Arugula Salad with Chicken and Apricots

This main course salad is an ideal lunch or light supper option. Plums would be a delicious substitute for the apricots.

Yield 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Cooking spray
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• Dash of freshly ground black pepper
• 4 cups baby arugula
• 4 cups gourmet salad greens
• 3 apricots (about 8 ounces), pitted and thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion

Preparation

1. Prepare grill to medium-high heat.

2. Place chicken between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound each piece to 1/2-inch thickness using a meat mallet or small heavy skillet. Sprinkle chicken with parsley, tarragon, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3. Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 4 minutes on each side or until done. Transfer to a plate; cool to room temperature.

4. Combine oil, vinegar, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and dash of pepper in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk.

5. Combine arugula, greens, apricots, and onion in a large bowl. Pour vinaigrette over arugula mixture; toss well to coat. Place about 2 cups arugula mixture on each of 4 plates. Cut chicken breast halves crosswise into thin slices; top each serving evenly with chicken. Serve immediately.

Wine note: In this salad, arugula's peppery bite is nicely balanced by fragrant herbs, sweet apricots, and grilled chicken. A great wine with a complexly flavored salad like this is pinot gris from Oregon. It has a fresh, clean feel and a creamy, fruity flavor. Two favorites: Lemelson Tikka's Run and Chehalem, both 2007 from the Willamette Valley, and both $19. —Karen MacNeil

Nutrition

Calories: 243

Fat: 12.9g (sat 2.1g,mono 8.3g,poly 1.7g)

Protein: 22.2g

Carbohydrate: 10.1g

Fiber: 2.9g

Cholesterol: 54mg

Iron: 2.1mg

Sodium: 364mg

Calcium: 86mg

Cynthia Nims, Cooking Light, JUNE 2009

Apricot-Coconut Cake

This recipe serves 8

Hands-On Time 0h30m

Total Time 3h30m

Ingredients

• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pans
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups apricot preserves
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions

• 1Heat oven to 350° F. Toast the coconut on a baking sheet, tossing occasionally, until golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt.
• 2Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla and 3/4 cup of the preserves. Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk, mixing just until incorporated.
• 3Divide the batter between the pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the centers comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the cakes from the pans and let cool completely on a rack.
• 4Using an electric mixer, beat the heavy cream, sour cream, and confectioners' sugar to form stiff peaks. Sandwich the cakes with the remaining 1/2 cup of preserves. Frost with the cream mixture and press the coconut onto the sides.

• By Kate Merker, January 2009

Nutritional Information Servings Per Recipe 8

• Amount Per Serving

• Calories 836
• Fat 40g
• Sat Fat 25g
• Cholesterol 256mg
• Carbohydrate 110g
• Calories From Fat 43%
• Sodium 455mg
• Protein 12g
• Fiber 2g
• Sugar 61g

Quick Tip

Make-ahead: Make the cakes, wrap tightly, and store at room temperature for up to 2 days. Make the frosting and frost the cakes up to 4 hours before serving. Refrigerate until 30 minutes before serving.