Grilled Chicken and Apple Salad

Grilled Chicken and Apple Salad – A meal in itself

Dressing and Marinade:

1/2 C olive oil
1/3 C cider vinegar
1/2 C apple juice
2 T balsamic vinegar
Shy 1/4 C honey or sugar
2 T Dijon
1 t dry basil
1 t thyme
1 t Chinese 5 spice (optional)
1/4 t salt

Combine ingredients with a whisk. Reserve 3/4 C (or more) for dressing. Use remainder to marinate 2-3 chicken breasts for at least 30 minutes. Then grill or bake and slice thinly across the grain. Discard marinade.

Salad:

Chop 1-2 heads romaine lettuce
1 package mixed salad greens
1/2 package fresh basil, slivered
1/2 C pecan pieces
1 C grated cheddar cheese

Apple Salsa:

1/2 diced red onion (optional)
2 diced sour apples (granny smith)
4 diced roma or vine tomatoes

Mix together and serve with hot chicken on top and reserved dressing.

It makes a lot so I like to serve only as much as we will eat at a meal and reserve the rest for later (keep the apple salsa and dressing separate from the salad in fridge). The dressing will last a few weeks refrigerated. The dressing alone is a GREAT marinade for chicken even without this salad! I give it five stars!
If short on time, Costco carries pre-grilled chicken in the refrigerator section, which I chop and marinate a couple hours, and serve cold with the salad.

Antipasto Salad

Antipasto Salad

(A meal in itself!)

3 heads Romaine Lettuce, chopped

3 chopped tomatoes (Italian, vine, or several cherry tomatoes)

1/2 lb. Provolone, cubed (brick from deli)

1 C whole black olives

1/4 lb. Pepperoni, quartered

1/2 C Garbanzo beans

8 or more sliced fresh mushrooms

2 small jars or 1 can artichoke hearts (marinated is ok), chopped

1 small red bell pepper, very thinly sliced

1/2 C grated parmesan cheese

Hearty Italian Vinaigrette

In a blender combine the following:

2 1/2 T red wine vinegar

2 T chili sauce (w/o High Fructose Corn Syrup)

1 1/2 t Worcestershire sauce (w/o HFCS)

1 clove minced garlic

1 1/2  t minced fresh parsley

1 t Italian seasoning

1/2 t sugar

1/4 t salt

1/2 t pepper (fresh is best)

1 T Parmesan cheese

Pour in 6 T olive oil while blender is running

Toss with salad.  I reserve some salad without dressing on it to use the next couple days.  DELISH!