11 Best Dishes of 2018

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Happy New Year!

2018 was a year full of highs and lows but it seems that it went so fast that it was a blur.  The food we made was a full of variety.  The most popular dishes seem to have a comfort food theme with a little bit of restaurant flair thrown in.   

I've gathered the eleven most popular dishes (there was a tie for 10th place that I couldn't break) from 2018 in one spot for you to reference and enjoy!

Enjoy all the precious moments that 2019 will bring.  We only live once!

11 TOP RECIPES OF 2018

In no particular order...

Cajun Roasted Potatoes

Chili Lime Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

Baked Honey Soy Chicken Legs

Spicy Turkey Chili 

Garlic and Parmesan Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Mediterranean Rice

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Stew

Middle Eastern Chickpea Salad

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

Easy Cinnamon Peach Cobbler - Family Sized

Sheet Pan Beef Fajitas

There are plenty of dishes to come in 2019.  Lots of comfort food, weeknight meals, stir frys, southern dishes, and easy restaurant style meals.  Enjoy a prosperous holiday and I am so grateful for all of my followers.  I wish you the best to come in 2019 and will be talking to you in the new year!

9 Summer Grilling Favorites 2018

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Summer is well under way and everyone is trying to beat the kitchen heat by grilling outdoors!

I have an array of some of my favorite grilling dishes that I think you will just love.  So look through them below and pick a few to try when you are planning your next meal on the grill!

9 Summer Grilling Favorites 2018



Let start off with something light and healthy like my Weeknight Balsamic Steak Salad.  This has such bold flavors that will leave you craving more.. Don't forget the Blue Cheese on this one, it's a definite must for those complex flavors!

For a great chicken dish you'll just love my Grilled Balsamic Chicken with Mediterranean Rice.  Again as with the steak dish above Balsamic is the primary flavor and it's just makes this chicken pop!  We love Mediterranean flavors and this dish is a winner!

For those who like fish or seafood you have to try my Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp and Scallops.  It is so light and delectable that it will just knock your socks off!

You certainly can't get through summer without having a burger.  And if you choose any burger it better be my Butter Burgers.  Man oh man are these the juiciest burgers you will have anywhere!  An absolute must in my book.

Oh this salad!  The marinade which is also the salad dressing is to die for.  This salad is worth eating just for that marinade.  Grilled Lemon Herb Mediterranean Chicken Salad with leave you feeling like you are sitting on a small island somewhere drinking Chianti and savoring the sea breeze! 

Let not forget the side dishes that are perfect for grilling.  Try The BEST Grilled Corn Ever and you will know what I mean.  Savory with chives and then there's the butter.  Need I say more?

What's better than a side of grilled vegetables?  Not much.  Grilling brings out the sweetness in the vegetables, and that char...oh that char!  Flavors are waiting.  Try my version of Grilled Vegetables with a balsamic marinade...they are truly perfection!

For something fun and different on the grill try Grilled Pita Pizzas.  They are a quick weeknight meal or can be a great appetizer.  They're easy to throw together and taste superb on the grill!

Let's not forget about dessert!  You gotta try a dessert on the grill.  Yes, grilled peaches and nectarines are tasty, but let's go a step further and have my Grilled Lemon Pound Cake with Strawberries and Vanilla Ice Cream!  Oh boy, oh boy!  I'll take the dessert over the meal when this is served!

Have a wonderful "grillful" summer!



Chili Lime Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

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So I have to admit that this is a rare posting of a "fishy" dish.  I don't eat fish but MGG loves it.  So I will on occasion make him fish while cooking a piece of chicken for myself.

Since I hadn't made him a salmon dish in quite awhile I thought it was time to do just that!  It just so happened that this particular salmon dish came out fabulously delicious that I had to share it all with you.  You are gonna love this.

Chili Lime Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

The flavors in this dish just POP!  The salmon is bursting with a chili lime seasoning and I use a searing and roasting method that produces a crispy fish on the outside and juicy and succulent on the inside.   This method is really easy to do and is perfect if you are cooking four or less fillets.  The best tool that you can use for this is a cast-iron skillet.  It cooks the fish beautifully!

Serve along a combination of roasted potatoes, green beans, and butternut squash.  A great combination that turns out to be the perfect side dish to the fish. 

This is one easy weeknight meal, that is perfect for the fish lover!

Enjoy!

Chili Lime Salmon with Roasted Vegetables

serves 4

2 tablespoons of butter
4 salmon fillets
2 Tablespoons chili lime seasoning (such as Mrs. Dash)
3/4 lb fresh green beans
1 1/2 lb baby gold potatoes (halved or quartered)
1 lb cubed butternut squash
olive oil
salt & pepper

Heat the oven to 450 degrees. On a sheet pan place the butternut squash and potatoes, spreading them out so they don't overlap too much. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat and spread out again on the pan.

Cook the vegetables for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and toss and add the green beans. Cook an additional 10 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cover with foil to keep warm.

Turn the oven down to 400 degrees.

Sprinkle the seasoning over the salmon fillets. In a cast-iron skillet over medium high, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add the salmon fillets, skin side down and cook for 3 minutes over to brown the skin. Spoon some of the melted butter over the top of the fish as it cooks.

Transfer the skillet to oven. Roast until fish is just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.

Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp and Scallops

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I've been remiss in posting this week and I'm sorry for that, but between 105 degree weather with 80% humidity (Hawaii anyone!) with sporadic thunderstorms, and then all of a sudden it's 80 (which is cool for this time of year) I had to go and get sick!

