Fresh Apple Slaw

One of the things I struggle with is changing up my side dishes.

Do you tend to gravitate toward the same ones as well? Well this summer I changing that.

I've made a pact to incorporate new side dishes using fresh summer ingredients. There are so many things to explore but I know just where to begin!

One thing I do on the weekend's is to make a batch of some type of salad for us to eat on during the week. That may be a pasta salad, quinoa, orzo, corn salad, bean salad...etc.

I'm thinking coleslaw this week.  We had a nice basic one for the 4th of July which was great, but I want to change it up a bit.  Make a slaw with a vinaigrette dressing instead of the heavy mayo one.  And...I'll add some apples for some zip.  I just bought some wonderful new apples called "Envy". Outstanding.  Crisp and juicy, with a bright flavor, but not tart.  You must try them if you see them at your grocery store, they are that good.  

So out of this came my Fresh Apple Slaw.  

Perfect for alfresco dining and picnics.

Perfect for summer.

Enjoy!

Fresh Apple Slaw

Serves 6-8

1 pkg of coleslaw mix with red cabbage
2 cups of julienne carrots

1 Envy apple, sliced thinly
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine coleslaw mix, carrots, and apples in a large bowl. Whisk together vinegar, honey, olive oil, salt & pepper in a medium bowl.  Toss vinaigrette with slaw apple mixture; cover and chill up to 4 hours.

Man Food! Grilling At It's Best!

Cooking for a man is serious business! 

They want hearty, hot, and delicious food.  To me, some food just screams "man food".  Especially if it's grilled.
Most men love to do the grilling, but what's sexier than his woman grilling for him?

Here's a gathering of my favorite "man food" dishes.  There's something for everyone, with most types of meat covered and even a pizza.  These recipes are the way to win any man's heart!

Enjoy!

(starting in the upper left and going clockwise)

Pineapple Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu

Grilled Turkey with a Balsamic BBQ Sauce

Cowboy Salad

Grilled Pita Pizza

Grilled Flank Steak in an Adobo Tomato Sauce

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Strips

Have you ever had someone that impressed you so much that many years later you still can recall that special moment, idea, or gift they brought to a relationship...even many, many years later?

Well I can clearly recall one such person.

In my 20's I ran around with a big group of friends and I had a thing....ok a major "infatuation" for one of the guys we hung with.  He was hot, and...he could cook!  I mean I could count the guys my age that could cook on one hand.  Oh, and did I mention he was hot?

But what left an impression on me all these years was the dinner he cooked for a group of us.  Succulent chicken strips that are coated in a garlic parmesan marinade, breaded and baked until crisp and juicy.  

I may not have gotten the guy...but I've been making his chicken strips for years. 

Enjoy!

Garlic Parmesan Chicken Strips

Serves 6

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (or use tenderloins)
½ c garlic parmesan bottled dressing (such as Bernstein’s or Newman’s)
1 c panko or regular bread crumbs

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Set up you breading station by placing the dressing in a dish, and the bread crumbs in another dish.

Remove any skin or fat from chicken breasts. Cut up the chicken breasts into strips. Dip the strips into the dressing coating both sides. Then dip them in the bread crumbs. Place strips on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and chicken is cooked through. Serve immediately.