Mixed Berry Shake and Strawberry Banana Shake

     I have two more shakes for you to help keep you cool in the ending weeks of summer.  Like the previous ones they combine fruit, the Silk Fruit and Protein Juice Blend and lactose free ice cream or sorbet.  These recipes lend themselves to being changed to fit your own preferences.  If you can't find fresh fruit, use frozen.

                                                                Mixed Berry Shake

1/3 cup mixed berries of choice
1/2 banana
1/2 cup Silk Fruit and Protein Mixed Berry Juice Blend
2 scoops raspberry sorbet

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor until thoroughly blended.  Makes one shake.  About 1 1/2 cup


                                                                Strawberry Banana Shake

1/3 cup strawberries
1/2  cup Silk Strawberry Banana Juice Blend
2 scoops vanilla lactose free ice cream
1/2 banana

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor until thoroughly blended.  Makes one shake.  About 1 1/2 cup.

     Next  week I'll share my recipe for two dessert shots.  Dessert shots are becoming popular in several chain restaurants so you can have dessert and not overindulge.  Next week I have two desserts:  brownie cheesecake and  butterscotch toffee.  See you next time.

Chicken and Wild Rice Salad

     This salad comes together very easily and is perfect for dinner on a warm summer evening or to take to lunch at work.  I have left the salad dressing and also the amount is your choice.  My choice is french dressing because it works with the Fuji apple as a nice sweet and sour taste.

                                                         Chicken and Wild Rice Salad

1 6.0 oz box long grain and wild rice mix
1 cooked chicken breast, cut in bite sized pieces
      (I used a cooked chicken from the grocery store to speed the process.)
1 Fuji apple,chopped (Peel if desired.)
1/3 cup dried cranberries-cherry flavor
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup chopped almonds
Salad dressing of choice

     Cook rice according to package directions.  Remove two thirds cup for another use.  Cool rice before putting salad together.  Put the remaining ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly.  Serve in a serving bowl or on salad plates.  Pass the salad dressing or mix it in before serving.  Makes two servings if this is a meal or more servings if this is a side dish.
       Next week I'll be sharing two more shake recipes:  mixed berry and strawberry banana.  See you next time.

Mango Peach Shake and Blueberry Shake

       Even though we've had a mild summer so far, a shake still sounded good to me.  Since I can't order them out because almost every establishment puts some dairy product in them, I decided to make my own.  In the coming weeks I'll be sharing some of the recipes I came up with, but feel free to experiment.  As my base I used the Silk brand which now makes three Fruit and Protein Juice Blends in three fruit flavors:  mango peach, strawberry banana, and mixed berry.  I've tried all three and they taste good enough to drink on their own and  as a base for a shake they add a nice flavor.  If you have trouble finding them at your usual grocery store, try a health food store or substitute lactose free milk.
     You will also note that I'm beginning to add pictures to my blog.  It is my goal to have a picture for each recipe.  I've always been disappointed with cookbooks that didn't have pictures and didn't want my recipes to be without pictures.  I'm getting better at taking the pictures, and my husband, in addition to being my taste guinea pig is now my technical consultant.

                                                             Mango Peach Shake

 Makes 1 shake-about 2 cups
4 small scoops mango or peach sorbet
1/2 cup peeled and chopped mango or peach or combination
3/4 cup Silk Fruit and Protein Mango Peach flavor

     Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until thoroughly combined.  Pour into a glass and enjoy.

                                                              Blueberry Shake

 

Makes 1 shake - about 1 3/4 cups
4 small scoops lactose free vanilla ice cream
1 cup Silk Fruit and Protein Mixed Berry flavor
2 tblsp. fresh or frozen blueberries

     Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until thoroughly combined.  Pour into a glass and enjoy.
     Next week I'll share my recipe for chicken and wild rice salad.  See you then.

 

Grilled Chicken Bread Salad

     One of the best parts of this recipe is all the cooking can be done outside on the grill, so you don't have to heat up your kitchen. This makes it perfect for dinner on a hot summer day.  This recipe is also figure friendly, depending upon whether or not you add extra goat cheese and grilled baguette for extra croutons.  I used a zero fat Italian dressing which was just right for this salad, it was nice and light and the taste was great.

                                                           Grilled Chicken Bread Salad

Marinade for chicken
2 minced garlic cloves
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tblsp. dijon mustard
1 tsp. lemon powder
2 tblsp. fresh minced rosemary or
    2 tsp. dried crumbled rosemary
1/2 tsp. pepper

     Mix the above  and place in a resealable bag with three chicken breasts and leave in the refrigerator overnight. 
     Discard marinade and grill until chicken is no longer pink in the middle, about 35 minutes depending on how hot your grill is.  You can also bake in a 350F oven until the chicken is tender and the juices run clear, about 50-55 min.

     Baguette:  Cut one third of a baguette lengthwise and brush lightly with olive oil.  Use remaining baguette for another use.  Grill cut side down until lightly toasted.  You can also do this under the broiler as well with the cut side up.

Salad:
3 cups romaine lettuce
2.5 oz. can sliced black olives
1/2 cup Kalamata or green olives, cut in half
2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
3/4 cup chopped carrots
zero fat Italian dressing to taste

     After chicken has cooled, cut in bite-sized pieces.  Cut the baguette in bite-sized pieces after it has cooled.  Mix the chicken and baguette with the salad ingredients except the salad dressing and divide between four serving plates.  Serve with the salad dressing.  Makes four servings.
     Next week I'll share my recipe for two shakes-one blueberry and one mango peach-which have no dairy products in them.  See you next time.