Dan's Mountain Dishes

Our menu was Mediterranean, yet our spot was a Western Maryland Mountain.  We found a deck in a state park at the top of Dan's Mountain, which was beautiful yet quite cold so we both donned blankets.  Our menu today:

Mediterranean Chicken Salad

Chez's Brown Rice Salad

Manakish Za'atar

Purple Grapes

The Chicken recipe was inspired by The Clever Carrot. Here's my version:

Mediterranean Baked Chicken

(Serves 3)

1-6 oz. Chicken Breast, skinned

1 clove Garlic, sliced

1 small Onion, sliced

1 small Zucchini, sliced

1 Yellow Squash, sliced

Mrs. Dash Seasoning

Bake at 350 degrees until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees.  Chill overnight.

1 cup Garden Tomatoes, cut in small pieces

1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese Pearls

Fresh Basil Sprigs

2 Slices Lemon, cut in quarters

1/2 cup Northern Beans, cooked (I use the frozen cooked kind without salt)

Mix in.

Serve with Red Wine Vinaigrette:

2 Tbsp. Red Wine 

2 tsp. Olive Oil

Assorted Fresh Herbs

1 tsp. Honey

2 tsp. Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice

My Brown Rice Salad was adapted from a recipe my Australian scrapbook friend, Chez, sent me.  Here's my version:

Chez's Brown Rice Salad

(Serves 4)

3/4 cup Brown Rice (the quick cooking kind)

3/4 cup Water

Bring to a boil.  Turn to simmer and cook for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat.  

Stir in:

3 Dried Apricots, diced

1/2 ear Corn, cooked and cut off the cob

1 Mini Sweet Pepper, diced

2 Tbsp. Toasted Almonds, crushed

2 tsp. Sesame Oil

Chill.  Serve with Arugula Spinach Mix.    

I posted the bread recipe yesterday.

Enjoy your week!