Grilled Veggies

I have a new best kitchen friend for the summer!  Yes, I know that sounds strange, but I am in love with my new grill basket.  If you don't have one, run to the store and get one today.  I picked mine up at Bed Bath & Beyond.  It has a removable handle, so you can close the lid to the grill...genius!  I used it for the first time Friday night and will now be using it multiple times each week!  This is what I made on Friday and it was amazing!

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Grilled Veggies

1 zucchini

1 yellow bell pepper

1/2 red onion

1/2 bunch of asparagus

1 portabello mushroom

Zesty Italian Dressing to taste

Cut all of the vegetables up and place in a medium bowl.  Stir in the dressing until the vegetables are coated.

 Put the veggies in your grill basket and stir every few minutes until they are crisp tender.

That is it!  So delicious and easy and it made the perfect side dish.  Enjoy!  :)

Fruit Skewers

OK, so this is not a recipe.  This is a fun little side that I love to make!  Anytime I am asked to bring fruit to something, I always make these cute little fruit skewers .  They are so simple, but look much more elegant than bringing a bunch of fruit mixed up in a bowl!  :)  I had a brunch to go to this past week and signed up for fruit of course.  There were only 7 of us, so I didn't make many, but this pic will show you how pretty they turn out.  I've done these for baby showers and other events where I make MUCH more than this and just layer them around the plate...they look so nice and always get eaten up. 

 Hope you think these are as cute as I do! Enjoy!  :)

Roasted Asparagus

If you like asparagus and want the easiest recipe EVER, then this is for you!  It is hard to even call it a recipe when it only has two ingredients, but since I got it out of a cookbook, then I'll call it a recipe!  Here ya go:

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Roasted Asparagus

1 pound fresh asparagus

Olive oil-flavored cooking spray

Snap tough ends off 1 pound fresh asparagus.  Coat asparagus with olive oil-flavored cooking spray, and bake at 450 for 10 minutes or until tender.

It really doesn't get any easier then that for a quick, wonderful side dish!  Now, if only I could get my son to take a bite!!  Enjoy!  :)

Corn, Avocado, and Cilantro Salad

I needed a fun side for some enchiladas that I will post about soon and came across this from Martha Stewart Living.  It is crazy easy and SO good.  I will definitely be making this again very soon!

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Corn, Avocado, and Cilantro Salad

4 shucked ears of corn

1 sliced Hass avocado

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp coarse salt

(I halved this recipe.)

Heat grill to medium-high.  Grill corn, rotating often, until lightly charred, about 15 minutes.  Let cool slightly. 

 Carefully cut kernels from cob.  Gently toss avocado, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, and salt.

 I served my avocado on top.  :)

How easy was that?  It took no time at all and was such a fun, yummy side.  Enjoy!  :)

Chicken Fried Rice

This recipe was originally just a side dish, but I turned it into a meal by adding chicken.  I love fried rice, but have never made it.  I have two recipes I've been wanting to try and this one was first.  It was really simple and tasted great.  If you are looking for an easy, one dish meal, this is it!

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Chicken Fried Rice

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil or vegetable oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tablespoon cooking oil

1/2 cup thinly bias-sliced celery (I skipped this because I'm not a fan)

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

2 cups cooked white rice

1/2 cup shredded carrot 

1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1/4 cup sliced green onions

2 chicken breasts cooked and cubed (You could also do shrimp or tofu)

In a small bowl combine eggs and the 1 teaspoon soy sauce.  Set aside.  Pour the sesame oil into a nonstick skillet.  Preheat over medium heat.  Add egg mixture and garlic.  Stir gently but continuously until mixture resembles small pieces of cooked egg surrounded by liquid egg.  Stop stirring.  Cook 30 to 60 seconds more until egg mixture is set and shiny.  Slide egg mixture onto a cutting board; roll up.  Cut into 1/2 inch slices.  Set aside.  (I botched this a little...mine didn't roll exactly...I have a picture below.  Just visualize eating at Benihana and try to make the eggs look like that!)

Pour the cooking oil into the skillet.  Preheat over medium-high heat.  Add celery; cook and stir 1 minute.  Add mushrooms; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes more.  Add rice, carrot, and peas to the skillet.  Add the 2 tablespoons soy sauce.

 If you are adding chicken, shrimp, or tofu, go ahead and add it now also.  Cook and stir for 4 minutes or until heated through.

 This is what my eggs looked like...not exactly to the description, but they worked!  :)

 Add eggs and green onion;  cook and stir until heated through.

That's it!  Really good, easy dinner.  Enjoy!  :)

Fiesta Lime Rice...with chicken!

If you like ordering bowls from Chipotle, then you are going to love this! I got this from Skinny Taste, but I think it might be a spin off of a Weight Watchers Recipe. It is super healthy and I just love the colors. I am weird like that! The recipe was just the side, but I added grilled chicken to make it a meal. Delish! We ate it healthy, but you could definitely add some cheese, sour cream, guacamole and really feel like you are at Chipotle!

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Fiesta Lime Rice

1 1/2 cups cooked long grain rice

3/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and heated

3/4 cup cooked corn

1 large tomato, diced

1 large scallion, diced fine

2-4 tbsp chopped cilantro (to your liking)

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice

salt to taste

In a large bowl, combine hot rice, heated corn, heated beans, tomato, scallion, cilantro, lime juice and salt if needed.

Toss and serve! Almost too easy!

I marinated some chicken in Lawry's Mexican Chile & Lime and then grilled it, cut it up and tossed it in the bowl. Voila...a meal!

So easy, healthy, and yummy! The best part about this one, is that you can change it up a bit. I think next time I might add some pico or salsa, and maybe red onion. Enjoy! :)