Layered Chicken Salad

Prepare this one the night before so the flavours can mix.

4 to 5 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
1/4 lb bean sprouts
8 oz can water chestnuts, sliced
1 medium sized cucumber, thinly sliced
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
2 - 8oz pkg pea pods
4 cups cooked chicken, cut into strips
2 cups mayonnaise
2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp sugar
10 to 12 cherry tomatoes, halved

Spread lettuce as evenly as possible in a 4 quart glass bowl.  Top with 1 layer each of sprouts, water chestnuts, cucumber, onions, pea pods and chicken (make sure pea pods are dry).  Stir together, in a bowl, the mayonnaise, curry, ginger and sugar.  Spread evenly over salad.  Decorate with halved cherry tomatoes.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.  You may want extra mayonnaise mixture to serve on the side.

Baja Grilled Chicken Chef's Salad

I love grilled vegetables, what a great assortment of veggies and chicken!

1 cup Diana Sauce Western Smokehouse flavour, divided
1 tbsp each brown sugar and cider vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tbsp lime juice
2 tsp minced chipotle peppers in Adobo sauce
2 cobs corn, husked
4 thick rings of pineapple
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 tsp each salt and pepper (I omit the salt)
8 cups shredded iceberg lettuce (I prefer romaine)
1 avocado, pitted peeled and sliced
1 red pepper, sliced
2 green onions, sliced
Lime wedges

1. Preheat the grill to medium high and grease the grate.  Divide the sauce in half.  Stir one half with brown sugar, cider vinegar and vegetable oil.  Reserve.  Stir remaining sauce with lime juice and chipotle peppers until combined.
2. Brush corn, pineapple and chicken with chipotle sauce mixture; sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper.  Transfer chicken and corn to grill.  Cook, turning once for 5 minutes.  Reduce heat to medium; cook, turning as needed for 9 to 12 minutes or until tender and cooked through.  Add pineapple during last 5 minutes of cooking time; turning as needed.  Remove everything from grill.  Slice chicken and quarter pineapple rings.  Use a sharp knife to cut corn into disks.
3. Divide lettuce between four large plates.  Drizzle with some of the reserved dressing.  Arrange grilled chicken, pineapple, corn, avocado, red pepper and green onions over lettuce.  Drizzle with remaining dressing.  Serve with lime wedges. Makes 4 servings.

Falafel Cheeseburgers with Tzatziki

I am a confirmed carnivore, but this recipe could almost make me vegetarian!  A nice change to a regular hamburger with lots of flavour.  Even the kids ate it (although I didn't tell them it was chickpeas)  From Food and Drink 2011

1 can (540ml) chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh coriander leaves
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic, coarsely chopped
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
Generous pinch cayenne
Salt to taste
4 oz (125g) Halloumi cheese thinly sliced (or your favourite cheese)
4 burger buns
1/2 cup tzatziki
4 boston lettuce leaves
Sliced tomato, red onion and/or cucumber

1. Spread chickpeas out on a kitchen towel lined, rimmed baking sheet.  Blot with another towel until very dry.
2. In a food processor (I only have a blender so that is what I use), combine chickpeas, coriander leaves, 1 tbsp olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, coriander, cumin and cayenne.  Pulse until mixture forms a crumbly paste that holds together.  Taste and add a little salt and more cayenne if necessary.   Pulse again to combine.
3. Form mixture into 4 even sized patties, about 1/2 inch thick.  In a large nonstick skillet (I use my cast iron), heat remaining oil over medium heat.  Add burgers and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown on the undersides.  Using an egg lifter, carefully turn burgers over.  Top each with halloumi.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until burgers are golden brown and hot throughout, and cheese is starting to melt.
4. Meanwhile, split buns in half and toast until golden brown.  Spread bottom half of each bun with tzatziki.  Top with lettuce, and tomato, onion and/or cucumber.  Place a falafel burger on each bun.  Replace tops of buns and serve at once.

Grilled Steak Fajita Salad

Simplicity and goodness, I love this one!  Once again I get to use my BBQ and the salad is a nice light twist!

1 cup Diana Sauce, original flavour (or your favourite BBQ Sauce)
2 tbsp each lime juice and chopped fresh coriander
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp hot pepper sauce
500 g Sirloin Steak
1/4 tsp each salt and pepper
4 corn tortillas or small flour tortillas
1 tbsp vegetable oil
6 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1/2 cup sliced red onion
1 red or yellow pepper, sliced
1 avocado, sliced (love this addition!)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (use mozzarella or get creative with goat cheese)
1/2 cup sour cream ( I skipped this)

1. Preheat the grill to medium high and grease lightly.  Stir the sauce with the lime juice, coriander, cumin and hot pepper sauce.  Brush 1/4 cup of the mixture over the steak and sprinkle evenly with salt and pepper (I omitted the salt).  Brush the tortillas with the oil.
2. Set the steak and the tortillas on the grate.  Grill the tortillas for 2 minutes, turning as needed or until well marked.  Remove from the grill, cool slightly and break or tear into strips.  Grill the steak for 8 to 10 minutes, turning once.  Rest the steak for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
3. Layer the lettuce, red onion, peppers and avocado onto four serving plates.  Top with the steak and the tortilla strips.  Drizzle with the remaining sauce mixture and garnish with the cheese and the sour cream.  Makes 4 servings.

No Fuss Mexican Layered Dip

Perfect for watching Football!

1 pkg light cream cheese

1 tbsp taco seasoning mix

1 cup salsa

1 cup drained canned black beans, rinsed

1/2 cup chopped green onions

1 cup cheddar shredded

1 cup shredded lettuce

2 tbsp sliced ripe olives

1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley

baked tortilla chips

Beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until creamy.  Add seasoning mix; beat until well blended.  Spread on a shallow 9 inch dish.  Layer remaining ingredients over cream cheese mixture; cover

Refrigerate at least 1 hour.  For easier dipping, remove from fridge 20 min before serving.

Serve with tortilla chips.

Honey Mustard Chicken Wraps

Here is something the kids will actually eat that isn't french fries or chicken nuggets.

8 small whole wheat flour tortillas

2 tbsp cornstarch

1 cup milk

3 tbsp honey mustard

1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

1 tbsp butter

1 lb boneless skinless chicken cut into thin strips

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 sweet red pepper, cut into thin strips

2 cups shredded romaine or leaf lettuce

1. Preheat oven or toaster ovento 350 F.  Wrap tortillas in a large foil package and warm in oven for 5 to 10 min.
2. Meanwhile, in a measuring cup or bowl, whisk together cornstarch, milk, honey mustard, salt and pepper.  
3. In a large nonstick skillet, melt butter over medium high heat; saute chicken and garlic just until chicken is starting to brown.  Add red pepper; saute for 2 min.  Stir milk mixture and stir into skillet.  Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring, for 3 to 5 min or until thickened and chicken is no longer pink inside.
4. Spoon filling along centre of each tortilla and top with shredded lettuce.   Fold up bottom of tortilla, then fold in sides to enclose filling.

Black Bean Tacos

Another vegetarian dish that is kid friendly!  Just don't tell them they are eating beans!

2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chili powder
2 cans (19 oz/540 ml each) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded fresh lettuce
2 tomatoes, diced
1 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced
1 pkg flour tortillas, 6 in size
salsa and sour cream if desired

• Heat the olive oil in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.  Add chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are translucent - 3 to 5 minutes.  Add the garlic, stir for 30 seconds, then add the cumin, chili powder and beans.  Using a fork, mash the beans in the pan, then stir in the water.  Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often until thickened - 12 to 15 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (You can prepare this filling well ahead of time and just reheat when you're ready).
• While the bans are cooking, prepare the remaining ingredients for the tacos; Shred the cheese and lettuce, dice the tomatoes, slice the avocado.  Arrange topping ingredients in bowls so that diners can assemble tacos to their own taste.  Just before serving, wrap the stack of tortillas in paper towelling and microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until they are warmed through.
• To serve, lay a tortilla out on a plate and spread with some of the black bean mixture.  Add cheese, lettuce, tomato and avocado (plus salsa and sour cream, if desired). Fold, eat and repeat!