Sweet and Sour Chicken

Everyone in my household loves take-out "Chinese" food, but we do not love the mystery ingredients. This is a nutritious version of sweet and sour chicken that is so good you will not miss the take-out version.

Fruit Salad Dessert

1/2 pineapple, cut in chunks
1 gala apple (or any other sweet apple)
2-3 oranges, peeled and cut from sections & membranes
1 banana cut in half lengthwise and then sliced at an angle
2 T cream sherry
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Combine all fruit together in a medium sized bowl, drizzle with sherry.

Comments: You can toast the almonds and coconut flakes (on a cookie sheet for ten minutes) for added flavor, but it is very good without that step. It saves well in the refrigerator for about 1 day max. This is really delicious, light and refreshing and tastes a little like a pina colada. Really perfect for the summer.

Grilled Pineapple

1/2 pineapple, cut in wedges
1 T rum

Marinade
2 T honey
1 T olive oil
1 T lime juice
1 t ground cinnamon
1 t ground cloves (or about 20 whole cloves)

Prepare pineapple by cutting off the crown, base and skin. Remove eyes and core and cut pineapple into four wedges. Cut each wedge in half. Thread onto wood or metal skewers.

For marinade, combine all marinade ingredients above. Brush onto the pineapple pieces and grill for about five minutes on each side, basting with any remaining marinade. Remove from grill and brush with rum. Serve hot or warm (you can wrap them in foil until ready to serve). Slice to serve.

Comments: This is a very delicious summer side dish, super easy too. You could easily double the recipe to use the entire pineapple, or snack on the other half. Ground cloves are easier, but whole cloves work ok too.

Mango Pineapple Salsa

This goes great with Caribbean Turkey Burgers and Fish Tacos.