Southwestern Layered Salad (and a Mason jar picnic!)

Each year it seems like I enjoy summertime more than the year before.  I am not a big "outdoorsy" person, unless I am poolside or reading a book in the hammock in the shade.  However, I know that my kiddos love to be outside, which of course, forces me to be out there as well to keep an eye on them.  This summer, I have really been loving my deck.  When the humidity is low, the mosquitoes tend to stay farther away (though they are always nearby, since we live in the woods!).  I have been taking advantage of the low-humidity evenings and eating dinner out on the deck.  The kids love it and it keeps my eat-in kitchen a bit cleaner!  Win-win!  With this salad, I decided at the last minute to go all-out with the Mason jar picnic theme; very fun and very summery!

Southwestern Layered Salad
adapted from "Get-Togethers with Gooseberry Patch"

8-oz. container of sour cream
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
10-oz. can tomatoes with green chiles, drained
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
4 cups romaine lettuce, shredded (about 1 1/2 heads)
2-3 tomatoes, chopped
15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
15-oz. can corn, drained (or 2 cups frozen corned, rinsed in a colander to thaw)
1 sweet red onion, chopped
15-oz. can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
2 red peppers, chopped
Garnish: cheddar cheese, green onions (shredded and thinly sliced, respectively!)

Combine sour cream, cream cheese, tomatoes with chiles, cumin, and garlic powder in a blender or food processor; process until smooth.  Chill.

Layer vegetables in order given among 8 one-pint Mason canning jars.  Spoon dressing over top; sprinkle with cheese and green onion.  Cover and chill for an hour.  Serve in the jars.

My little girl, Delancey.  She rarely eats enough to keep a baby bird alive--unless there is a ton of sugar involved.  :)

Bennett was all about the Mason jar picnic--he ate all of his food, and thought that this style was pretty cool.

Pictured below is our picnic place setting, complete with sweet sun tea, apple-blueberry slushie (tomorrow's post--stay tuned!), fresh watermelon slices, and bananaberry muffins.  Sweet summer lovin'.