Blackened Chicken Salad with Sweet Cilantro Lime Dressing

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Blackened Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 Tablespoons blackening seasoning
• 5 - 6 c. Romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 cup diced watermelon, peaches or blueberries (any combination of fresh fruit will work)

Method:

Preheat grill. Pour seasoning in a gallon size zip top bag. Dry chicken breasts and place 2 at a time in the zip top bag. Zip the bag shut and shake until chicken is evenly coated with seasoning. Place chicken on preheated grill and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Remove from grill and slice. Serve over lettuce and fruit. Drizzle with Sweet Cilantro Lime Dressing.

Sweet Cilantro Lime Dressing

Ingredients:

• ¼ c. cilantro
• ½ c. light mayo
• ¼ c. honey
• ¼ c. cream
• 1 T. freshly squeezed lime juice

Method:

Blend all ingredients together in a blender until nicely pureed. Serve over blackened chicken salad.


Special thanks to Brooke McLay (www.cheekykitchen.com) for the salad idea and dressing recipe!

And the WINNER is........

Ok, I found a "Random Number Picker" online HERE, and entered in the number of comments received (5), and the random number picked was.......

Comment #2:

Congratulations Lisa K!! Send an email to couponjanet[at]gmail[dot]com with your mailing address. Include the subject line of "Cookbook Winner", and I'll autograph a copy and get it in the mail!

To the non-winning commentors, I now have the ability to sell cookbooks right on this blog. Then you can order autographed copies right from here. Or you can look at your local bookstore for the book on August 1st!

Cookbook Giveaway!

Everyone loves free stuff, right? So why don't we have a giveaway?

The prize will be an autographed copy of my new cookbook,

200 Slow Cooker Creations!

To be entered in the prize drawing, leave a comment about a favorite recipe on mine you have tried (it can be one from this blog, or one from one of my cookbooks).

The winner will be selected from the comments received, and I'll contact the winner for their mailing address. Simple as that!

Make your comments by July 24th, and I'll get the book in the mail to the winner on the 26th!

Good luck!!

Sample Recipes from my New Book

You asked for a couple sample recipes from my new 200 Slow Cooker Creations cookbook, so here they are! Two of my family's favorites:

Apple Cranberry Pork Chops
from page 159 of 200 Slow Cooker Creations

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless pork chops
• 1 (16 oz.) can whole cranberry sauce
• 3/4 cup applesauce

Method:

Place the pork chops in a greased 2 to 3 1/2 quart slowcooker. Spread the cranberry sauce over the top and then pour in the applesauce. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours. Serve with rice or mashed potatoes.

Triple Rich Chocolate Cake
from page 191 of 200 Slow Cooker Creations

Ingredients:

• 1 devil's food cake mix
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup light sour cream
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup water
• 1 small box instant chocolate pudding
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Method:

Combine all ingredients by hand in a 2 quart mixing bowl. Pour the batter into a greased 3 1/2 to 5 quart slow cooker. Cover and cook on low heat for 5-6 hours, or until done in the center. Turn off the slow cooker and let the cake sit, covered, for 30 minutes before serving.

Tip: When baking this cake in the slow cooker, place 6-8 paper towels across the top of the slow cooker stoneware and then place the lid on top. This prevents the cake from becoming soggy when the condensation from the lid drips while cooking.

Enjoy!!

My New Cookbook!

My publisher has taken my two slowcooker cookbooks, and combined them into a single volume! This hardback, spiral bound book features a cute new look, updated helpful hints, and a fantastic index for finding those favorite recipes by name OR by ingredient!

You can pre-order them thru the Amazon.com link below, or look for it in stores on August 1st!


Amazon.com Widgets

Amazing Fruit Salsa Recipes

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Gingered Watermelon Salsa

Ingredients:

* 2 cups diced seeded watermelon
* ¼ cup diced yellow bell pepper
* 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 teaspoons white grape juice
* 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
* 1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Method:

To prepare salsa, combine all ingredients, cover and chill until ready to serve. You can make this up to 4 hours in advance. Makes about 2 ½ cups. Serve with cinnamon chips or your favorite tortilla chips.

Avocado Citrus Salsa
Ingredients:

* 2 medium oranges, peeled, seeded and chopped
* 1 large ripe avocado, peeled, seeded and chopped
* ¼ cup chopped red onion
* ¼ cup snipped cilantro
* 2 tablespoons lime juice
* ½ teaspoon bottled hot pepper sauce
* ¼ teaspoon salt

Method:

In larger bowl combine all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours before serving. Makes about 2 ½ cups.

Apple Berry Salsa
Ingredients:

* 4 large apples (Gala or Braeburn)
* 2 cups strawberries, diced
* 2 kiwi
* 2 tablespoons brown sugar
* 2 tablespoons apple jelly

Method:

Peel, core and dice apples. Dice strawberries and kiwi. Combine all fruit and add brown sugar and jelly. Note: Fruit will juice so best to serve with a slotted spoon, and don't make too far ahead of serving time. Serve with cinnamon tortilla chips.

Cinnamon Tortilla Chips
Ingredients:

* Flour tortillas
* Cinnamon sugar mixture (to taste)
* Spray bottle of water

Method:

Preheat oven to 400. Lightly spray tortillas with water, and sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top. Use a pizza cutter and cut each tortilla into 8 wedges. Place on a cookie sheet and cook 8-10 minutes. Cool completely before serving.

Cherry Biscuit Cobbler

• 2 packages (8 ounces each) refrigerator biscuits (seperated and cut into quarters)


• 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling*


• 1/3 cup brown sugar


• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon


• 1/3 cup melted butter or margarine

*your choice of fruit filling can be used for the cobbler

Mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and melted butter in a small bowl. Mixture will be lumpy. Grease a 3 1/2 to 5 quart slowcooker, then layer 1 package biscuits, half the cinnamon mixture, and then half the pie filling. Add the second package of the biscuits: cover with the remaining half of the cinnamon mixture, and top with the remaining half of the pie filling. Cover and cook on high heat 2 1/2 - 3 hours, or until biscuits are done in the center. Recipe makes 6-8 servings.

This fruit cobbler tastes fabulous with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream!