Thriller Corn Salad

“I have a problem with compulsive mixers, measures, and compulsive choppers.” –Andie Ellis (mom).

Apparently I am a little over-scientific and overzealous with my chopping for my mother’s taste.  This I learned while we worked on tonight’s corn salad. I love to chop things so fine that you can’t really be quite sure if the shard came from a cilantro or a mosquito that flew under my knife. The salad did not suffer for it, but my mother certainly did. We danced to Michael Jackson’s Beat It while working in the kitchen, and then when I prompted Mom to formally name the salad, she said “Beat It Salad!” I advised that this particular song title might be misconstrued, so she offered another Michael title, which I think is perfect.

Thriller Corn Salad

By Andie Ellis

4 cups frozen corn

5 cloves garlic

3 ounces sun dried tomatoes

3/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Handful of cherry tomatoes, chopped (optional)

½ cup red pepper, chopped

2 tsp cumin

½ tsp salt

Fresh cracked pepper

¼ tsp cayenne pepper

1/3 cup red onion, chopped

Trace amounts of jalapeno, chopped and seeded

1/3 cup (a little less than) olive oil

1/3 cup lime juice (fresh, no seeds) (or a half a lime)

1 tsp honey

2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Great salad. My favorite part of this process was mom demonstrating a tip for getting more juice out of a lime. She said you have to roll it on the counter under your palm, like so.    And make sure you have a great time while you roll the lime. Be silly.          wish I could have caught the Beat it dance moves on tape.