Mixed Green & Berry Salad with Grilled Lemon & Basil Chicken

 

 

 

 

 

I wish I could say that I love salad. It's certainly not my first food of choice and I figured out why..... they require work!  If I could afford to have a personal chef, I would probably eat it daily. Until that happens, I have it once a week.  I love using spring mix greens, vine ripe tomatoes , and strips of green peppers. This one above is my favorite because it has a sweet element with dried cranberries and fresh strawberries. I add a little red onion, too. Finish with a squirt of fresh lemon and a splash of balsamic dressing !  It's a summer side dish that goes great with anything on the grill.  Speaking of which, I made these basil,  lemon, and garlic grilled chicken breasts to serve along with it.

First, I marinated boneless chicken breasts in olive oil with garlic, a healthy amount of lemon pepper, onion , chopped FRESH basil, and salt and pepper overnight if possible.

Fresh basil is incredible in aroma and taste. Worth the extra $$$ as far as I'm concerned and I'm cheap!!

Cover and refrigerate, overnight if possible, but an hour or two will do. Keep covered and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. I finish them by placing them on the grill 5-6 minutes on each side.

                         I use my indoor grill 99% of the time for convenience purposes!!
              I find it still gives you those great grill marks , as well as seals in the juices!!

This meal is guilt free as far as calories are concerned. You can treat yourself to an ice cream cone after all!! 
It's not easy to plan meals during the summer months. Half the problem is figuring out what to make. Here's a hint that works great at my house: A Menu. It really helps tremendously with a busy schedule. My daughter in-law, Bree, and I write our grocery list along with it. We don't always stick with it, but it's a guide to say the least.

Invest in a dry erase board!!

As you can see, we eat a lot of chicken!! Ssshhh! Don't say that too loudly around here!!!

Actually, our hens are laying hens only! Our grandson, Dave, gathered a few dozen eggs this weekend. Kids love doing this kind of fun! Sure beats video games!