Fish Dishes Your Kids Will Eat

If your child’s fish favorites consist of anything battered and deep-fried, then you might consider the following recipes. The Citrus Swordfish Skewers and Fresh Fish Tacos are as pleasing to the eyes as they are to the palate. What’s more, the fun finger foods allow you to infuse fish into dishes your kids are already familiar with. CITRUS SWORDFISH SKEWERS Ingredients: 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice 2 teaspoon fresh lemon peel, finely grated 1/4 cup capers with juice 1/2 cup olive oil 4 teaspoons garlic, minced 2 pounds fresh swordfish, cut into 1-inch cubes 24 pieces red bell peppers, … Continue reading →

Ideas for Leftover Chicken

It’s not often that you find coupons for fresh meat in Sunday’s paper. Two weeks ago I found manufacturer coupons for fresh chicken and went hog wild stocking up on bird parts. Needless to say, chicken has been on the menu for nearly every meal around here. (Fortunately, with no complaints.) The following are some of my favorite chicken recipes. As an added bonus they can be made with leftover chicken, which makes it easier on the home cook, who would rather be spending his/her summer evenings enjoying the great outdoors, rather than being stuck in a hot kitchen. GRILLED … Continue reading →

Inexpensive Summer Meals

Cheap meals don’t need to leave a bad taste in your mouth. There are hundreds of inexpensive summer recipes that are packed with flavor. In fact, many are so tasty your family will never know that you didn’t spend a fortune making them. The following summer recipes are not only easy on your wallet, but they’re also simple to make and taste great: TUNA PASTA SALAD Ingredients: 1 (16-ounce) package seashell pasta, cooked 2 cups mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons milk 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 1/2 cups diced celery 4 tablespoons fresh chopped dill, plus more … Continue reading →

Fruity Summer Meal

Summer yields sensational fresh fruit, but the season’s plumpest berries and other succulent sweet treats don’t have to be saved exclusively for breakfast. Fresh fruits, especially citrus selections, can be incorporated into every aspect of your dinner menu. Here’s how: GRILLED CITRUS CHICKEN Ingredients: 4 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless 2 oranges, juice and zest 2 lemons, juice and zest 2 limes, juice and zest 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder 3/4 cup olive oil 8 sprigs lemon thyme, freshly chopped Salt to taste Black pepper to taste Directions: Combine citrus juice and zest, ancho chile, olive oil and thyme. Reserve 1/2 … Continue reading →

Lite and Healthy Summer Recipes

If you are struggling to fit into last season’s swimsuit, then you might be interested in the following recipe line-up. These dishes prove that reducing calories and fat doesn’t mean sacrificing taste and texture: SPICY FISH TACOS Ingredients: 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt 1/4 cup Lite mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon lime zest 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro Few dashes of hot sauce 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 pounds fresh white fish fillets (ahi, grouper, halibut, or tilapia) 2 sliced red, yellow peppers 10 small flour tortillas 4 cups … Continue reading →

Recipes for Special Occasions

I don’t know about you, but it’s a rare night that I get to dine on steak. Most people shy away from preparing the mouth-watering meat on a nightly basis because it cost more than chicken or hamburger. However, when it comes to celebrating special occasions, studies show that steak is the number one choice for diners. With that said, you don’t have to go into debt or spend hours in the kitchen to create a succulent steak dinner. Whether you are celebrating a graduation, birthday or anniversary, the following easy, yet delicious steak recipe can’t be beat. I’ve also … Continue reading →

Finger Lickin’ Good Summer Recipes

Corn on the cob, watermelon, hamburgers, and hot dogs are some of summer’s tastiest no-utensils-needed foods. The hands-on favorites are simple to eat and make clean up even easier. The following recipes are some of my family’s finger lickin’ favorites. All that’s required to eat them are clean hands and a healthy appetite. EGG IN THE MIDDLE PIZZA Ingredients: 1 (12-inch) unbaked pizza crust 4 ounces shredded Gouda cheese 4 ounces shredded Havarti cheese 4 ounces goat cheese 8 slices of prosciutto 8 fresh morel mushrooms 12 spears fresh asparagus, blanched and grilled 1/2 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved … Continue reading →

Build a Better Burger

When it comes to grilling, nothing tastes better than a thick, juicy hamburger. Burgers are almost impossible to ruin on the grill, and they can be tailored to suit individual tastes. Cheese lovers can pile on the dairy to make their burgers moo-licious, while seafood fans can nix the beef all together and opt for a salmon or crab burger. The following simple recipes illustrate how you can build a better burger in your own backyard: TEX MEX CHEESEBURGERS Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup finely chopped green onions 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin Salt and pepper 4 hamburger buns, … Continue reading →

Great Grilling Recipes

This weekend marks the unofficial start of the summer season, and what better way to celebrate than to get grilling. Grilled dishes can turn an ordinary meal into a gourmet feast. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a top chef to create the following scrumptious recipes. Simply dust off your grills, grab some basic ingredients and get cooking: RED HOT PEPPER BURGERS Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef 1/4 cup your favorite chunky salsa 4 jalapeno peppers 4 hamburger buns, split 1/4 cup chopped fresh tomatoes 2 tablespoons sliced pitted ripe olives Directions: Combine ground beef and 1/4-cup salsa in large … Continue reading →

Memorial Day Weekend Burger Bonanza

Ready, set, grill. The start of the Memorial Day holiday weekend is still a couple of days away, but my neighbors are already firing up their grill. The warm weather means more families will be cooking outdoors, grilling up summer favorites, including burgers, brats and steak. If you are planning on doing some grillin’ and chillin’ this long weekend, consider the following fabulous burger recipes: BACON AVOCADO BURGERS Ingredients: 1 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 teaspoon pepper 2 pounds lean ground beef 6 slices American cheese 2 onions, sliced 2 tomatoes, sliced 12 pieces cooked bacon … Continue reading →