Chicken, Rice & Black-Bean Salad

This is from a Martha S. recipe which I have expounded upon to my liking. Easiest version, use shredded rotissery chicken. Favorite version, use shredded smoked chicken (we always keep one in the freezer!). If you have neither of these, grill or saute chicken breasts or boneless thighs and shred those.

2 or 3 cups cooked brown or white rice, cold or room temperature.
3 or 4 cups shredded cooked chicken (see notes above)
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
6 plum tomatoes, cored, seeded and sliced
4 green onions, chopped
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro

Dressing:
1 jalapeno, coarsely chopped, ribs & seeds removed (substitute 1 heaping tsp minced chipotle chili in adobo sauce if a smokey flavor is desired)
2 Tbsp white-wine vinegar
juice of 1 lime
1/4 c olive or vegetable oil
1/2 tsp ground cumin
salt & pepper
(mix all ingredients in a blender or blend with stick blender, adding salt & pepper to taste)

Salad:
Toss chicken with half of the dressing and set aside for a few minutes. In a larger bowl, toss rice, beans, tomatoes, scallions and cilantro. Add remaining dressing and toss well. Add chicken just before serving, scraping out all remaining dressing from the bowl, and toss all together well.

Note: If you haven't made your rice ahead of time, you can cook it first, spread on baking sheet and cool to lukewarm.

Asian Slaw

This is my old standby which I have tweaked and fussed over for a few years!

1 # bag of slaw mix or 1 # of shredded green cabbage
2 c shredded red cabbage
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 package ramen noodles, beef or oriental flavor, crunched and toasted until light brown
1/2 c toasted almonds, sliced or slivered

Dressing:
Seasoning packet
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 c rice vinegar
1/4 c vegetable oil
2 T sesame oil
1 T soy sauce or asian fish sauce
(Mix all well in jar and shake frequently until serving to dissolve sugar.)

Salad:
Mix cabbages and green onions anytime before serving and refrigerate. Just before serving toss in almonds and noodles. Pour in dressing and toss again.