STAY COOL ON HOT SUMMER DAYS

HHot weather is here and when it is like this, you certainly don’t want to have stand over a stove and heat up the kitchen. These recipes are great options for those sorts of summer days. An entrée of grilled chicken with a homemade pineapple salsa and a dessert that takes minutes to make and requires no cooking at all.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE SALSA

Flavorful glazed grilled chicken with a fresh, summery pineapple salsa. You can grill this outside in just a few minutes, and head right back into the air conditioning. No sweat needed.

INGREDIENTS

• ½ c finely diced red onion • 1½ c diced fresh pineapple • 1 jalapeno pepper, deseeded and minced • ½ teaspoon salt • 1 lime, zested and juiced • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts • 2 Tb extra virgin olive oil • 1 tsp each, salt & pepper • 1 Tb garlic hot sauce (like Cholula chili garlic hot sauce) • 3 Tb orange juice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To begin, combine the onion, pineapple, jalapeno, salt, lime zest and juice in a small bowl. Stir to mix thoroughly.

Set this aside for now. 2. Combine the garlic hot sauce and orange juice together in a small dish. 3. Heat your grill to 400 degrees. Brush the chicken with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt & pepper. 4. Cook these on the grill for about 5-7 minutes on each side until it is cooked through. 5. When the chicken is almost done, brush the beautiful glaze all over. 6. Let it cook the last couple minutes and let that flavor just seep into the meat. 7. Top with your summery pineapple salsa. 8. Enjoy!

Tip: If you make the salsa ahead of time, it will allow the flavors to combine even better.

This dessert recipe has a funny name, but once you try it, you will absolutely be in love with this perfect little summer dessert. Though you can enjoy it all year long. The first time I made a version of this was for a gathering of friends in the winter… in Alaska!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 1/3 c fresh raspberries, divided • 1/4 c powdered sugar, divided • 1 c heavy whipping cream • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 3 - 4 thin, crisp cookies (I like using waffle crips)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. To begin, place 1 cup of the berries in a shallow dish. 2. Sprinkle with two tablespoons of the powdered sugar. 3. Mash the sugar & berries together with a fork. Set those aside for now. 4. In a chilled mixing bowl, combine the cream, vanilla and remaining 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar. Beat them together on high speed just until stiff peaks form. 5. Add the berry mash to the whipped cream, and fold it together until it is swirled in, but not completely mixed. 6. Scoop the mixture into small dessert dishes. 7. Stick a cookie or two into each dish.

If the cookies are large, break them in half and arrange them in a pretty way. 8. Top each with a beautiful berry. 9. Enjoy!

Tip: This effortless dessert can also be made with blackberries or strawberries.