Grilled Chicken with Corn-Cherry Tomato Relish

As I type this, we are in the middle of a terrible sand storm! So, I’m trying to concentrate on healthy comfort foods, like this recipe. It’s hard for me not to concentrate on pizza, coke, and dirt cake on a day like today. So here goes. This corn relish IS delicious comfort food even if I’m in the midst of sand in my teeth. Typing this out, I’m transported to a calmer evening when I made this.

3-5 ears of corn, husks and silk removed
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
2 T. fresh lime juice
1 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 tsp. salt, or more to taste
4 (1/4 pound) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 T. olive oil
1 tsp. ground cumin, I used chicken fajita seasoning

Prepare the grill for a medium fire; spray the grill rack with nonstick spray.

Place the corn on the grill rack. Grill, turning often, until tender and well marked, about 6 minutes. Transfer the corn to cutting board and let cool 5 minutes. With a sharp knife, cut the kernels from the cobs; transfer the kernels to a large bowl. Stir in the tomatoes, scallions, jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro, and 1/4 tsp. salt. (I use a bit more salt; this is a weight watchers recipe.) Set aside.

Rub the chicken with the oil, then sprinkle with the cumin or fajita seasoning and the remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Place on the grill rack and grill, turning once, until chicken is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Serve the chicken with the relish.

*On days like today, this recipe can easily be cooked on a grill pan inside!

Yield: 4 servings with a PointsPlus value of 7.

COOKING THE BOOKS, YA’LL!

Fresh Strawberry Cake

This strawberry cake is the birthday cake that Fallon requests on her special day. It is so hard for me to believe that yesterday, she turned 11! Pretty in pink, both Fallon and this cake, are layered with sweet surprises and sure to bring smiles. This is the Triple-Decker Strawberry Cake from Southern Living’s 2004 Annual Recipes Cookbook. It keeps best in the refrigerator.

1 (18.25 oz.) pkg. white cake mix
1 (3 oz.) pkg. strawberry gelatin
4 large eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries
1 cup vegetable oil
1/2 milk
Strawberry Butter Cream Frosting, recipe below
Garnish: whole strawberries

Beat first 8 ingredients at low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute. Scrape down sides, and beat at medium speed 2 more minutes, stopping to scrape down sides, if needed. (Chopped strawberries should be well blended into batter.)

Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans. (I line the bottoms with parchment and spray with Baker’s Joy cooking spray.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 23 minutes or until cakes spring back when lightly pressed with a finger. Rotate your pans, halfway through cooking time.

Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.

Spread Strawberry Buttercream Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Store in refrigerator. Garnish if desired. Makes 16 servings.

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

1 cup butter, softened
2 (16 oz.) packages powdered sugar, sifted
1 cup finely chopped fresh strawberries

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 20 seconds or until fluffy. Add sugar and strawberries; beat at low speed until creamy. (Add more sugar if frosting is too thin, or add strawberries if too thick.) Makes 2 1/2 cups.

White Chocolate Party Mix

This recipe was shared with me by my sweet sister, Julie! It is a favorite of ours! She always makes it for our camping trips to Colorado. Make sure you have a big mixing bowl for this one and match the M & M colors with the holiday or season, if you like!

1 (10-oz.) pkg. mini pretzels
5 cups plain cheerios
5 cups corn Chex or Crispex cereal
2 cups salted peanuts
1 (14-oz.) pkg. M & M’s
2 (12-oz.) pkgs. white chocolate chips
3 T. oil

Combine the pretzels, cereals, peanuts and M & M’s in a large bowl.

In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the white chocolate chips and oil on medium high for two minutes, stirring once. Microwave again for 10 seconds; stir until smooth.

Pour the melted chocolate over the pretzel mixture and gently mix well. Spread onto 3 to 4 wax paper-lined baking sheets.

Let cool and break apart. Store in airtight containers.
Makes 20 cups