Recipe Catch Up - Week of 8/2 #2 - Black Bean & Corn Salad

We had a pool party to go to, and the main dish was going to be barbecue. I had checked ahead of time and those in charge of ordering the food were pretty sure they had only ordered beef, pork and ham. None of which I will eat. So, I decided to bring a salad. I found this black bean and corn salad on the Food Network site.

Black Bean and Corn Salad
from 30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray, Food Network.

Once again, I forgot to take a photo.

The Verdict
It was good, but not fabulous. I got compliments on it at the party, but I wasn't super happy with the flavors myself. I forgot that I was out of cumin, so I substituted some Mexican oregano I had left over from another recipe. So, the flavor was slightly different that intended in the original recipe. I personally was not a fan of the red onion. I think if I make it again, I will use a sweet onion. I used a mixed yellow and white corn, I think from Bird's Eye that was really good.

This brings me to the last of the recipes I listed in my update at the beginning of August. Of course, I'm still behind because now it's September. So, the recipes I still have to update for you are:

Week of 8/9: Chicken Parmesan
Week of 8/16: Turkey & Cheddar Macaroni
Week of 8/23: I didn't do one, our schedule got all out of whack
Week of 8/30: Cola Cake

Recipe(s) of the Week - Salmon Burgers & Apple Crasin Salad

Yes, it's true, this week we have not one, but two, recipes of the week. I can't actually take credit for making both of them, though, because Alec actually made the salad. But, it was still a new recipe and the two were so perfect together I had to post them both.

I got Rachael Ray's cookbook Express Lane Meals a while back, but I hadn't made anything from it, so last weekend I went through and marked a bunch of the recipes I thought sounded good. One of them was this week's first new recipe - the Salmon Burgers. (Full disclosure is important here - I don't want to end up like Cindy McCain and get berated in the press for copying recipes from Food Network chefs! Then again, my husband isn't running for president, so the press isn't really out to find stuff to berate me for. But, I digress.)

The second recipe, Apple Crasin Salad, comes from Sam's Club. We love to go to Sam's on Saturdays when the "sample ladies" are there. At our location, not only do they have just straight up samples of prepared items, but they also usually have station with recipes. The funny thing about this one is when we asked where the Crasins were, they said they were out and they'd had to run across the parking lot to Wal-Mart to get them for the demo! We found that quite funny. Someone didn't plan too well. Oops, I'm digressing again.

Anyway, here are the recipes:

Salmon Burgers

from Express Lane Meals by Rachael Ray

Ingredients

1 14 oz. can Alaskan Salmon, drained & flaked

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

1 handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Zest of 1 lemon

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

3/4 c. Italian bread crumbs

Black Pepper

Salt

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

Directions

Combine all ingredients except olive oil in a bowl. Form 4 large patties or 8 small patties Preheat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Cook the salmon patties for 2-3 minutes on each side for mini patties, 4 minutes on each side for large patties.

I didn't use the parsley and I substituted a couple squirts of lemon juice for the lemon zest.

The recipe calls for them to be served on a bed of slaw, but we wanted to do a more traditional burger treatment, so we bought some yummy multi-grain rolls from our awesome grocery store bakery. I mixed some mayonnaise and Dijon mustard to make a spread for the bread.

Apple Craisin Salad w/ Apple Vinaigrette Dressing

recipe from Sam's Club

Ingredients

For Salad:

1 pkg. spring mix

1 c. Ocean Spray Craisins

2 c. Red Delicious apples, chopped

For Apple Vinaigrette:

1/2 c. apple juice

2 T honey

2 T lemon juice

1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil

1/4 t. salt

2 T white vinegar

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the spring mix, chopped apples and Craisins.

In a small bowl, combine the apple juice, honey, lemon juice, olive oil, salt & vinegar. Mix well with a whisk.

Pour vinaigrette over salad and toss.