Firecracker Grilled Salmon

These are salmon fillets in a tasty, tangy sauce with a little heat! Serve with a delicious salad for a refreshing, spicy meal.

Ingredients

• 8 (4 ounce) fillets salmon
• 1/2 cup peanut oil
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 4 tablespoons green onions, chopped
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place salmon filets in a medium, nonporous glass dish. In a separate medium bowl, combine the peanut oil, soy sauce, vinegar, green onions, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, sesame oil and salt. Whisk together well, and pour over the fish. Cover and marinate the fish in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours.
2. Prepare an outdoor grill with coals about 5 inches from the grate, and lightly oil the grate.
3. Grill the fillets 5 inches from coals for 10 minutes per inch of thickness, measured at the thickest part, or until fish just flakes with a fork. Turn over halfway through cooking.

English Tea Cucumber Sandwiches

A refreshing and delicious sandwich. Depending on the way you cut the bread, these can be made as appetizers or a simple lunch time sandwich.

Ingredients

• 1 cucumber, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion salt
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• 1 (1 pound) loaf sliced bread, crusts removed
• 1 pinch lemon pepper (optional)

Directions

1. Place cucumber slices between 2 paper towels set in a colander. Allow liquid to drain, about 10 minutes.
2. Mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion salt, and Worcestershire sauce in a bowl until smooth.
3. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly on one side of each bread slice.
4. Divide cucumber slices over half of the bread slices; sprinkle lemon pepper on cucumber.
5. Stack the other half of the bread slices with spread sides down over the cucumber slices to make sandwiches.

Chicken Milano

A delicious pasta and chicken dish with garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil. Use the dry packaged sun-dried tomatoes instead of the tomatoes packed in olive oil. The sauce can be kept, covered, for one day in the refrigerator; heat again over low heat. Try it with some crusty bread if desired.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 1 cup chicken broth, divided
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 8 ounces dry fettuccini pasta

Directions

1. In a large saucepan over low heat, melt butter; add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes and 3/4 cup of the chicken broth; increase to medium heat and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for about 10 minutes or until the tomatoes are tender. Add the cream and bring to a boil; stirring. Simmer over medium heat until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
2. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm oil and saute chicken. Press on chicken occasionally with a slotted spatula. Cook for about 4 minutes per side or until the meat feels springy and is no longer pink inside. Transfer to a board; cover and keep warm. Discard the fat from the skillet.
3. In the same skillet, over medium heat, bring 1/4 cup chicken broth to a boil; stirring the pan juices. Reduce slightly and add to the cream sauce; stir in basil and adjust seasonings to taste.
4. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain, transfer to a bowl and toss with 3 to 4 tablespoons of the sauce.
5. Cut each chicken breast into 2 to 3 diagonal slices. Reheat the sauce gently if needed. Transfer the pasta to serving plates; top with chicken and coat with the cream sauce; serve.

Rumaki with Pineapple

With summer here, it's time to start grilling.  These easy appetizers are a quick addition to any cookout.

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 24 (1 inch) cubes fresh pineapple
• 24 water chestnut slices
• 8 thick-cut bacon slices, cut crosswise into 3 pieces
• 24 toothpicks
• 1/2 cup low-fat sesame-ginger salad dressing
• 1 tablespoon chopped green onion, or to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line the bottom section of a broiler pan with aluminum foil, top with the broiler rack, and spray rack with cooking spray.
2. Place a water chestnut slice atop each pineapple cube; wrap each with 1 bacon slice, securing with a toothpick. Arrange wrapped pineapple on the prepared broiler rack.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 7 minutes; turn and continue baking until bacon is almost crisp, about 8 more minutes. Brush rumaki with sesame-ginger dressing and continue baking until bacon is crisp, about 5 more minutes. Garnish rumaki with green onion.

Pistachio Fluff Fruit Salad

This is a light and fluffy dessert salad based on pistachio pudding; the pudding is made lighter with the addition of whipped topping. Add an extra can of mandarin oranges, if you like.

Ingredients

• 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
• 1 (3 ounce) package instant pistachio pudding mix
• 1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 2 large bananas, sliced
• 2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 (15.25 ounce) can fruit cocktail, drained
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

Directions

1. Dump instant pudding into a large mixing bowl.
2. Add pineapple, and mix well.
3. Mix in whipped topping.
4. Stir in bananas, marshmallows, fruit cocktail, and mandarin oranges.
5. Cover, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Greek Pork Tenderloin

Lean and tender, pork tenderloins are perfect for the grill. This zesty marinade makes tenderloins even more tender than they already are.  Serve slices on pita with onions, tomatoes, and tzatziki.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups fresh lime juice
• 3/4 cup olive oil
• 6 cloves garlic, sliced
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 6 tablespoons dried oregano
• 2 (1 pound) pork tenderloins

Directions

1. Place lime juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and oregano in a large resealable plastic bag. Shake sealed bag until ingredients are well mixed. Taste the marinade for tartness. If too tart, add a little more oil. Not enough zing, add more lime. The garlic and salt flavors should also be up front, yet not overpowering. Place tenderloins in the bag, seal, and turn to coat. Marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 5 hours.
2. Preheat grill for medium heat.
3. Lightly oil the grill grate, and discard marinade. Grill tenderloins for 20 to 30 minutes, turning once, or to desired doneness.