Wednesday, June 22, 2011

WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO TURN ON THE OVEN . . .



                                                                             

It's summer and it's dang hot here in Florida. Too hot to turn on the oven for sure. But you have to eat! Grilling is a good alternative to the oven. Below are some selected grilling recipes to get you through the heat.

First up is Asian Flank Steak. Marinate this overnight, make a big butt salad, grill your steak, and you have a hot weather meal and you don't heat up your house.

Another grilled meal you can try is Soy and Garlic Pork Chops. This recipe also requires marinating. You can add a baked sweet potato, and grill some string beans on the grill beside your chops, and you are set. I've also served it with raw sugar peas.

If you don't feel like grilling, you can use your stove-top and microwave.Thai Shrimp and Broccoli is a one pot Asian influenced dish. Follow the directions and you'll have very little clean-up when you are finished.

Another pasta dish you can make is Cappellini with Sausage and Spinach. This will require a few more dirtied dishes than the Thai shrimp but it's well worth it.

Like gazpacho? This recipe is for a soup similar to gazpacho. You can eat it cold if you wish, although I prefer it to be at room temperature in the summer because I think more of the fresh veggie taste comes through better. Try Chile Cheese Soup and use up all those summer tomatoes.

Technically, you can use only the microwave for this next recipe. For Buffalo Chicken Dip, you need 3 cooked chicken breasts. If you are trying to stay cool, grill the chicken or nuke it. Serve with celery, carrots, or endive leaves.

Looking for a nice cool dessert? Try some Strawberry Pretzel Salad.


Monday, June 20, 2011

TILAPIA WITH JERK SEASONING AND MELON SALSA




(In regards to this pic . . . see  my confession below.)

Melon Salsa Ingredients

1/2 cup of cantaloupe, chopped
1/2 cup of honeydew melon, chopped
2 tsp. of honey
8-10 chopped fresh mint leaves

Combine, and let sit while you prepare and cook fish.




Tilapia

2 tilapia filets
jerk seasoning




Heat oven or grill to 400 degrees. Place fish in oiled pan. Sprinkle with jerk seasoning. Place in oven or on grill for 15 minutes.

When fish is finished, serve with melon salsa.

NOTE - I use Nantucket Off-Shore Rasta Rub. Check out their other offerings here. Nantucket Off Shore



CONFESSION - Usually I keep the salsa in a bowl, rather than on the plate with the fish. I put both on the same plate for the pic, but I won't do that again. Nope, I want my melon salsa in a bowl by my fish. You, however, may do as you please.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

CANTALOUPE NUT BREAD


Another nut bread recipe, but the cantaloupe makes it a little different. The bread freezes well.




1 3/4 cup of flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup of nuts (I use pecans)
2/3 cup of sugar
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup of cantaloupe pulp

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add nuts and mix. In a separate bowl, cream sugar and oil. Add egg and mix. Then add cantaloupe. Add flour and nut mix, 1/2 cup at a time. Pour batter into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

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