Strawberry Balsamic Chicken

I am usually anti-yogurt, but in this recipe it's wonderful. Savory, sweet and simply divine. This stunning dish marries two amazing flavors in an amazing way, for easy but high-class food. Best when marinated for up to 24 hours in the fridge, but this recipe is designed for only an hour.

4 (8 ounce) containers strawberry yogurt
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon lemon juice
4 large strawberries
2 teaspoons minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon minced fresh mint leaves
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (optional)

Prep Time:
1 Hour
Cook Time:
20 Minutes
Ready In:
1 Hour 20 Minutes

In a medium bowl, stir together the yogurt, 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, sugar, pepper, cinnamon and salt. Place chicken breast halves in a shallow baking dish, and pour the sauce over them. Refrigerate for 1 hour, turning chicken over half way through.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scrape the marinade off of the chicken breasts, and place them into the hot oil. Quickly brown the chicken on both sides, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, and let rest for 3 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking, transfer the marinade to a saucepan. Bring to a low simmer over medium heat. Remove stems from strawberries, and slice thinly so they will fan nicely. Set aside.
Slice chicken breasts on the diagonal into 1/2 inch thick slices. Place on serving plates, and sprinkle with lemon juice. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the marinade over each chicken breast, and fan one sliced strawberry over the top. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh mint and parsley.

If you really love balsamic vinegar, finish the dish off with an artful drizzle. I use a squeeze tube, but you could just put on a spoon and drizzle.

Strawberry Avocado Salad

Ingredients

2 tablespoons white sugar (I cut back some on the sugar, but that is my preference)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 cups torn salad greens (I've also made this with spinich)
1 avocado - peeled, pitted and sliced
10 strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup chopped pecans (try toasting these in a pan for more crunch and flavor!)

Prep Time:
15 Minutes
Ready In:
15 Minutes

In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, olive oil, honey, vinegar, and lemon juice. Set aside.
Place the salad greens in a pretty bowl, and top with sliced avocado and strawberries. Drizzle dressing over everything, then sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving, or serve immediately.
Servings Per Recipe: 2

Bookbinder's Fabulous Cheesecake

Very good, and simple to make!

Ingredients
2 tablespoons graham cracker crumbs
4 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon zest
2/3 cup apricot preserves
2 tablespoons water
4 cups fresh strawberries

Sprinkle the bottom of a lightly greased 9 inch springform pan with the graham cracker crumbs.
Combine the cream cheese and sugar. Mix at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Blend in the lemon juice, vanilla extract ,and lemon rind. Pour batter into the pan.
Bake in a preheated 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 50 minutes. Loosen cake from rim of pan; cool before removing rim of pan.
Combine apricot preserves and water in a small saucepan. Heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally. Arrange strawberries on top of the cheesecake. Spoon preserves mixture over strawberries. Chill.
Servings Per Recipe 12