Southwestern Salad

Iceburg Lettuce
1 can black beans, rinsed (you can sub these out for ranch style beans too. just make sure you drain them first-no rinsing necessary)
1-2 roma tomatoes, chopped
reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese
chili cheese fritos, crushed
ranch dressing

This recipe is pretty self explanatory =) A little bit of all of the ingredients and you have yourself a SUPER tasty salad. This recipe has been in my family for a long time with a few alterations. My mom used ranch style beans growing up (you can find these at your grocery store next to the canned beans) but I personally have a special liking for black beans =) I just remember loving this salad growing up and now I make it for my family and they love it. My husband can sit and eat a ginormous bowl filled of this stuff! The Chili Cheese Fritos really make this whole salad! =)

I know it might sound a little bit odd but this is one heck of a tasty salad. I also highly suggest sticking to ranch dressing as opposed to another. Ranch really makes this come together =)

Roasted Asparagus

1 bunch of Asparagus, cleaned with the hard ends broken off
1/2-1 tsp. EVOO
1/2 ts0p. Coarse sea salt

Pre heat oven to 430 F.

Place asparagus on cookie sheet and drizzle EVOO and coarse sea salt over top.

Roll the asparagus around on the cookie sheet to get it coated with the oil and salt.

Bake for 5-7 minutes depending on thickness of your asparagus.

Ashlies Notes: This recipe does not cook the asparagus through. It will still have a little bit of a crunch to it which is great! Keep in mind "the harder your food, the harder your body has to work to break it down." My family and I love this recipe we even eat it as a snack during a movie =)

South Beach "Mashed Potatoes"

1 head cauliflower
fat free milk
No trans fat, low cholesterol butter

Clean and chop up cauliflower and steam. (If you do not have a steamer place in a pot with about 1/2 cup water and put on boil. Boil for about 15 minutes.)

Drain cauliflower and add 1-2 TBL butter and salt and pepper to taste.

Ashlies Notes: These are actually really good. They of course do not beat the real thing but they are really good and will do the trick =)