Southwestern Chop Salad

WorkingMom2three's Note:

I made up this salad based on salads of the same type you get in restaurants. I sometimes add hard-boiled egg if I have time or in the mood. My favorite is to add chicken that has been grilled with bbq sauce, then it's a meal.

• Total Time: 20 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 0 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped or torn into little pieces.
• 1 tomato, ripe, diced
• 1 cucumber, peeled and diced
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
• 3 slices bacon, cooked and diced
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 cup fresh gourmet corn tortilla strips, Santa Fe Style
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese or 1/2 cup monterey jack cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Wash and dry the lettuce and tear/chop it. Add all the other prepared ingredients except for tortilla strips.
2. Toss the salad, then add tortilla strips on top.
3. You can substitute or add whatever type of bean or corn you like.
4. Adding BBQ chicken makes this salad into a meal.
5. I serve with bottled ranch dressing, but you can make your own. A lime-cilantro would be good.