Fattoush Salad with Chicken

Fattoush Salad is a light and fresh salad of Lebanese origin, that combines veggies and herbs and the use of day old pita bread.  This variation includes grilled chicken for that extra bit of protein and the whole salad is topped with a refreshing lemon vinaigrette.

Fattoush Salad with Chicken

If your following a more Mediterranean Diet then this salad fits right in.  There are many different variations out there for Fattoush Salad made in different Middle Eastern countries.  The key is the use of day old pita that is torn in to pieces that are toasted in olive oil and used in the salad.  Similar to the Italian Panzanella Salad, or any salad with homemade croutons.

This variation is filled with lettuce, cucumber, radishes, green onions, with fresh herbs.  I've added grilled chicken slices to the salad for more protein which turns this into more of an entrée salad.  Everything is combined and then tossed with a refreshing lemon vinaigrette.  Perfect for summer!

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• extra virgin olive oil
• pita bread
• romaine lettuce
• cucumber
• green onions
• radishes
• mint
• parsley
• cooked grilled chicken
• lemon
• garlic
• sumac - a tangy, lemony spice used in many Middle Eastern dishes.  It can be found in the spice section of your grocery store.

Substitutions and Variations

• Use red leaf, green leaf, or butter lettuce

• Use Persian cucumbers

• Add any vegetables that you like, such as ripe summer tomatoes

• Add feta cheese

• Switch the dressing - try a different vinegar or add pomegranate molasses

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Pita chips may be tossed with olive oil and toasted in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to emails at the top of this page and follow along on Facebook,  and Pinterest for all of the latest updates.

Fattoush Salad with Chicken

serves 4

2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 pita bread round, torn into bite sized pieces
4 cups romaine lettuce, torn
1/2 of a large hot house cucumber, chopped
1/2 cup sliced radishes
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1/4 mixed chopped mint and parsley
2 cups of grilled, sliced chicken breast

Lemon Vinaigrette
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground sumac

In a skillet over medium heat add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and allow to heat.  Add half the pita pieces and toast in the skillet for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown.  Remove pieces to drain on a paper towel.  Repeat with the remaining 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and pita pieces.

In a small bowl or jar add the vinaigrette ingredients and whisk or shake until combined.  

In a large bowl add lettuce, cucumber, radishes, green onions, and herbs.  Toss with some of the salad dressing.  Add the pita chips and the chicken breast tossing to combine.  Serve with the remaining lemon vinaigrette on the side.

 

Ham and Swiss Sliders

These scrumptious Ham and Swiss Sliders are so melty and gooey, yet easy to make for all your gatherings.

Ham and Swiss Sliders

It's the season of summer gatherings; graduation parties, baby showers, pool parties, picnics, game day, potlucks and BBQs.  Sliders are the perfect finger food that can be an appetizer, or the main meal, and work for any gathering.

Ham and swiss are iconic flavors and when you serve it hot and I'm in heaven with that melty cheese.  So these are right up my alley.  I've even made these for lunch on the weekend, (adjusting the quantity) just for me and my husband (pictures are from our weekend lunch).  You've gotta change up the plain old sandwich sometimes!

This one has a mix of spicy brown mustard and mayo to accompany the ham and cheese, and it's served on dinner rolls that are topped with a savory butter, garlic mixture.  The topping takes these slider over the top with flavor!  Easy to assemble and then pop them in the oven to melt the cheese and heat up that topping.  Yum!  I'm ready to make another batch just thinking about them.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• dinner rolls
• spicy brown mustard
• mayonnaise
• sliced deli ham
• sliced Swiss cheese
• butter
• poppy seeds
• garlic

Substitutions and Variations

• Use Hawaiian Sweet rolls

• Use any sandwich condiment you like, or try adding some horseradish to the mayo

• Switch up the cheese, try pepper jack, provolone, or Monterey Jack

• Change the meat to turkey or roast beef

• Use the topping for any slider, try Italian cold cuts with provolone etc.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Make sure to cut the rolls in half horizontally without separating the rolls.  It will make assembly so much easier.

• You will need aluminum foil to cover the sliders when baking.

• Taking the aluminum foil off for the last 5-10 minutes will help them get brown and a little crustier on the top.

• Make as many slider as your want to fit the situation or number of people you are serving.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to emails at the top of this page and follow along on Facebook,  and Pinterest for all of the latest updates.

Ham and Swiss Sliders

makes 12 sliders

1 package of 12 dinner rolls

spicy brown mustard
mayonnaise

1 pound sliced deli ham
6 slices Swiss cheese, halved
4 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced

Preheat your over to 350 degrees.

Without separating rolls, cut rolls in half horizontally and then place bottom halves of rolls in a baking pan. Spread bottom rolls with spicy brown mustard, and the tops with mayo.  Layer with ham and cheese, then place on the tops.  

In a small bowl add melted butter, poppy seeds, and minced garlic.  Stir to combine.  Brush the tops of the rolls with the butter mixture making sure to get the garlic and poppy seed that tend to go to the bottom of the mixture.  Cover with aluminum foil.

Bake, covered, 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 5 minutes.  Serve hot.

Lemon Garlic Chicken Bites with Asparagus

Sheet pan Lemon Garlic Chicken Bites with Asparagusis quick enough for a weeknight meal and the taste is out of this world! 

Lemon Garlic Chicken Bites with Asparagus

Ready for a new sheet pan dinner?  These lemon garlic butter chicken bites with asparagus are ridiculously easy.  Baked not fried, on one sheet pan in under 45 minutes. 

These saucy chicken bites come out juicy and tender and the asparagus crisps to perfection.  Say hello to your new favorite meal! 

Enjoy! 

What Ingredients do I need?

• boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• salt
• black pepper
• onion powder
• Italian seasoning 
• paprika
• crushed red chili pepper flakes, optional
• asparagus
• butter
• olive oil
• garlic 
• low-sodium chicken broth 
• lemon
• parsley

Substitutions and Variations

• You can customize the seasoning to your liking: try honey and mustard, taco seasoning, cajun spices, etc.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Make sure to dice the chicken uniformly into 1 1/2 - 2 inch bite sized pieces to ensure even baking.
• One good trick is to freeze the chicken for 45 minutes to make cutting the chicken bites easier and less messy, but make sure to bring it to room temperature before baking.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to emails at the top of this page and follow along on Facebook,  and Pinterest for all of the latest updates

Lemon Garlic Chicken Bites with Asparagus

serves 4-6


3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning 
1 teaspoon paprika
pinch crushed red chili pepper flakes, optional
2 bunches of asparagus, rinsed and trimmed
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 teaspoons garlic, minced 
1/4 cup  low-sodium chicken broth 
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tablespoon minced parsley
Slices of lemon, for garnish

Preheat your oven to 400ºF.  In a medium bowl season chicken bites with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, red crushed chili pepper flakes, paprika, and onion powder. 

Arrange asparagus on one side of the baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, combine melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, chicken broth and lemon juice.

Arrange chicken bites next to the asparagus on the sheetpan, then drizzle the chicken bites and asparagus with the lemon butter sauce.

Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink on the inside. Remove from oven, garnish with parsley, and lemon slices and serve.

source:  https://www.eatwell101.com/baked-chicken-bites-recipe