Cool Eats on the Road
Whew! Can you believe the heatwave we are experiencing in the Midwest? What better way for an NTB driver to cool off than with a cold healthy meal at the beginning and end of a long workday (or night). We’ve got a recipe, a couple of easy frozen snack ideas, and a few other ways to cool off for your drive.
Cold Meals for Summer’s Heat
Cold salads taste great during the summer. But after a long day on the road, it’s nice to have more than lettuce, cucumber, and tomato. We’ve found a super tasty recipe you can make at home that will last all week while you work.
Tex-Mex Salad
Dressing:
1 C Newman's Own Olive Oil and Vinegar Dressing
1/4 C red wine vinegar
3 T chipotle chiles in Adobo sauce - finely chopped
2 T fresh lime juice
1 T ground cumin
2 t salt
Salad:
3 cans black beans - rinsed and drained
3 C cooked rice
1 bag frozen corn
3/4 C red onion - finely chopped
1/2 C green onion - finely chopped
1/2 C fresh cilantro - chopped
8 Roma tomatoes
Mix all dressing ingredients—set aside. Mix all salad ingredients except tomatoes. Toss salad and dressing together. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hr. Before serving, coarsely chop tomatoes and stir into salad. Feel free to double the tomatoes or your favorite ingredient!
While Tex-Mex Salad is excellent on its own, we also have some ideas to change it up a bit since you will have enough for the entire week:
Day 1: Eat it how it is, served with crusty French bread. You just might not want to stop, it’s so delicious.
Day 2: Add a slice of cold rotisserie chicken on the side.
Day 3: Wrap it up in a flour tortilla shell with a bit of goat cheese for some extra tang.
Day 4: Scramble a couple of eggs in the microwave and serve with Tex-Mex Salad on top.
Day 5: Put the last portion on a bed of romaine lettuce and add a sliced avocado on top.
Healthy Cold Snacks
While almonds and cheese make a great snack for those midday munchies, when it’s really hot outside, you might crave something a bit lighter and cold. Fresh fruit is a great way to cool your taste buds—frozen fruit really hits the spot on those hotter-than-hot days.
Two fruits that freeze well are cherries and blueberries. Grab a handful to help alleviate the heat. Keep some cut up watermelon in your refrigerator to eat during breaks and if you want to add something completely different, keep some crumbled feta cheese in a separate container to add to your watermelon right before eating. Sweet and salty? Oh yeah!
Stay Hydrated
Making sure you stay hydrated while driving is really important during the summer. Your mind is clearer when your body has what it needs. During your home break, brew up a pot of coffee and a big container of iced tea. Pour each into water bottles and freeze. Keep a sliced lemon in the fridge for the tea and you’ll never be without a fresh, cold drink that tastes good and gives a little extra pep for your drive.
What summery food do you like to keep in your truck? Comment below or on our Facebook Page.
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