Sunday, February 28, 2010

It's a Party for Dave at My Year On the Grill!!

 

WOO HOO!! It's a party!!  A tropical island party!!  If you haven't heard by now, my blogging friend Dave at My Year on the Grill, and his beautiful (sainted) wife Jackie have moved from snowy, blowy Kansas to the sunny, breezy Virgin Islands!!  It's tough duty, but I know he is up to the challenge. After all, he's only been cooking for a short while, but he's fearless and creative and humorous ~ he is the Grill Master and the Capped and Caped Master Baker.  Just one look at his blog and you'll be drooling and dreaming of grilling and baking. Dave's also started two new blogs that are listed in his sidebar which chronicle his experiences there.  And, if that's not enough, he also participates as a contributor to another delicious blog, Welcome to Our Krazy Kitchen.  Whew!  I'm telling you here and now, the chopped vegetables fly, the flour dust doesn't settle, and the rubs and meats sizzle when he's around!

That's all well and (so very!) good.  That's Kansas-style cooking. Heck, that's even New England cooking! But what happens when you move to the Virgin Islands...well, now...that's a whole 'nother story now isn't it?  A whole new challenge.  Dave has begun posting from his new locale, but...

His blogging friend, Min R at  Our Krazy Kitchen and The Bad Girl's Kitchen, asked Dave's friends to get together, throw him a party, and share some island-type recipes with him.  Naturally, if it's a party, I want to be there!
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So, when I think island...I think lots and lots of fresh fruits...like eating sunshine.  Of course you can't tell that from this picture (snow storms, Dave,  a week of snow storms and over 300,000 people in my home state without power  going on several days now.  I know you're missing it.)

This simple salad is delicious.  I loved it.  Course do I have to even say that Ole Sweetie-Pi won't go near it.  Nope.  He won't even try.  He knows he doesn't like anything but iceberg lettuce and avocado is simply out of the question.  I think he'd rather be dragged behind a team of wild horses.  But never mind him right now.  I just want to reiterate that this salad is light, delicious and healthy and full of sunshine. And with the snow plows still going by, a bit of the tropics!


Avocado, Kiwi, Orange Salad

4 large oranges
4 kiwi
2 large avocados
Lettuce

Lime juice **
Orange juice **
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup salad oil

 Peel the oranges and separate into sections.  Use a sharp knife to remove the membrane and the pith, capturing any juices in a bowl. **

Next, cut the avocado lengthwise around the pit.  With your hands, twist the avocado halves in opposite directions to separate them.  Tap the tip of the knife into the pit so that the knife tip catches the pit and carefully twist the knife to loosen and remove the pit.  Peel and then slice the avocado halves.

Peel and slice the kiwi fruit.

Arrange the fruits on a bed of lettuce on a salad plate.

For the dressing, measure the reserved orange juice and add enough lime juice to make 1/2 cup.  Add the salt, honey and oil.  Whisk thoroughly until well combined.  Lightly cover the salad with the dressing, serving any remainder on the side.

**Okay, now the truth...  No way were my oranges going to peel as nicely or as beautifully as I hoped, and when it came to the orange juice, well there just wasn't any.  I cut open open and freshly squeezed orange juice into a measuring cup, had about 1/4 cup, and added 1/4 cup of lime juice (the stuff from the green bottle, gasp, because that's what I had on hand and  I forgot to buy fresh limes at the grocery store.  Six thousand of my closest friends and neighbors were there and I just wanted to leave.  Ok, that's an exaggeration, maybe it was only five thousand...) I could drink this dressing through a straw I liked it so much!

Dave, Jackie, I hope you enjoy your stay in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

I wish I were there.

Ooooh,  yoooo hooooo, cabana boy....

37 comments:

  1. What a fun party! The salad sounds really excellent with the combination of avocado and kiwi!

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  2. Awesome salad! If anything tastes like sunshine, it is this.

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  3. I want to be there too. We are avacado lovers in this household. I cut them in halves and give everyone a spoon and we have at it! My son could eat his weight in them. LOL. Your salad looks so refreshing!

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  4. I could use a salad full of sunshine around here too! It looks refreshing! How fun to live on a tropical island!

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  5. Thats a healthy colorful salad..v hav avocado tree in my home In India...There its called Butterfruits...