Yep...

I did it...I got a painful sore throat, which I NEVER get.  So I've been off my game a little.

So to make it up to you I'm going to share a GREAT recipe with you for some late summer grilling!  I don't post many seafood recipes here on Slice of Southern, but MGG loves seafood.  Me, not so much.  So every now and then we satisfy his cravings and cook up a wonderful fish dish for him.  I'll usually cook chicken for my self using the same flavorings so we have a nice, easy, and tasty dinner that's similar.  

So he requested shrimp and scallops this time around.  Grilled ones!  So I immediately thought of using a wonderful lemon and herb sauce as the basis for this dish that would compliment the fish well.

LEMON HERB GRILLED SHRIMP AND SCALLOPS

Light lemony flavor combined with bright herbs bring these grilled shrimp and scallops to a whole different level that just screams summer!  

This dish is easy enough to make for a party and can be scaled for an intimate dinner for 2 or 4.  I like easy, quick meals and you can't get much easier that making a basting sauce and grilling some fish.  Fish cooks in no time at all and you'll have dinner on the table in about 15 minutes start to finish!  I did use a specialty pan to help me along.  This Pro Ceramic Shrimp and Scallop Pan  is great to have because is made of ceramic, which retains heat well, and it has these wells that hold the shrimp and scallops and the basting sauce!  Perfect, but you can certainly use any pan you like.

The Lemon Herb basting sauce make this dish special!  Don't forget the sauce...you'll love every bite of this dish, I promise.  Serve it with Beth's Confetti Rice and a piece of grilled bread and you have one heck of a meal!

Enjoy!








Lemon Herb Grilled Shrimp and Scallops

serves 2

1/2 lb 10-12 shrimp
1/2 lb scallops - about 6
salt and pepper

Lemon Herb Basting Sauce:

¼ cup olive oil

juice of 1 lemon  ( 2-3 Tablespoons )
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

2 teaspoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped

1 teaspoon salt

Fresh ground black pepper

Preheat your seafood pan for 15 minutes over medium-high heat.  Meanwhile in a medium bowl combine all your Lemon Herb basting ingredients.  Remove 2 Tablespoons to a small cup and set aside.

Add shrimp and scallops to the seafood pan. Cook scallops about 2-3 minutes to brown nicely on each side. Grill shrimp, turning once, cooking until the center is slightly opaque, about 1 to 2 minutes per side. After turning each type of fish, baste with the lemon herb sauce.  Turn one final time and baste again.  Place on a platter and drizzle with reserved lemon herb sauce.  Serve with rice.

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Grilled Chili Lime Fish or Chicken Tacos

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Tacos, Tacos, Tacos!

It doesn't have to be "Tuesday" to eat tacos.  In fact it can be any old day of the week and I'll eat a tacos without hesitation.  But, when summer comes I gravitate outside and grill my tacos.  Yum!  Although these Slow Cooker Beef Tacos may be an exception.

EASY GRILLED CHILI LIME FISH OR CHICKEN TACOS ARE ON THE MENU
Grilled Chili Lime Fish or Chicken Tacos are versatile and simple, plus they satisfy that Mexican food graving we all get from time to time.  Why two types of protein?  Well, since MGG loves fish and me, no so much, I bought a beautiful piece of Tilapia for him, and a got a nice chicken breast for me.  Who says you can't make different types of tacos in one sitting?  Not I.  This way we use all the same spices and ingredients and just adjust the protein to our liking.  Bingo, we're both winners with this dish!

Fish Tacos

The fish comes out flaky and tender with the perfect amount of spice.  The chicken turns out moist and flavorful as well, with hints of chili powder and citrusy lime bursting in your mouth on the first bite.  Top your tacos with a little crunch from the cabbage, and some buttery soft avocado and you'll be having a party before you know it. (above MGG added diced tomatoes and a radish to his for extra flavor)  They taste that good!  Oh, and don't forget to squeeze some lime on there for good measure.  It really takes your dish over the top.

Chicken Taco

What's better than fresh, healthy clean food to eat that's simple to prepare.  Remember, tacos are great for a any weeknight, weekend, or party.  There the perfect finger food that everyone enjoys!

Grilled Chili Lime Fish or Chicken Tacos

1 Tilapia filet
1 boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 2 thin cutlets
2 Tbls Fiesta Lime salt free seasoning blend (Mrs. Dash)
6 corn tortillas

1 large hass avocado, sliced

1/4 c Monterey jack or queso fresco cheese

2-3 Tbls cilantro, chopped

1/4 small red cabbage, cored and thinly sliced

Lime wedges for serving

Sprinkle both chicken and fish with the seasoning blend on both sides.  Pressing down to adhere.

Preheat a grill to medium-high heat.  Brush grill grates liberally with oil.  If you are using both chicken and fish start grilling the chicken first.  Grill about 4-5 minutes on the first side.  Flip over and cook about 3-4.  Once you flip the chicken ad the fish to the grill and cook about 3 minutes per side or until opaque and flaky.   (Grilling time may need to be adjusted based upon the grill temperature or the thickness of your meat.) 

Remove fish and chicken and place on a platter, covered with foil to keep warm.  Add the corn tortillas to the grill and cook about 30-60 seconds per side until they have a slight char on them.  Remove to the platter. 

Cut chicken and fish into small strips or bite sized pieces.  Serve in the warm tortillas and top with red cabbage, avocado, cilantro, and cheese.  Other toppings such as tomatoes or radishes work well with this dish.