recipe of the week: guacamole salad

so i watched ina garten, the barefoot contessa, for the first time on food network last week when we were in las vegas visiting family. there is just something calming and comfortable about her. i would love to sit at her table and eat her food and just chat with her. no wonder she has her own show on food network.

this recipe comes from her kitchen. it was amazing. i was skeptical, but the dinner was an easy 9 in both my husband and i's books. i served it with a piece of grilled chicken and some plain brown rice on the side. it was an absolutely perfect meal.

guacamole salad
modified slightly from ina garten, here
6 servings

3 good-size roma tomatoes, diced

1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and 1/2-inch diced (i left this out, but it sounded yummy to include!)
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained
1/2 cup small diced red onion
2 tablespoons minced jalapeno peppers, seeded (2 peppers)
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lime zest
chopped cilantro, to your liking
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (2 limes) (i used 1/2 fresh 1/2 not)
a little less than 1/4 cup good olive oil (more like 3 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
2 ripe avocados, seeded, peeled, and 1/2-inch diced

place the tomatoes, yellow pepper, black beans, corn, red onion, jalapeno peppers, cilantro and lime zest in a large bowl. whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic, and cayenne pepper and pour over the vegetables. toss well.

just before you're ready to serve the salad, fold the avocados into the salad. check the seasoning and serve at room temperature.