Strawberry-Basil Chicken Salad

The inspiration for the creation of this yummy salad came from a Taste of Home recipe that I found in one of my older cookbooks. The challenge was that the dressing ingredients for this recipe looked nasty, so I decided to try my favorite dressing recipe with the addition of fresh basil. The wonderful flavor of fresh basil and summer-sun-ripened strawberries is perfect for a main dish meal in the heat of summer. This recipe serves two but can easily be adapted for a larger family. Blessings...

Recipe:

4 cups torn salad greens
3/4 cup cubed cooked chicken
3/4 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/4 cup mandarin orange slices, drained on paper toweling
1 green onion sliced, white and green parts
1/4 cup coarsely broken pecans, lightly toasted

Strawberry Vinaigrette:

2 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar
1 tbsp. water
1-1/2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
1/4 cup olive oil or oil of choice
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1-2 tbsp. minced fresh basil or 1-2 tsp. dried, crushed

1. Combine salad ingredients in a large serving bowl.
2. In another bowl whisk together first 6 dressing ingredients.
3. In a slow thin stream, whisk olive oil into dressing ingredients until well combined. Stir in strawberry jam and basil.
4. Add desired amount of dressing to salad, toss and serve.

Yield: 2 servings
Dressing Yield: 1 cup
Note: This salad dressing was created by the cooks at smuckers.com. For variations of the dressing see Yummy Spinach Salad posted on 2/13/2013.

Tomato-Cucumber Salad with Basil Dressing

A few years ago, in the middle of summer when tomatoes and cucumber are at their best, my mom sent me this wonderful recipe. The combination of fresh basil, a bit of lemon zest and the sweeter Balsamic vinegar make for a wonderful dressing drizzled over the slices of fresh tomato and bits of cucumber. Blessings...

Recipe:

1 medium tomato cut into 6 slices
1/2 cup chopped cucumber (I prefer the milder English cucumber in this recipe)
1/8 tsp. salt
1-1/2 tsp. fresh basil or parsley chopped fine (basil is best)
1 tsp. fresh lemon zest
1 tsp. sugar
1 tbsp. Balsamic vinegar

1. Place tomato on two plates and sprinkle cucumber on top. Sprinkle with salt.
2. Mix remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Drizzle over tomato and cucumber. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Yield: 2 servings
This recipe comes from a Betty Crocker cook book.

Bruschetta Chicken Skillet

I made this dish last week after clipping the recipe out of our local paper. The fresh basil and the Mozzarella cheese add wonderful flavor to chicken breasts, tomatoes and rice. With the addition of a salad, dinner is ready. Blessings...

Recipe: 

1/4 cup zesty Italian salad dressing
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 large red peppers, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14-1/2 oz. each) pasta-style or Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 cup water
2 cups instant white rice, uncooked
1 cup shredded low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese
1 large tomato, chopped
2 tbsps. chopped fresh basil

1. Heat dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken, peppers and garlic, cover. Cook 10 minutes, or until chicken is done (turning after 5 minutes.) Remove chicken from skillet; cover to keep warm.
2. Add canned tomatoes, water and rice to skillet; stir. Bring to boil; simmer, uncovered, on low heat 10 minutes.
3. Combine cheese, fresh tomato and basil in a bowl.
4. When rice is tender, return chicken to skillet; top with the cheese mixture. Cook, covered, 5 minutes or until chicken is heated through and cheese is melted.

Serves: 4
Note: This recipe provides enough rice to easily use 6 chicken breasts. We have had leftover rice with two additional meals this week.