect for impromptu parties or unexpected guests.
Next time you fire up the grill, add a few extra ears of sweet corn to toss into colorful Grilled Corn, Black Bean and Edamame Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. Grilled corn adds a smoky flavor to this Southwestern salad, which can double-duty as a salsa. In a pinch, I rely on frozen grilled corn. Edamame adds crunch along with the fresh red bell peppers and chopped green onion. Simply toss everything together with the dressing and chill.
