Gourmet Grilling

Life is feeling pretty new and improved these days! My final exams and papers are complete, and all that is left is graduation this friday. With a little more time on my hands, my very first goal was to start working on the blog. There are a lot of new things coming soon and I've already started adding some things.

 Of course, you'll notice immediately that the blog has gotten a face lift. Take a look around at some of the new additions! My favorite new feature is "the daily plate"on the right. I will be updating this frequently straight from my iPhone to show you a peek into the things I cook, eat, and find inspiring. Check it out daily for updates!!

This afternoon, my husband and I had some very dear friends over for a relaxed sunday cookout. Now that my time is not divided each weekend between school work and social life, we have been enjoying catching up for lost time with friends. We got to spend some much needed time with a very special couple and their sweet baby girl. This amazing couple founded She Dances, a ministry providing housing and holistic restoration to young girls in Honduras who have been trafficked and sexually exploited. Click here to find out more about their ministry.

For our meal, I wanted to use as much in our pantry as possible to save a little. And since my husband offered to grill, I obviously wanted to make sure almost everything could be grilled... hey, you have to take advantage when you can! And I am pretty blessed that my husband happens to really rock at grilling all kinds of meats. It's hard to believe I was a vegetarian for 5 years! 

The Menu:

Grilled Jerk Chicken with Apple Salsa

Grilled Vegetables with Balsamic Red Wine Glaze

Lentil Mixed Grains Salad with Fresh Mint

Lentil Mixed Grains Salad with Mint

In the future, I would have enjoyed a nice iced green tea with lemon to go with the meal but... I ran out of time. I love to cook but sometimes I'm not the best at time management in the kitchen! Regardless, this lentil couscous salad stole my heart and tasebuds. I thought I would share the recipe.

Lentil Mixed Grains Salad with Fresh Mint

(modified from delish.com)

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked mixed grains (could also use couscous, quinoa, barley)

1 1/2 cups cooked lentils, drained

A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved

3/4 cup chopped mint

4 scallions, thinly sliced

3 T. apple cider vinegar, or to taste

3 T. coarse ground mustard

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Directions:

Cook your grains according to the directions. I used a grain mixture from Trader Joes, but you could use any grain as a base for this salad. You could also get creative and make your own grain blend! Here is the specific mix I used:

Couscous, orzo, baby garbanzo beans, and red quinoa mix

Next, cook about 1/4 of your package of lentils according to directions for about 25 minutes. This will cook them just enough to keep them from breaking apart. Add the lentils to the grains along with the cherry tomatoes and scallions. Whisk the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Add to lentil and grain mixture and chill for at least 2 hours.

This recipe is so easy! My only advice would be to go easy on the cider vinegar. Always taste before you add more. This salad is delicious and refreshing on a hot day. And the leftovers will get tastier as the flavors blend in the fridge. It will be a perfect addition to my lunch tomorrow at work!

What are your favorite cookout recipes?