Easy Summer Menus

Everyone likes to grill out,so why not invite some friends over and try these easy menus the next time you entertain. The great thing is you make most of these the day before.

Ultimate Chicken
or
Honey mustard grilled chicken

For a salad try:
Asian slaw salad
or
24 hr. salad

Dessert:
Dirt cake
or
Strawberry pretzel salad


ULTIMATE CHICKEN

1/4 c. cider vinegar
3 Tbsp. prepared course ground mustard
3 cloves garlic,minced
1 lime,juiced
1 lemon,juiced
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste
6 Tbsp. olive oil
6 boneless,skinless chicken breast halves

Mix all ingredients except oil together,then whisk in oil.
Place chicken in marinade and marinate for 8 hrs. or overnight.Grill.


HONEY MUSTARD GRILLED CHICKEN

1/3 c. dijon mustard
1/4 c. honey
2Tbsp. mayo.
1 tsp. steak sauce
4 boneless.skinless chicken breast halves

Mix first 4 ingredients together and set a small amount aside for basting.
Marinate chicken in the marinade for 30 minutes. Grill.


ASIAN SLAW SALAD

1 c. olive oil
1 c. sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 pkg. cole slaw
6-8 green onions,chopped
1/4 c. fresh cilantro to taste,chopped
1/2 c. almonds
1/2 c.sunflower seeds,shelled
2 pkg. ramen noodles,crumbled,discard seasoning

Whisk together oil,sugar,vinegar ans soy sauce together to make a dressing.The dressing may be made a day ahead.The day that you serve the salad,combine the cole slaw,green onions,cilantro,almonds and sunflower seeds and ramen noodles in a bowl.Pour dressing over salad right before serving,toss until evenly coated and serve.It's a lot of dressing and you don't have to use it all.

24 HR. SALAD

1 head of lettuce,any kind
1/2 med. red onion,sliced thin
4 hard boiled eggs,peeled and chopped or sliced
1/2 tsp. table salt
1 1/2 c.frozen peas,thawed
1 c.celery,chopped or sliced
1 red bell pepper,seeded and chopped
1 med.cucumber,halved,seeded and sliced thin
bacon,cooked and crumbled(as much as you like)
1 c.shredded sharp cheddar cheese
DRESSING
1 1/2 c.mayo
3 Tbsp. cider vinegar
2 Tbsp.hot sauce or you can use one or none at all
2tsp. sugar
1tsp.black pepper

This looks pretty in a trifle bowl but a regular large bowl works fine.
Place half of lettuce in bowl.Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. salt.Rinse sliced onions under cold water and pet dry with paper towels.Layer onion,eggs,peas,celery,bell pepper and cucumber.Add remaining lettuce and top with bacon and cheese.
For the dressing,combine all ingredients and spread evenly over salad.Cover with plastic and refrigerate at least 8 hrs. or over night.
To serve,toss salad until evenly coated with dressing.
REMEMBER,If you don't like some of the ingredients,change it to something you do like.


DIRT CAKE

1/2 c.butter,softened
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese,softened
1/2 c. conf. sugar
2(3.5 oz.) vanilla pudding mixes
3 1/2 c. milk
1 (12 oz.) cool whip,thawed
Pkg. 32.oz oreos

Place cookies in a food processor.It should look like dirt when you're done.
Mix butter,cream cheese and sugar in bowl.
In a large bowl,mix milk,pudding and cool whip together.
Combine pudding mixture and cream cheese mixture together.
Layer in a bowl,starting with the cookies(dirt) then cream mixture and keep layering.
Chill for a couple of hours until ready to serve.


STRAWBERRY PRETZEL SALAD

2 c. crushed pretzels ( I like to leave mine a little chunky)
3/4 c. better,melted
3Tbsp. white sugar

1(8oz.) cream cheese,softened
1 c. white sugar
1 (8oz.) cool whip

2 pkg. strawberry jello (3 oz.)
2 c. boiling water
2 (10 oz.) frozen strawberries

Preheat oven to 400*
Stir together crushed pretzels,butter and sugar; mix well and press mixture into bottom of 9x13 baking dish.
Bake 8-10 min.,until set.Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl,cream together cream cheese and 1 c. sugar.Fold in cool whip,spread mixture onto cooled crust.
Dissolve jello in boiling water.Stir in still frozen strawberries and allow to set for a couple minutes.
When mixture is consistency of egg whites,pour and spread over cream cheese layer.
Refrigerate until set.


Layla you can add all these to the church cookbook!
Hope y'all enjoy!
Hugs,
Sis. Monica