Raspberry Vinaigrette

I've been enjoying my Roasted Vegetable Salad with Balsamic Shrimp for lunch a lot lately so I wanted to change it up a bit. I really LOVE roasted vegetables in my salad so I decided I'd make a different dressing to update my meal. I came up with a Raspberry Vinaigrette! I'm not a big fan of this style dressing when it's from a bottle and never really thought of making my own until I had a homemade version at a baby shower. I was really surprised with how delicious it was. It's a lot thicker than any dressing I've seen in the store. I prefer my dressings to be tangy so if you like more sweetness just add more honey or some sugar. I'll be pairing this dressing with my Lemon Parsley Grilled Chicken to have in salads with roasted vegetables and sliced strawberries.

Lemon Parsley Grilled Chicken

After using the grill for the first time last week I couldn't wait to do it again! The chicken was juicy and moist and it stayed that way even after I reheated it! This week I wanted to do something a little more basic as far as my marinade since I would be eating the chicken in salads for this weeks lunches. Even with a basic marinade the chicken came out full of flavor. The chicken is great with just the marinade or with the addition of your favorite sauce!

Lemon Raspberry Berger Cookie Trifle

If you're from Baltimore, you know what Berger Cookies are! The thick chocolate fudge topped cookies are a staple when showcasing the delicious treats the area has to offer. Instead of having a plate piled with the cookies I used these fudge topped confections as the base for my Lemon Raspberry Berger Cookie Trifle! This dessert is perfect for all your summer cookouts and parties. It's easily served in a larger container or in small individual dishes. It's a very rich dessert so I recommend the individual portions. 

Spicy Honey Lime Chicken

Today I attempted my first grilling experience and I knocked it out of the park! I've dabbled in grilling here and there but have only cooked the occasional hot dog or hamburger. Today I wanted to try grilling chicken. Simple as it sounds, I've had more dried out grilled chicken than juicy succulent chicken in my lifetime. Be that as it may, I wanted to see if I could do it. Instead of the traditional cook-out favorite of BBQ chicken, I wanted to do a twist to tequila lime chicken and came up with my spicy honey lime chicken. The marinade and glaze gave the chicken a lot of flavor. I served the chicken with my Avocado Salad and cilantro, lime rice. I was really impressed with how it turned out and can't wait to get out there and grill again!

Avocado Salad

Happy Cinco de Mayo! In a nod to this festive holiday I've made my Avocado Salad. It's not quite a salad and it's not quite guacamole but it's tasty! You can eat this as is, with chips or as a topping for grilled proteins or on tacos. I made this as a salad and as a side to my Spicy Honey Lime Chicken. The cool, creamy avocado and crunchy vegetables are a great compliment to hot, sticky-sweet chicken. Toss in a margarita and you're ready to celebrate! 

Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken and Veggie Kabobs

What better way to get your veggies and protein than kabobs? You've got easy portions that you can divide up between lunch and dinner and you only need 1 pan to do the cooking job for you. I don't have a grill so I have to use my boiler. Personally I prefer to do veggie kabobs and chicken kabobs so the cooking process is even for what I'm making. I prefer my veggies to be a little crisp when I eat them and cooking them separate from the chicken ensures this for me. For these kabobs I used my Pineapple Teriyaki Sauce. It was my first time making and using this teriyaki sauce and it was delicious. It marinated the chicken perfectly and gave the veggies an extra flavor kick. I have a feeling I'll be serving this up on a regular basis over the summer!

Three Cheese Stuffed Zucchini

This past week was a busy one for me. Most nights I had evening plans so I didn't want to make a lot of meals that would be sitting in my fridge. Instead of making my Zucchini Sausage Bake I decided to make a smaller, more compact version of it. These three cheese stuffed zucchini were perfect for a quick dinner and a delicious lunch. I paired it with a light salad and fresh fruit for dessert. It was light yet very filling and extremely satisfying. This recipe is for 1 zucchini and I had 1/2 of the zucchini as a serving. Just adjust the ingredients as needed to make multiple servings.