Zucchini with Garlic and Tomato

I made this the other night and it was really good. I recommend not having this as the main dish, but as a refreshing side. Unless you are someone who doesn't enjoy eating a lot of food. In that case you will be just fine. We unfortunately are pigs and to our sadness didn't have a whole lot of food in the house. Really we just needed some chicken or fish and it would have been perfect meal. Also if you have a tool to julienne your zucchini it makes life much easier. Of course I wouldn't know of that ease cause I don't have one. Note to self... order one from Pampered Chef. Justin and I were both surprised with how good this was. I was even more surprised that Justin liked it. The raw garlic adds a great zing and I did enjoy my addition of the garbanzo beans. Wait has Wendi taken over?? Seriously Wendi and her garbanzo beans are killing me. It's perfect for summer and takes no time to make. I found it on the cover of Martha Stewart's Whole living and just mixed it up a bit.

8 oz cherry tomatoes, sliced
1 garlic clove, thinly sliced
pine nuts
1/2 to 1 cup garbanzo or white beans
2 Tbsp torn fresh basil, plus leaves for garnish
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Sea salt
1 zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise, slices cut into 1/4-inch-long strips

In a bowl, combine tomatoes, garlic, pine nuts, basil, beans, and oil. Season with salt. Let stand 20minutes. Toss with zucchini and garnish with basil

*I think this might be even better the next day

Honey-Spice Chicken Salad

I found the recipe for the chicken in Cooking Light and used it in a simple salad with my go-to Honey-Mustard Vinaigrette - delicious! Of course you can always eat the chicken as the main course with some garlic-roasted potatoes and a little side salad. It's great on it's own as well.

Salad:
Green-Leaf Lettuce
Avocados
Feta Cheese
Cucumbers

Chicken:
8 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs (I skinned and de-boned them)
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
Cooking spray
6 Tbs honey
2 tsp cider vinegar

Preheat broiler.

Combine garlic powder through paprika in a large bowl. Add chicken to bowl; toss to coat. Place chicken on a sheet pan lined with foil and coated with cooking spray. Broil chicken 5 minutes on each side.

Combine honey and vinegar in a small bowl, stirring well. Remove chicken from oven; brush honey mixture on chicken. Broil 1 minute. remove chicken from oven and turn over. Brush with remaining honey mixture. Broil 1 additional minute or until chicken is done.

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette:

5 Tbs honey
3 Tbs dijon mustard
2 Tbs rice wine vinegar

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Serve as a dressing or a dip.

Cucumber Salad

You know the really good kind that you get at Japanese restaurants. So fresh and so yummy and SO EASY. According to Mutsumi, my Japanese friend, you are supposed to let this sit overnight so the cucumbers soften and really soak up the flavors, but I made it an hour before dinner the other night and loved it.

2 English Cucumbers
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt

In a medium sized bowl combine vinegar, sugar and salt. Whisk until sugar is dissolved. Take wrapper off of cucumber and quarter lengthwise. Then slice up each quarter trying to keep an even thickness. Add to vinegar mixture and toss with spoon to coat each piece. Let sit covered in the fridge overnight or at least for an hour on your counter.

Fiesta Steak Salad

I made this up and it's good. Really good.

1 pound petite sirloin steaks
1 head romaine lettuce
2 cups corn (fresh or frozen)
1/2 onion, sliced thinly
1 red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1 avocado, diced
2 tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
tortilla chips, crumbled

Bring steak to room temperature. Season generously with salt and pepper - lots. Rub some garlic olive oil over it and throw it on a hot grill. 3 minutes each side. Let rest 10 minutes, covered with foil.

In a skillet over medium heat, add onion and saute for 3 minutes, add bell pepper and corn and season with salt and pepper and other spices. Let cook for 3 minutes. Turn off heat and add chopped tomatoes and avocadoes, mixing it all together.

Chop lettuce and add to bowl. Pour skillet corn mixture over lettuce. Add sliced steak to taste. Add shredded cheese and crumbled chips then serve with choice of dressing - I used ranch, but not very much of it as you get a lot of juices from the skillet.