Tag: raspberries

Raspberry Smoked Paprika Barbecue Chicken

This is a great recipe for the summer- perfect for just the family or to entertain with…

Barbecue Sauce

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large shallot, chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
6 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries
1 cup chopped fire roasted tomatoes
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons raw honey
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon salt
Juice of half a large lemon
Zest of a lemon

Heat a small saucepan with the olive oil. Add the shallot and garlic cloves. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the raspberries, tomatoes, vinegar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes. Cool the mixture and blend in a blender till smooth. Add the lemon juice and lemon zest. Take one cup aside for basting the chicken.

Dry Rub

2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons coriander powder
2 teaspoons coarse salt
Mix the spices and keep aside.
2 pounds chicken thighs

Sprinkle the dry rub all over the chicken on both sides. Marinate over night or at least for 4 hours.

Grill the chicken while basting every few minutes with the barbecue sauce.

Serve the chicken with the remaining sauce on the side.

Easy Summer Dessert Recipe: Raspberry Cake

raspberry-pudding-cake I have been making this cake for a few years now. I like it because it is quite easy to make and a little different- the berries are cooked into a thick sauce by adding cornstarch and then poured over the cake batter. I love how the berries sink into the cake and spread through out, resulting in a very appealing looking dessert. The initial recipe called for blueberries, which are delicious in the cake. I used raspberries this time, I love the tang and the color they impart. I also switched the regular flour with white whole wheat flour and regular sugar with evaporated cane sugar. It makes me feel good to be able to use healthier ingredients and still make a delicious dessert!
I made this dessert for a barbecue this past weekend. It worked really well- we sat outside and enjoyed the food and drinks. I didn’t think the kids would want the cake, but they all enjoyed it with their vanilla ice cream.

Speaking of ice cream- I was planning to buy some creme fraiche or whipping cream to serve with the cake- but then I saw a television show about fromage blanc. It’s a french style cheese made out of non-fat milk. It is usually mixed with honey since it has an edge to it- like goat cheese. It is then served with fresh fruit. Until recently it was hard to find fromage blanc around here, but now it is available at some stores- I found it at Whole Foods. I bought a small tub and added a bit of honey and lemon zest. The honey gave it a subtle sweetness and the lemon zest off set the tanginess of the cheese really well.
I loved the idea of serving the non-fat cheese with the raspberry cake. The flavors went really well. Although the cake is healthy, it does have a stick of butter- so, I felt a lot better serving fromage blanc- it has the creaminess of whipping cream without the calories but most importantly it has a different flavor- which I love- it’s nice to experiment a little and surprise your guests.