BAREFOOT BLOGGERS AND CEiMB


First, Barefoot Bloggers.

Kate of Warm Olives and Cool Cocktails chose the Tuna Salad from Ina Garten's huge selection of wonderful recipes. Let me just say that I love Kate's blog name!

Because tuna seemed to be ridiculously expensive for some reason at the market, I decided to substitute with some salmon fillets. And instead of chopping up the salmon into chunks, I just served it over some green beans with the avocado salsa mixture on top. Somehow, in my mixing up of the sauce, I must have added too much salt. To me, it was just too salty so this was not my favorite recipe. The yankee however, loved it so much he was willing to eat all of his and what was left of mine. I might be tempted to make this again, but I will be more careful on the salt part. I liked that it was easy to prepare and quick.

You can find the recipe down below.

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Now for Craving Ellie in My Belly!

In our Craving Ellie group, we were hosted this week by Notes from the Table. Thanks for choosing the Jerk Chicken with Cool Pineapple Salsa. I've been hoping someone would choose this!

Wonder who thought up the term "Jerk" chicken? The dictionary defines jerk as:

1. a dull stupid fatuous person
2. an abrupt spasmodic movement
3. (mechanics) the rate of change of acceleration
4. jerky: meat (especially beef) cut in strips and dried in the sun

So, still confused. None of these definitions match up with jerk chicken???? I swear I googled this and there is actually a song called Jerk Chicken and it is sung by a group called Chicken Lips!

The yankee and I started a new diet this week guaranteed to drop four pounds of belly fat in one week. Luckily for us, this recipe fit right in with our diet. I left off the scallions and added just a dash of cilantro instead. We've now been four days on the diet and I have lost one pound. But it is a healthy diet so we are doing pretty well staying on it.
We really liked this! I loved how the spicey hot chicken in your mouth was instantly cooled by the pineapple salsa. The mixture of pineapple and cucumber was delicious! This will definitely be a recipe I put on our dinner rotation. It also reminds me of our honeymoon in St. Thomas. We had a lot of great island food that week.

Now, I have to get off the computer and park myself on the sofa because tonight is . . . . ..

THE SEASON FINALE OF LOST!!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited.

Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

For the salsa:
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup finely diced pineapple
1/3 cup finely diced, seeded English cucumber
1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
For the chicken:
4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, about 5 ounces each, pounded to 1/2-inch thick
1 cup chopped scallions (about 6 scallions)
1/2 Scotch bonnet or habanero chile pepper, seeded and finely minced (wear gloves when handling)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, or 1/4 teaspoon ground
1 teaspoon allspice
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons lime juice
Directions
For the salsa:
In a small bowl whisk together the honey and the lime juice. Combine the pineapple, cucumber and mint in a medium bowl, pour the dressing over and toss to combine. Set aside.
For the chicken:
Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for about 4 minutes on each side, or until browned and cooked through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
Add the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil to the pan. Stir in the scallions, pepper, garlic, ginger, allspice, and thyme. Cook for 30 seconds over a medium heat. Add the chicken broth and soy sauce and cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in the lime juice. Put the chicken back in the pan and coat well with the sauce.
Serve with the pineapple salsa.
Yield: 4 servings (1 serving is 1 chicken breast, 2 tablespoons of sauce and 1/3 cup of salsa)
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BAREFOOT BLOGGERS

Tuna Salad
Serves:
4 servings
Ingredients
2 pounds very fresh tuna steak, cut 1-inch thick
4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for brushing
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus extra for sprinkling
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black, plus extra for sprinkling
2 limes, zest grated
1 teaspoon wasabi powder
6 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (3 limes)
2 teaspoons soy sauce
10 dashes hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
1 to 2 ripe Hass avocados, medium diced
1/4 cup minced scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
1/4 cup red onion, small diced
Directions
Brush the tuna steaks with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the tuna steaks in a very hot saute pan and cook for only 1 minute on each side. Set aside on a platter.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the olive oil, salt, pepper, lime zest, wasabi, lime juice, soy sauce and hot sauce. Add the avocados to the vinaigrette.
Cut the tuna in chunks and place it in a large bowl. Add the scallions and red onion and mix well. Pour the vinaigrette mixture over the tuna and carefully mix.

Comments

Unknown said…
I'm glad that you likes this one. I enjoyed it too - but Sara made ours w/o the hot pepper which I think would've contributed a lot.

St. Thomas is great. I distinctly remember being 19 and drinking a mixing bowl sized margareta @ the "Divi Carina" after security removed me from the casino floor for being under aged. What a long cab ride home that was...

--Nick
Jennifer said…
I loved this recipe too and will definitely be making it again! I loved the combination of the spicy chicken and cool salsa too!
chocolatechic said…
Smart subbing the salmon for tuna.

I ended up doing a track back.
Anonymous said…
Glad you enjoyed the chicken!

And: YAY for LOST! I am very sad that I have to wait until next year to see how it all plays out! Last night's episode was quite interesting...
Kate said…
Aww, thank you for your post. My blog is named after a night I spent with my sister, drinking cocktails and eating warm olives and imported cheese, as a teenager. That's when I turned into a foodie. Your adaptation looks terrific, and you are right, the recipe needed NO salt. Anything with soy doesn't need additional salt, in my opinion. Hmm, a craving Ellie group, I didn't know about that one. Must check it out.
so glad you liked this and that it fit right into your diet.

You are so right about the definition of jerk - i am going to have to research this one.
Cathy said…
They both look great Peggy! I see a couple of rewinds in my future. That jerk chicken in particular sounds really fabulous - great for summer!
AmyRuth said…
Yumm Peggy that looks good I wish I could sit down with that and an iced tea. Nummy!
Great job!
PS thanks for stopping by - we could definitely share some stories. he he
Penny said…
The saltiness was not your fault. That is the way the recipe was written. I have learned not to follow the Barefoot Contessa's directions on salt. Your salmon looks lovely.
Anonymous said…
both sound delicious!!

I'm mad at my Tivo. It didn't record the last 5 episodes of Lost (I'm way behind in my TV viewing). I have to watch them online or something. I did record the finale though.
MacDuff said…
Good job with your diet! Losing a pound can be an enormous feat. And I'm glad you liked this recipe - it's always good when you can actually eat what you make, rather than give it to someone else who's not dieting! (or dieting poorly...)
Aggie said…
Your chicken (and salmon!) looks fantastic! I so wish I got to try the jerk chicken...I am shooting for making it this weekend. I was in St Thomas a year ago and I long for it!!
Pamela said…
I was actually not too sure about the pineapple and cuke combo, but I ended up really enjoying it. Everything looks wonerful, Peggy.
farah said…
Weel done it looks great, we really enjoyed this :)
Anonymous said…
I was hoping you would offer a clip of the song. Can we do the chicken dance to it?
Penny said…
Thanks for visiting. That is my kitchen, but the rest of the house is still being renovated.
TourGuideJenn said…
All I know is Jerk = hot, so I made it without the pepper. But more importantly -- wasn't that episode of Lost amazing! I'm with you though -- how to go until next year before finding out what happens next!
Anonymous said…
I love jerk seasonings too. How great that this fit in your diet! Jerk chicken by Chicken Lips... lol

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