TSB: Strawberry Chicken Salad

This month's Challenge for "The Salad Bar" was to use berries! I made this salad 2 years ago, and just remade it again this past week. Its delish and a keeper. I love my picture from it, so I just used it again.

STRAWBERRY CHICKEN SALAD

2 boneless, skinless Chicken Breasts

1 tablespoon Olive Oil

Salt and Pepper, to taste 

6-8 cups chopped Romaine Lettuce

1 cup Strawberries, sliced

1/4 cup sliced Almonds

1 cup Poppyseed dressing

1/2 cup light Raspberry Vinaigrette

• Start by brushing oil on chicken breasts and then season with salt and pepper. Grill chicken on your barbecue or indoor grill pan. Grill for 5 minutes on each side, or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Set aside.
• On two plates, add the romaine lettuce, sliced strawberries and almonds. Slice your grilled chicken and place on top.
• Mix together the poppyseed dressing and raspberry vinaigrette together. Pour over the salad and dig in!

Visit and check out the other salads for the month!

Chocolate Coconut Cookies [P]

This recipe is directly from Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo

CHOCOLATE COCONUT COOKIES

2 eggs
2 Tblsp butter, melted and cooled
2 Tblsp maple syrup (or more for sweeter cookies)
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup shredded coconut
2 Tblsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 pinch baking soda
1/4 cup sliced almonds [I used mini dark chocolate chips instead]

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the eggs, melted butter, maple syrup, and vanilla. 
• Mix in unsweetened cocoa powder, baking soda, and shredded coconut until well combined. 
• Fold in the almonds, if desired. [or dark chocolate chips]
• Divide into 12 dollops [I used the small ice-cream scoop from Pampered Chef, you get a lot more than 12 cookies!] on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet, and flatten them with a fork. 
• Bake for 20-30 minutes or until slightly firm to the touch.

This recipe is directly from Practical Paleo by Diane Sanfilippo

Variety of Breadsticks

VARIETY OF BREADSTICKS

   

There are so many creative ways to make breadsticks using just a few ingredients. Use the breadstick dough that comes in the can (next to the canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls). Follow the directions on how to pull apart. Try twisting some of them, and leaving a few straight....whatever you like! Once they are cooked, try this variety:

• combine 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 tablespoon honey, and brush over the breadsticks. Then roll them in chopped almonds.
• drizzle melted chocolate and sprinkle with course sea salt

Can't you just imagine the possibilities?? Great for pot-lucks or picnics! 

Pumpkin Granola

PUMPKIN GRANOLA

5 cups quick cooking oats
2 cups chocolate rice crisp
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup sliced almonds
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup chopped pecans

• Place two oven racks on the top and bottom 1/3 of the oven. Preheat the oven to 300°. Set aside two baking sheets with sides lined with a silpat, liner, parchment paper or aluminum foil. 
• In a large bowl, combine both oats, brown rice crisp and pumpkin pie spice. 
• In a separate bowl, combine the canned pumpkin, honey, brown sugar, canola oil and vanilla extract. 
• Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. 
• Pour the granola on the baking sheets, splitting evenly between the two baking sheets. With a silicone spatula (or any other flat tool), push down the granola to make a compact, flat and even layer of granola. 
• Place the baking sheets in the oven for 20 minutes (one on the top, one on the bottom). 
• While that is in the oven, chop your nuts and combine them in a bowl and set aside. 
• With a large spatula flip over the granola, cut the larger clumps in half and add the nuts to the baking sheet. 
• Bake for another 20 minutes stir around and break up any clumps that wouldn’t fit in one bite. 
• Bake for a final 20-30 minutes, until completely dry and golden brown. Let the granola cool completely on the baking sheets.

recipe from Chocolate & Carrots September 2011

FBF: Heaven in a Single Bite

FLASH-BACK FRIDAY

HEAVEN IN A SINGLE BITE

click on image to see full post from 10/18/2011