Ingredients

1 bunch fresh spinach

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (pasteurized, or sub cheddar)

1/2 cup raw pecans (leave out for allergies)

 

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

1/2 cup olive oil

salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Combine the spinach, strawberries, Gorgonzola cheese, and pecans in a large bowl.

Stir the balsamic vinegar and honey together in a bowl; slowly stream the olive oil into the mixture while whisking continuously. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving.

Dinner (in the crock pot because it is so damn hot!)

Hawaiian BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches )

Ingredients

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 cup pineapple juice (apple juice could be substituted)

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup honey

2 1/2 tsp molasses

1/4 tsp liquid smoke (I omit because I don't keep it on hand)

1/4 tsp coconut extract

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 Tbsp cold water

1 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp tomato paste

Glazed Pineapple

6 fresh pineapple rings (cut about 1/2" thick)

4 Tbsp brown sugar, divided

1 Tbsp butter, divided

Directions

Place chicken in a 6 or 7 quart slow cooker. In a mixing bowl, whisk together ketchup, pineapple juice, low sodium soy sauce, honey, molasses, liquid smoke, coconut extract, ginger, onion powder, garlic powder and black pepper. Pour sauce over chicken in slow cooker, cover with lid and cook on low heat for 5 - 6 hours. Remove chicken from slow cooker, shred and set aside. In a medium saucepan, whisk together cold water and cornstarch, pour in sauce from slow cooker and add tomato paste. Bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat, stirring frequently, then reduce heat and simmer 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until thickened. Return chicken to slow cooker (or the mixing bowl) and pour sauce over chicken, toss to evenly coat. Serve warm on hamburger buns, along with optional glazed or grilled pineapple and optional diced green onions (grilled red onions would be good too).

Glazed Pineapple

Working in 2 separate batches, melt 1 Tbsp butter in a 10 inch non-stick skillet. Sprinkle 1 Tbsp brown sugar among one side of 3 pineapple rings (about 1 tsp per each), add pineapple to skillet (brown sugar side down) and saute over medium high heat until golden on bottom about 3 minutes. Sprinkle another 1 Tbsp over the tops of pineapple rings in pan (again 1 tsp per each), then flip and cook opposite side until lightly browned about 3 minutes. Repeat this process with remaining 3 pineapple rings.