Salsa Salad

This is a fresh and delicious salad for lunch or a smaller version before supper. My DS and DIL omit the lettuce and use it as a side dish with grilled meats. I've brought it in a big bowl to parties and everyone raves.

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

•  romaine lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces
• 1  cup  cooked black beans or 1  cup black-eyed peas (drain and rinse if using canned)
• 1  bell pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
• 3  ears corn, cut off the cob
• 1  avocado, peeled and diced
• 2  tomatoes, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup  chopped sweet onion
• 1⁄2 cup  grated cheddar cheese
• 1  bunch fresh cilantro, chopped
•  your favorite  vinaigrette (use your own recipe, or try Paul Newman's Family Recipe version, which is really mild and works well)
•  red pepper flakes
•  crushed tortilla chips (we use Red Hot Blues)
•  cooked chicken or  beef, would be delicious on this salad for a nice summer main dish (optional)

Directions

1. Place lettuce on salad plates.
2. Layer remaining ingredients on top of lettuce in the order given with the crushed chips on top.