Pineapple-Glazed Chicken w/ Jalapeño Salsa

This was SO good! The salsa alone was delicious, and pretty. I plan to do this (the salsa) again next time we have halibut. I found this recipe on epicurious. I applied some people's suggestions to my own dinner: I doubled the glaze and tripled the salsa. Also, marinated my chicken in 1 cup OJ concentrate, 1 cup soy sauce, and a few cloves of sliced garlic for about an hour.
*see nutritional facts at the bottom*

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 2 tablespoons (packed) brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 3/4 cup 1/4-inch cubes fresh pineapple (I used canned. You need the juice anyway! And saves from cutting.)
• 3 tablespoons finely diced red bell pepper
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 1 1/2 tablespoons canned sliced jalapeño chiles, drained, coarsely chopped (I prefer fresh. Cheaper too)
• 4 boneless chicken breast halves with skin (1 3/4 pounds total)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. 
• Bring pineapple juice, brown sugar, and mustard to boil in small saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Boil until glaze has thickened slightly, about 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. 
• Line baking sheet with foil. Place chicken on sheet and brush with glaze. Bake 15 minutes. Brush again with glaze, then broil until cooked through and golden, watching closely to avoid burning, about 5 minutes longer. Let rest 5 minutes. 
• While chicken is cooking, mix pineapple, red pepper, cilantro, onion, and chiles in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon salsa over chicken and serve.

(this is pre-cooked)

 

Nutritional facts:
Per serving: 344.1 kcal calories, 31.1 % calories from fat, 11.9 g fat, 3.2 g saturated fat, 120.0 mg cholesterol, 14.0 g carbohydrates, 1.0 g dietary fiber, 11.7 g total sugars, 13.0 g net carbohydrates, 43.7 g protein

Halibut Ceviche

Ceviche is a sort of pico de gallo (fresh salsa) but it also includes a fresh fish (preferably a white fish). The fish is cooked by the acidity of lime juice, so there is no oven necessary. 

My father in-law brought us some Alaskan Halibut from his most recent trip (ya, we're spoiled). I've had ceviche with crab before (which was DELICIOUS) and then found this recipe for the halibut, and thought 'why not.'

It turned out great, and was a huge hit at the family party. - I always have to test out new recipes on them. :)

 

 

What you need.... (onion was shy for picture)

 

Since we are 'cooking' our halibut in lime juice, please please please use FRESH limes! They taste sooo much better, and the acidity is much more potent than the bottled stuff.

 

Pour the lime juice over the fish and let it sit for at least 20 min. But not too long or the fish will become too rough and mostly taste of limes.
 

 

 While halibut is soaking, chop up the veggies and give them a good toss.

Ingredients:
1 pound halibut {you can also use tilapia}
8-10 limes {juice of- approximately 1 cup}
1 red onion, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped and seeded
1 serrano pepper, finely diced and seeded
1/2 cup cilantro chopped
salt to taste

Directions:

• Cut halibut to bite-sized pieces and place in shallow dish. 

• Cover with 1 cup fresh lime juice and set aside for 20-25 minutes. 

• Meanwhile mix together onion, tomatoes, serrano pepper, cilantro and salt to taste. (halibut can be a bland fish, so it may take quite a bit of salt)

• Drain lime juice from halibut {discard lime juice}.  

• Add halibut to the pico-mixture and gently fold together. 

• Squeeze the juice of 1 more lime on top of cevhiche and mix together. Enjoy! 

 

Black Bean Salsa

This is SO easy, and SO delcious! And better yet, it's pretty healthy for ya too... Until you use the chips. :)

• 2 avacodo's
• 3-5 small tomotoes
• green onions
• bushel of cilantro
• green pepper
• 1 can white corn, drained (I use a can of white/yellow)
• 1 can black beans (drained and rinsed)
• 1 packet italian dressing (make according to pkg)

Just dice everything up and mix together. YUMMY!!

Healthy Fruit Dip

Healthy Fruit Dip

8-oz vanilla low-fat yogurt
1/4 tsp grated lemon peel
1 T lemon juice
Dash cinnamon
Dash ground ginger
3 T strawberry jam

Mix all together and chill. Serve with favorite fruit. Right now strawberries, bananas, and blueberries are all cheap and in season.