Recipe(tried): Chicken Kebob Dinner... Caribbean Marinated Chicken Kebobs, Broccoli and Spinach Gratin, Julie's Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes Caprese Salad

Good Morning Everyone,

Yesterday I went food shopping, one of my very favorite things to do, I shop all the grocers for their specials....when the flyer comes out I write on a paper the name of the store, the dates the specials are good for and what I am going to get. Then I go into my coupon box and hunt down the ones I need for further savings. It's almost like a game for me.

One of my favorite deals are the cheddar cheese bars. When I see them 3/$5.00, that makes them each 1.66. Then I get 55 cents off coupons for each bringing them down to 1.11. Sometimes it will be for Borden or Kraft or Cracker Barrel.

I was pleasantly surprised at one of the grocer's who had posted in their flyer, fresh green beans at 99 cents/lb. When I got there, they were 59 cents/lb. You know I bought 2 lbs. because we just love them!!! I also had lots of "buy one salad dressing, get one free, for some of my favorites.

For dinner tonight we will enjoy Chicken Kebobs with Broccoli and Spinach Casserole, Julie's Glazed Sweet Potatoes, and Tomato Caprese Salad. For dessert, there are cold cantalope and watermelon chunks.

Enjoy your weekend! Gina

Caribbean Marinated Chicken Kebobs
serves 6

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/3 cup orange juice
1/3 cup lime juice
3 tbsp. canola oil
3 tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (more if you want to kick up the heat)
1 tbsp. ground coriander
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 lime
3/4 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. oregano
salt and pepper to taste
bamboo skewers (soak skewers in water for at least two hours before grilling).
red and green pepper chunks
mushroom buttons
onion chunks
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1 tbsp. soy sauce

Rinse the chicken and pat dry. Cut chicken into chunks for skewers. Place in a large bowl and pour in the orange and lime juices, canola oil, and honey. Add the red pepper, basil, oregano, salt and pepper and garlic. mix well and let marinate covered in refrigerator for about 3 hours.

When ready to grill, thread chicken chunks alternating with mushrooms, onion and pepper pieces. Grill til chicken chunks are done, mix together orange marmalade and soy sauce and brush on kebobs before taking off grill.

Broccoli and Spinach Gratin
serves 6-8

3 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup butter
1/2 med. onion, chopped
3 tbsp. flour
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen chopped spinach, drained and thawed
2 cups fresh raw broccoli, chopped coarse
3 eggs, slightly beaten
2 cyps small curd cottage cheese
8 oz. grated cheddar
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350. Heat 3 tbsp. olive oil in a skillet and saute onion and garlic, when wilted and golden, add spinach and broccoli and blend well. Cool and set aside.

Melt butter in a saucepan and when melted add the flour to form a roux. Add to the veg mixture along with the cheeses, eggs and salt and pepper. Mix well and pour into a casserole dish. Bake 45 mts.

**To dress up this dish, remove dish from oven after 30 mts. and arrange sliced tomatoes on top, sprinkle with Parmesan and bake another 15 mts. YUM!!
JULIE'S GLAZED SWEET POTATOES
*************************
serves 4

3 medium-sized sweet potatoes
1 tbsp butter
3 tbsp soft brown sugar
1 tsp grated orange peel
juice of 1 orange
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
2 cinnamon sticks

Slice peeled sweet potatoes into rounds. Place in a saucepan with a little boiling water to just cover. Simmer until tender about 30 minutes. Remove and drain. Place slices in an ovenproof dish. Add bits of butter, sugar, grated orange peel and juice. Sprinkle with nutmeg and add cinnamon sticks. Bake at 200 C(400f) for a further 20 minutes.

Tomatoes Caprese Salad

2 ripe red tomatoes
4 basil leaves, cut in long strips
1 ball buffalo mozzarella cheese
olive oil and balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper

Slice tomatoes and slice mozzarella. Layer alternately and sprinkle the basil over. Sprinkel with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour covered.