Island Chicken

This can be  a great ‘company fare’ meal if you want it be . Turn up the ante a bit by simply adding different vegetables or a special salad if for a family meal.

  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in half
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 2 ripe avocados, peeled and sliced
  • 2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2-3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 cup crisp cooked bacon, crushed

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using the 2 tbsp. butter, cook the chicken for about 10 minutes and then remove from the heat.

In a processor, put all the ingredients up to the whipping cream and process until smooth.

Butter a large baking dish and place the chicken in, laying each breast flat and pour the avocado mixture over the top. Bake for 10 minutes, remove and sprinkle the bacon over the mixture, and bake for a further 10 minutes.

In a word or two – yum, yum and yum. Sorry that is three. All that is needed would be warm dinner rolls and a glass of a nicely chilled Pinot Grigio.

 

Valentine’s Guacamole

You really didn’t think I would load it up with garlic for Valentine’s, did you? Really?

 

Try this…it IS tasty.

  • 6 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
  • 3 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Fine zest from 1 lime
  • 1 cup shelled, toasted and chopped pistachios

In a bowl, mash the avocado, zest and lime juice together with a fork. Fold all but 3 tbsp. pistachios in and season with a little salt.

Sprinkle the remaining pistachios over the top and serve immediately with warm tortilla chips. (about 10-12 seconds in the microwave will do it). This way, they taste just out-of-the-oven fresh.

As this is just the starter, make sure you everything else ready to go and now just sit together and enjoy a glass of bubbly or O’Doull’s. It doesn’t matter what…just do it and see what happens next…..(censored).

Smiles all around…

Crunchy Summer Salad

 

There are a million salads and this is another one…..might I add, a great one? I just did.

 

  • 2 English cumbers, unpeeled and sliced thin
  • 1  1/2 cups fresh corn kernals (off the cobb)
  • 2  3/4 cups sugar snap peas
  • 10 radishes, sliced thin
  • 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • pinh of salt and pepper
  • 2 firm-ripe avocados, halved and cut in wedges

Combine the cucumbers, corn, peas and radishes in a bowl. Drizzle the lime juice and oil over the bowl and toss to combine.

Gently fold in the avocadoes and serve right away.

YUM!

 

Chunky Guacamole – Freshly Homemade

With the Grey Cup this weekend and knowing everyone will be glued to the television, this is a lovely guacamole to serve along with tortilla chips, and fresh tomato salsa (on site).

  • 3 avocados- peeled, pitted and mashed
  • 1 lime, juiced
  • 1/2 cup finely diced onion
  • 2 tbsp. chopped cilantro
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tsp. minced garlic
  • pinch of cayenne

In a bowl, mash together the avocado, lime juice and salt. Mix in the onion, cilantro, tomatoes and garlic.

Stir in the cayenne pepper and refrigerate for an hour to let the flavours blend well.

Grilled Tuna With Avocado, Ginger And Lime

This is a nice change of pace…as long as you have either a barbecue or simply heat a grill pan on the stove top. Add a glass of Chardonnay and the pairing is unbelieveable.

 

Vinaigrette

  • 1 jalapeno, seeds removed and chopped fine
  • 2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
  • 1 garlic clove, grated
  • juice from 4 limes
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1/4 tsp. sugar
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • pinch of kosher salt and pepper

Whisk all the ingredients together until well combined.

  • 4 blocks of sushi-quality tuna
  • 4 ripe avocados, halved, peeled, pitted and sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
  • 3  1/2 cups greens of your choice

Preheat grill on high heat or heat grill pan on stove-top until hot. Season the tuna with some kosher salt and pepper. Lay the tuna on the hot grill and sear for 1 minute on each side until a slight crust. Drizzle the tuna with a couple of teaspoons of the vinaigrette. Transfer to 4 plates with the salad greens and avocado slices arranged in a circle and drizzle with the dressing, serving the rest on the side to be added as wanted.

As I said, add a glass of chilled Chardonnay and you have a feast fit for a king .