Asian Chicken Salad

This is one of my favorite meals.  It's beautiful and delicious.  And good for you - as long as you don't drown it in the dressing, which is to die for.

Start with a bed of your favorite greens.   Add some pineapple and mandarin oranges.

Top it with some chicken bites marinated and then cooked in Orange Honey Basil Garlic Glaze. 

Toss it a bit and drizzle a bit of Oriental Salad Dressing on the top.  You can sprinkle sesame seeds on the top, too.   I love those.

It's so good, you'll want more for dessert.  Seriously.

Here are the recipes.

Orange Honey Basil Garlic Glaze
www.rurification.com

• 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 large cloves garlic, sliced in quarters
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Put all the ingredients in a small pot.  Bring to a boil.  Let simmer for a while so the flavors will meld.  Strain out the garlic and basil leaves.  Yield:  2 cups or so.

Chicken Bites in Orange Honey Basil Garlic Glaze
www.rurification.com

• 2 chicken breasts cut in small pieces
• 1 cup of Orange Honey Basil Garlic Glaze
• Oil for cooking the chicken in

Marinade chicken in glaze for a couple of hours.    Heat the oil in a heavy pan and drop the chicken and glaze in.  Cover for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through, then remove the cover and let the chicken brown and the glaze reduce.  You want those tasty crunchies.

Oriental Salad Dressing
www.rurification.com

• 1/4 cup sugar [or less, if you like]
• 1/4 cup vinegar.  We like our Oriental Spice Vinegar
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup oil
• drizzle of sesame oil
• 3 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper, ground

Hoop House Goodies

These pics were taken a couple of weeks ago, but they're proof that stuff is coming up in the hoop house.   I'll post current pics soon.

I planted a bunch of bib lettuce and it's happy.  I have baby carrots coming up and a few seedlings of fennel.   Also, radishes and a bunch of other greens.

We happened to put the hoop house over the bed that had a lot of cilantro last year.

I love cilantro and it's a good thing because it self sows like crazy.   We'll probably never have to plant it again.

I think the seedlings are cute.

Summer Fruit Salad with Cilantro

I love fruit salads with unexpected twists.  One of the best salads I've ever had was a simple mango salsa. 

Mango Salsa

• 4 mangoes chopped into bite sized pieces
• 1 bunch green onions chopped finely
• 1 bunch cilantro chopped finely
• Juice of 1 or 2 limes

Mix and serve.  It's good if it sits for a couple of hours, too.    Delicious with tortilla chips or as a side dish all on its own.

We took the mango salsa recipe and dressed it up with pineapple and strawberries.  The strawberries, onions and cilantro came out of our own garden.

Mmmmm.

Summer Fruit Salad with Cilantro

• 4 mangoes, chopped into bite sized pieces
• 1 fresh pineapple,  cored and chopped into bite sized pieces
• 2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped finely
• 1 large bunch cilantro chopped finely
• Juice of 1 or 2 limes

Mix and serve.