Mike's Creamy Chipotle Dressing

So, I have been playing with making up my own salad dressings.  Here is one I think you should give a try.  Brought it to a cookout and it was gone in a flash.  The dressing is easy and fast to make, and you can get as fancy as you want with the variety of vegetables to mix into the salad.  

Mike's Creamy Chipotle Dressing

10 minutes to make a mess

10 minutes to clean a mess

Total time: 20 minutes and you have dressing all week long

Creamy Chipotle Dressing

1 14.5-15oz Can of diced tomatoes (NO SALT!)

3 Garlic cloves

1/2 Cup raw unsalted cashews

1/4 of Red pepper

1-2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro

1/4 cup frozen corn

1/4 of a Jalapeno Pepper (without seeds)

1/4 of a Chipotle pepper***

Splash of lime juice

2 teaspoons chili powder

2 teaspoons cumin

1 teaspoon dried onion flakes

Blend in vita-mix until smooth and creamy

*buy as whole jalapeno, might also be available as a dried ground spice, or canned
*Vita-mix will yield very creamy results, a conventional blender works well, but the dressing might not be as creamy (just blend, blend, blend)

SALAD

Spinach

Chopped Scallions

MIX & MATCH SALAD MIXERS - pick your favorites!

Black beans (NO SALT OR LOW SALT!)

Corn

Avocados

Red Peppers 

Red onions

Jalapenos

Tomatoes

Sweet potatoes

Black olives (NO SALT!)

SALAD TOPPERS
Corn tortilla strips (baked until crunchy) - (NO SALT!)

This is a great way to keep unhealthy fats, oils, and salts out of your salad and not taste like rabbit food.  The smokey chipotle creamy dressing satisfies that savory taste salt addicts crave without a trace of added salt.  Bring this salad to a party.  Let people build their own salads by offering a variety of salad mixers.  You might want to serve this dish along with Kate's mexican bean dip.  

For dessert try grilled bananas with topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon.  OR try grilled pineapple skewers (make a orange/cinnamon baste for the pineapple) with Dr. Fuhrman's banana walnut ice cream.