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  6. Hiya Katy...
    Didn't know you had a blog! I'm a blogger friend of Dave's too!

    Great post!... I love fruit too... and I have one of those picky people here too... but I usually can get him to try something... just get him to admit liking it ... well that's another story... especially if it's good for you...

    I'll add you to my blog list... and I added me as a follower... glad to have found your blog.

    Linda from Cooking Tip of the Day

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  7. What a wonderful story and salad! It feels like we're all ready for sun and fun!
    Susan

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  8. Like eating sunshine! I love it, Katy! Thanks for bringing this delicious salad to the party!
    Min
    The Bad Girl's Kitchen

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  9. Oh how fun! I wish I could be at the party. This salad is awesome! I was thinking this year about switching over to more fruits of a different nature and this one fits the bill. I am going to try it and in fact I'll print out the ingredients and see if my local store has them. Thanks so much Katy, you always have such fun posts, I enjoy them. I just got in from picking a whole bunch of collard greens. They are beautiful and just so bright green. Take care and have a great day.

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  10. A great dish for a great party! ;) I am jealous that they went tropical...I wish my company had offices in the Virgin Islands...lol!

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  11. What a glorious salad. Can you imagine anyone not loving avocados? I'll have to speak to that boy.

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  12. Woootttttttt...woootttt...have jus joined in the party and arent we alreay having fun....i love love love ur sunshine salad.....

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  13. This is a wonderful salad! Dave is going to like this very much!

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  14. What a wonderful post Katy..the salad looks divine:)

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  15. wow...salad w/ fresh fruits... so healthy 'n refreshing!

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  16. Wow...a very refreshing salad perfect for any season...i loved the colour!!!

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  17. Sounds like a fun party..The salad looks fantastic..

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  18. party indeed! very nice! maybe if i made a salad like this the weather will start to mimic that of the islands!

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  19. After a weekend buried under snow, I'm a teensy bit (okay, a whole lot)jealous of Dave. I am looking forward to reading about his cooking adventures in a tropical paradise.

    Your salad looks just like you described "like eating sunshine". I need something like this right now to brighten my winter funk.

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  20. This sounds awesome and I have all the parts to make it! YUMMY. Thanks for coming to the party! :)
    Tamy ~ OKK

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  21. oh this salad looks so refreshing and delicious!

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  22. :) seems like Dave brought a tiny bit of sunshine in your house!

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  23. Great post Katy, and this salad looks fantastic. I love fruits , all kind of fruits, no exceptions :)
    Good luck to your friend Dave and have a nice party!
    Cheers

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  24. Thanks Katy for your sweet comment, and I can't wait to see your French Bread recipes. So excited!!!!!!!
    Cheers

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  25. I love the combination of flavors in this salad! It sounds like warmth and summer - something we all need in this seemingly endless winter. Thanks for coming to the party!
    Kristen - Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker

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  26. This is one beauty of a salad, typical Katy style. This is one, I want to add to my list.

    Just look at Dave and Jackie packing their plates with a lot of your sunshine.

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  27. This is one beauty of a salad, typical Katy style. This is one, I want to add to my list.

    Just look at Dave and Jackie packing their plates with a lot of your sunshine.

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  28. Katy, soooo kind and generous of you to devote this post.

    We are indeed enjoying ourselves, It is a challenge, and i am glad I found bloggers months ago to prepare me for the experience.

    But mostly, what a kind thing you all have done. Warms my heart (while my skin is warm to the bone in the sunshine). Summer will come, and I will miss my farmer's market that you all can find so easy.

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  29. Your hubby and mine ought to eat together. I have to wait until we're having company to sneak in something different. I love this salad, let's see, when are we having company?

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  30. I love orange and avocado salad, kiwi is the perfect addition to this classic combination.
    Mimi

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  31. This is definitely my kind of salad. Yum :)

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  32. Indeed it is a bowl of sunshine. Looks very good. I am off the check out the party.

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  33. Hope you had a fun day party . salad luks delicious and refreshing!!!!

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  34. Ol Sweetie Pie doesn't know what he'smissing. Kiwi, avocado - all that summer fruit - with a lime dressing. Oh well, more for me!

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  35. This recipe looks like another winner, Katy. You have the BEST recipes! Hope to try this one soon :)

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  36. Perfect tropical treat! I'll have one salad and one cabana boy please :-)

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