Pear and watercress salad

This fruity, gorgeous-looking salad makes for a tasty, light lunch or crowd-pleasing first course. It features hearty brown rice, cottage cheese, cayenne pepper for a touch of heat, and unsweetened canned pears. All you have to do is arrange some fresh watercress on a platter, top with the pear and rice mixture, then serve with your favorite store-bought French dressing (or frankly, whatever flavor of light dressing you like) alongside. Colorful, savory, and sweet, you can assemble the salad ahead of time and let it hang out in the fridge until you're ready to serve.