Main Course Menu Plan: Week 4  Summer I

Day 1: Salmon with Lemon and Herbs, Lightly Smoked

Total time: 15 minutes 
    This is a cross between smoking and grilling.  The wood chips are optional, but we like the added flavor, especially for salmon.  As always, with fish, cook until it just flakes easily, being careful not to let it on too long.  You could also roast the salmon, 400F (200C) oven.  If you do, add 1/2 tsp soy sauce to the lemon/herb mixture.

Salmon with Lemon and Herbs, Lightly Smoked Ingredients:

 Instructions:

In all cases, fish should flake easily but not be dry.  Slightly pink in the center is perfect.  Remove from heat and serve, sliding it off the skin if needed.

Day 2: Grilled Lamb Chops with Lemon and Rosemary

Total time: 35 minutes
    Is there a better match than lamb and rosemary?  This simple marinade, with a bit of soy sauce and garlic, imparts a lot of complex flavors to our lamb chops.  Great grilled but equally good done indoors.  A grill pan for your stove top is nice but a hot nonstick skillet works fine.

Grilled Lamb Chops with Lemon and Rosemary Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 3: Grilled Citrus Chicken

Total time: 25 minutes
     This has a definite citrus flavor, the tart of lemon tempered by the orange marmalade and rounded out with the tomato in the ketchup.

Grilled Citrus Chicken Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 4: Southwestern Salad with Grilled Sausages

Total time: 20 minutes
     The quinoa, corn, beans and peppers give this salad a 'southwestern' flavor.  The oregano, Greek olives and feta a Mediterranean flavor. An eclectic Salad!  It's equally good with turkey, chicken or sausages!

Southwestern Salad with Grilled Sausages Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 5:  Niçoise Pasta Salad

Total time: 25 minutes 
   Traditionally (besides being served on lettuce) this should have the small, black Niçoise olives but I use the dry-cured Greek - because I didn't want to bother pitting the small ones.  Get the best canned tuna you can find.  Salade Niçoise always uses canned, never fresh.  The pasta takes the place of the potatoes.  

Niçoise Pasta Salad Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Day 6: Oriental Barbecued Pork Tenderloin

Total time: 45 minutes 
     This is a 'liquid' marinade that gets nicely into the pork.  Continue basting as it cooks, but remember to stop about 10 minutes before you take the pork off the grill, and give the pork one last turn, so any 'raw' marinade is cooked before removing the pork.  Do not use any leftover sauce without cooking it first.  Pink is best for pork.

Oriental Barbecued Pork Tenderloin Ingredients:

 Instructions:

Note:  Could also be roasted about the same amount of time, turning and basting, 400F (200C).

Shopping List

Get 7 Dinner Menus, Recipes, Shopping List each Thursday by e-mail: