/ July 19, 2025

Charred Corn & Chicken Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing

A quick little side chat before jumping into this insanely delicious charred corn & chicken salad….

This summer, I decided to take some time off. I shared all about why here. I’m working on slowing down, adding in more rest and play. They say that the opposite of anxiety isn’t peace. Its creation. We are happiest, in our truest nature, when we’re creating.

I’ve been thinking about this idea a lot this summer, and how much time I allow for play and creation in my life. When I first started food blogging, it was essentially an outlet for play with food styling and photography. There was no end goal of becoming the best photographer or monetizing my images. It was just “for me.”

I look at my kids and am envious of the sense of play and creation that exists in their lives. My middle guy, Sloan, has recently gotten into crocheting and is never not in his room whipping up his next creation— Edward Scissorhands’ hands in real life.

He crocheted this sweater last week and proudly wore it to Costco to show off. He wasn’t crocheting to create the best sweater or build a sweater business. He was crocheting just for the experience. I wish you could see the joy on his face when he worked. When I offered to help him find a pattern to use for his next sweater, he looked at me curiusly and asked, “Why..this one is perfect just as it is.“

I mean, can you even with this photo? P.S….he was stopped three times by people in Costco asking him where he got his sweater – humans can be amazing.

So I’m sure you’re asking….

What does this have to do with a charred corn & chicken salad? Well, nothing and everything. As I’ve been “off,” I’ve been trying to play more and find that sense of curiosity and creation again. I’ve been making this salad all summer, and I found myself last week noticing how gorgeous it was and how I’d love to take images of it. Just for fun. For no reason other than being curious as to how I’d “style” it, what bowl I’d use, etc. It felt fun. Not something I “had to” do for “work”, but rather just lit up that playful, creative side in me that hasn’t been on in a while.

Between motherhood, the responsibilities of running a home with six people, and, honestly, just life, I started this summer feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, and burned out. And when we’re feeling this way, our creativity dies a little. We’re in fight-or-flight mode, not creation mode. So, feeling a little “spark” reignite within, and feeling an urge to pull my camera back out, was as if a little part of me was being turned back on. I felt like “me” again. I had missed that feeling.

Ok, so on to this charred corn & chicken salad (finally)

I have been making this salad on repeat this summer. It’s everything I crave in a summer meal: smoky grilled chicken, charred sweet corn and red onion (why is grilled red onion just so flipping good?), crisp radishes, toasted pepitas for crunch, and a creamy cumin-lime cilantro dressing that ties it all together.

You can make a big batch of the dressing, chicken, and grilled veggies, and keep them in the fridge all week. Then during the week, just add a little baby gem lettuce and cucumbers, and you’re all set.

I promise you this salad does not disappoint – and for those of you women and mothers out there who may have felt a little bit down this year – neither does taking a little time “off”, and making room for a little play in our lives. Speaking of…for those of you interested in slowing down this summer, I’ve been reading this book, and it’s so helpful in shifting my perspective on rest. Can not recommend enough (this salad & rest…lol).

Recipe: