Sunday Dinner - Summer Style

Sunday dinner is a comfort food sort of thing for me, so when it comes to Sunday dinner in the summer, my head is in a cooler climate state of mind, if that makes sense.

Even so, there's no reason Sunday dinner can't be special even when the weather is not complying. A real table set outside with a pretty tablecloth and real dishes and silverware is a nice way to "picnic" without the usual paper plates and plastic forks. Making use of the grill for something beyond hot dogs and burgers is a nice way to set the day apart from the norm, as well.

Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salsa
Mixed Greens with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Herbed Butter
Minted Iced Tea
Fresh Peaches and Cream
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Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salsa

Heat grill to medium-high.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon olive oil

Rub breasts with olive oil. Place on heated grill and grill over medium-high heat for 20 minutes, turning once during cooking. Serve with fruit salsa.

Fruit Salsa

1 small ripe mango, peeled, seeded and diced
1 small banana, diced
1 cup fresh pineapple, diced
1 small red pepper, seeded and diced
2 green onions, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
4 tablespoons lime juice
2 jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced (optional)

Combine all ingredients in small bowl and let stand refrigerated for an hour before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
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Raspberry Vinaigrette

6 oz. balsamic vinegar
6 oz. raspberries
4 oz. honey
24 oz. salad oil
2 tsp. Chambord liqueur
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 T. fresh garlic-minced
1 T. fresh shallots-minced
1 egg
pinch each-oregano, basil, parsley
to taste-salt and pepper

Put raspberries through a sieve to puree and remove
seeds.
Pour vinegar, honey, oil, and Chambord through sieve.
Add mustard, egg, and remaining ingredients.
Whip to mix completely.
Check seasoning.

Serve cold-but well mixed.

Tastes Like the Real Stuff

You know how everyone seems to want homemade--but they want homemade to taste like store-bought? And you know how store-bought is what they refer to as "real"? Yeah, my family is like that too.

Hubby has been buying bottled green tea from the store and last night when I made pizza I decided to try making my own iced green tea. Guess what? It tastes just like the store-bought stuff. Yay for me!

Give it a try.

Iced Green Tea
(you know, the "REAL" kind)

6 bags of green tea
1 cup of sugar (hubby is a sugar addict so I used that-I'd prefer honey, though)
1/4 c lemon juice
2 cups boiling water

Combine everything in a one gallon pitcher and let steep for at least 5 minutes, stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Add cold water to the top and remove tea bags. Add ice or pour over ice in glasses.
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