A Summer Meal (1)

The grilled pineapple, grilled zucchini, and tomato salad have been featured previously.  Add the proteins and grain and voila!  A meal fit for a king, or at least my family of men.

Pork tenderloin is a lean and mean protein.  We don't have to worry so much about trichinosis like our parents did and these days we can cook pork to medium rare without concern.  Lightly seasoned with salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder, grill until done. Using the same grill, cook the side dishes except the quinoa.  (It would slip through the grill - Ha!).

The quinoa was cooked over the stove according to package directions. In the meantime, heat a little olive oil and butter and saute carrots, onions/shallots, and garlic until softened.  Add the quinoa to the mix and blend well.

I typically use 1 whole carrot, 2 shallots or 1/2 of one whole onion, and a clove or two of garlic.  All are chopped finely.  Chopped parsley is a delicious addition as is a hint of salt and pepper.

Four ounces of grilled pork tenderloin, 1/4 cup quinoa salad, grilled zucchini and pineapple, and a serving of tomato salad offers less than 550 calories assuming you eat everything.  The great news is that the pork and quinoa offer almost 900 mg potassium!

Potassium is essential for helping nerves and muscles function properly (and help with cramping), lower risk of high blood pressure, and ensure metabolic balance with electrolytes and pH.

- Kim Fielding

Grilled Pineapple

Great with pork, chicken, and whatever else you like.

With all of its natural sugars and juiciness, people are often shy to think of barbecuing pineapple.  The sugars will cause a sticky mess on the grill and juices will spark flames... The key to grilling pineapple is to spray Pam on the pineapple.  That way it doesn't stick to the grill and reduces flare-ups.  It somehow seals the fruit and what you are left with is simply tender and sweet.  A great side dish for any meal.

Serves:  4
Prep and cook time: 10 minutes

One whole pineapple, peeled and sliced 1/2-inch thick
Spray Pam

Preheat your barbecue to about 350 degrees. Lightly (!) spray Pam on both sides of the pineapple slices.  Grill about 2-3 minutes per side, turning if you like the grill marks a certain way.  That is it!

This needs no dressing.  It is delicious all by itself.

One whole pineapple offers less than 250 calories but, if you are sugar sensitive, there is a lot of sweet stuff in this fruit.  Each serving has about 65 calories, 1.7 g fiber, and is high in vitamin C and the element manganese.

- Kim Fielding

Grilled Zucchini

These cook quickly on a hot grill. Use tongs and watch them.  Done in a minute or so.

Zucchinis can take over a garden rapidly if you are not watching.  It seems that a medium-size zucchini you hope to cook for tomorrow night's dinner can grow to enormous size within a day or so. How do you vary all the ways to cook a summer squash?  One way is to stick it on the barbecue grill along with cooking whatever else you are having for dinner that night.  There are other ways of course and recipes will follow.

Serves:  4
Prep and cook time: 10 minutes

One large or two medium zucchini
Olive oil
Vinegar
Salt and pepper

Fresh cut, about 1/4 or 1/3-inch each.

Sprinkle oil, vinegar, salt and pepper over.  Toss with your hands.

To a preheated grill, add the zucchini slices.  Using tongs, turn each piece after 1 minute. These cook quickly so be careful not to let them burn.  All cooking times are approximate as all barbecue grills have their individual quirks.

My parents like to sprinkle Parmesan cheese on theirs.  Up to you!

Each serving offers 32 calories. Most fats are monounsaturated.

- Kim Fielding

Cherry Tomato Salad

Vibrant colors, fresh produce, and a lively vinaigrette.
 This salad goes with any meal.

Cheery cherry tomatoes flourish in our gardens throughout the summer.  Because they are easy to grow, it seems everyone has a plant in their backyard this time of year.  Today's salad features simple preparation and presentation.  Using mixed color tomatoes or just a red variety is your choice.

Serves:  4
Prep time:   15 minutes

1 generous cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 recipe vinaigrette
1/4 cup torn basil leaves
Lettuces:  romaine, butter, green or red leaf, baby kales

Vinaigrette:
2 tablespoon light olive oil or canola oil, or one tablespoon of each
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste, approximately one pinch salt and two or three grinds of pepper
 

Try to make pieces the same size.  Larger tomatoes may be cut into thirds.

Wash and blot dry all produce.  Cut cherry tomatoes for the salad.  Prepare the vinaigrette.

Basic vinaigrette is a staple in European households.  No one need buy dressing when this is so easy to prepare.  Dressings keep in the fridge for weeks.

Whisk together vinaigrette ingredients.  Or, place ingredients in a lidded jar and shake to emulsify.  Adjust seasoning to taste.

I prefer a two parts oil to one part vinegar dressing.  However, others like a less tart vinaigrette. Add a little more oil if need be.  Be sure to season to taste.  Remember, if it needs more tart, add more acid - vinegar.  If it needs taming down, add more oil.  Once you get the hang of making dressing at home, you can experiment with added herbs and spices to customize the recipe depending on what you are serving.

Tear the lettuces and place on a platter.  Mix together cut tomatoes and torn basil.  Add half of the dressing to tomatoes to moisten and stir.  Spoon the tomato mixture over the lettuces and drizzle salad with remaining vinaigrette. A sprinkling of coarse salt and coarse ground pepper may be added if you feel it needs it.  Not necessary though.

Each serving using mixed lettuces offers 73 calories, just less than 1 g fiber and protein, and 10% of your vitamin E requirement.  If you use just kale as your lettuce, the salad offers 86 calories, 1.2 g fiber, and 1.5 g protein.

Baby kales are now available in pre-washed packages at Trader Joes.  Because they are so young and tender, they don't have the strong earthy or bitter taste that some people are turned off by.  Try these.  They are a super food.

Lettuces in the above salad feature heirloom butter lettuce, kale, and romaine from our garden.  Lettuces are prolific garden specimens.  Several adult plants each will keep you in leaves for at least a few weeks. Trim lettuces for eating from the base of the stem and work upward as the plants grow.

- Kim Fielding