Alfresco
An. old-fizshioned picnic menu
with some new twists.
ANNABEL COHEN
Special to the Jewish News
0
ne of the distinct pleasures of summer is eating outdoors, in your
PEPPER GRILLED CHICKEN POCKETS WITH CHUTNEY
yard, at a park or listening to your favorite music under the stars.
8 boneless and skinless chicken breasts (about 3 pounds)
There's something about spreading a blanket over the warm grass and
Marinade:
unwrapping your meal that seems like you're back in the old days,
I / 4 cup red wine vinegar
when the picnic was a favorite family outing. It's one of those "life doesn't get
1/4 cup soy sauce
better than this" experiences.
juice of 1 lemon
In times past, before concerns about bacteria and fat prevented us from pack-
3 T. olive oil
ing wicker baskets with mayo-laden salads and cold fried chicken, the only
2 T. brown sugar
things people worried about were ants and a thunderstorm.
1 T fresh minced garlic or 2 t. granulated garlic (not garlic powder)
Today, we have super-safe coolers and ice packs to keep our foods pristine and
1 t. ground black pepper (not finely ground), or more to taste
fridge-fresh. And the menus are updated, too.
Sandwiches:
The following recipes are perfect outdoor eating or picnic fare. They include
4 large pitas
updated, healthier sandwiches and even a cold summer soup made from fresh
8 large bibb or other lettuce leaves, torn into pieces
tomatoes and basil. There's potato salad, too, but it's made with vinaigrette for
8 grilled chicken breasts
utmost fresh taste. Fruity cookie bars round out this wrap-and-go
2 cups very thin sliced cucumbers,
menu.
peeled
or unpeeled
A.:1,NVAISi
Make yourself iced tea or lemonade (even store-bought is good
1 cup roasted red pepper strips
doctored up with fresh lemon slices and berries), poured over
(canned or jarred is fine)
copious amount of ice in tall glasses.
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
Outdoor concerns are greater now. We worry less about ants
1 cup prepared mango or other chut-
and more about West Nile virus. So, spray on your favorite repel-
ney
lent and get packing.
Remove visible fat from the chicken
breasts. Set aside while you prepare
the marinade.
Combine marinade ingredients in
large bowl and whisk well. Add the
chicken and turn the breasts to coat
well. Cover with plastic wrap and chill
the chicken from 30 minutes to 5
hours. Remove the breasts from the
refrigerator about and hour before
cooking.
Heat grill to medium-high. Remove
the breasts from the marinade and
place on the hot grill (discard mari-
Chilled soups, like
nade). Grill on both sides until just cooked
through, about 5 minutes on each side (do
not overcook). Allow the chicken to cool
before cutting it into thin strips, across the
roasted tomato soup
grain (you must cool the chicken so that the
juices will not make the sandwiches soggy).
Make the sandwiches. Cut the pitas in half
and gently open the 8 pockets. Divide the
with fresh basil,
lettuce among the pockets, lining one side of
the pockets (do not stuff the lettuce into the
bottom of the pockets). Add the chicken
make a great addition
breasts in the same way (the lettuce will pro-
tect the pita from the moisture of the chick-
en). Add the cucumbers, red peppers,
cilantro and chutney. Wrap the pockets well
to alfresco dining.
in plastic wrap and transport them, standing
up (open ends up). Makes 8 sandwiches.
,
ALFRESCO
on page 70
7/ 4
2003
69