Sassy Salad;)

So 2 very powerful forces joined this week:

1. This gorgeous weather...
2. I happened to stumble on this in one of my old "Food Network" magazines....

...Hence, the "Sassy Salad Club: 2010 Edition" was reformed! The "SSC" (I think I came up with the goofy name...but forgive me, I enjoy titles;) began last summer when 2 friends & I started to decide on a new salad to try out for lunch one day each week. We each bring a "piece of the (salad) pie" and we all get to feast and try out something new! Not bad, right??? And I knew just the one I wanted to "open our season" with: The Southwestern Cobb. I was intrigued by the idea of an orange zest/buttermilk dressing... I made a few revisions (mostly due to a lack of a few ingredients). For the dressing I mixed in my mini food processor:

• Equal parts reduced fat buttermilk & reduced fat sour cream (about 1/2 a cup of each, which was WAYYYY to much)
• Zest of an orange
• 2 Scallions
• A clove of garlic
• Salt & Pepper

And for the salad we mixed:

• Avocado
• Orange segments
• 1/2 can of black beans
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• And what I was hoping to be my star ingredient: Chile Spiced Dried Pineapple:
  

It all made for a cool & creamy salad. I can't say it was my most favorite salad ever, but it was an interestingly different one to start with. The orange zest was a little overwhelming in the dressing, but I did like the cool avocado mixed with the spice of the pineapple and the zip of oranges... I think we have a mighty fine idea of what next week's gem is going to be...and I think it's going to be a good one:) Stay Tuned!