Cucumber Sandwiches!

Put anything you want in them and they are perfect for snacks!

Inspiration

Asian Style Chicken Salad

Asian-style chicken salad

Ingredients (serves 4)

·         1L (4 cups) water

·         1 brown onion, halved

·         2 single chicken breast fillets

·         1 carrot, peeled, cut into matchsticks

·         150g snow peas, trimmed, thinly sliced

·         1 red capsicum, deseeded, thinly sliced

·         1/2 wombok (Chinese cabbage),hard core removed, finely shredded

·         3 green shallots, ends trimmed, thinly sliced diagonally

·         1/2 cup fresh coriander leaves

·         2 tbs fresh lime juice

·         1 tbs fish sauce

·         2 tsp brown sugar

·         1 fresh red chilli, deseeded, chopped

Method

1.       Place water, onion and chicken in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, for 10 minutes or until cooked. Drain chicken and discard onion.

2.       Place carrot and snow peas in a bowl. Cover with boiling water. Set aside for 1 minute or until bright green and tender crisp. Refresh under cold running water.

3.       Shred chicken. Place chicken, carrot, snow peas, capsicum, wombok, shallot and coriander in a bowl. Combine lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and chilli in a jar. Pour over salad and combine. Divide among serving bowls to serve.

Summer Salad

SUMMER SALAD       

Ingredients

·         8 ounces orzo pasta

·         2 cups halved cherry tomatoes 

·         1 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

·         1 teaspoon minced garlic 

·         1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

·         1/2 cup Greek olives such as kalamata, pitted and halved

·         4 ounces feta cheese, broken into large chunks 

·         2 cups baby spinach leaves 

·         1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 

·         2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 

·         Salt 

·         freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

1.     1. Cook orzo according to package directions.

2.     2. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, garlic, pine nuts, olives, feta, and spinach. Add cooked orzo.

3.     3. In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste; toss with salad.

Roasted Spring Veggies

Roasted Spring Veggies

Ingredients

·         1 pound green beans, trimmed 

·         1 pound baby carrots (2 cups) 

·         3 medium red onions, cut into eighths 

·         2 large red bell peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch strips 

·         2 large yellow bell peppers, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch strips 

·         8 sprigs fresh thyme

·         Salt and pepper

·         4 cloves garlic, minced 

·         1/3 cup olive oil 

·         1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil

·         1/2 teaspoon paprika

Preparation

1.     Place a rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a shallow baking pan with aluminum foil.

2.     Cut green beans in half. Spread on prepared pan along with carrots, onions, peppers and thyme sprigs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Whisk garlic, olive oil, basil, paprika, salt and pepper together in a small bowl. Pour mixture over vegetables and toss to coat evenly. Roast for 20 minutes. Using a wide spatula, turn vegetables. Roast until tender, 15 to 25 minutes more.

Grilled Veggies

Here’s a list of some of the summer vegetables you can throw on the grill as a kebab brushed lightly with olive oil, salt, and pepper or as grilled vegetables.   For delicious grilled vegetables place a grill pan over medium-high heat.  Brush the vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over.  For a delicious finish whisk together 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 garlic cloves, minced, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley leaves, 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil leaves, 1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves, salt and pepper to taste,  and drizzle over the grilled vegetables.

Bell peppers (8-10 minute grill time)

Corn (30 minute grill time)

Eggplant (7 minute grill time)

Summer Squash ( 7 minute grill time)

Zucchini (7 minute grill time)