Choose a few top-notch ingredients to create a festive and delicious light lunch. Go for a mix of shapes, colors, and flavors—your guests will love how beautiful everything looks and tastes. (And you will love how easy it is to make.)
LEMON NUT BREAD
Prep time: 15 minutes. Cooking time: 1 hour and 10 minutes. Cooling time: 10 minutes. Makes: 1 loaf
3/4 cup butter, softened
1-1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tsp grated fresh lemon rind
Preheat oven to 350ºF. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in eggs. Add combined dry ingredients to creamed mixture, alternating with milk and juice; mixing well after each addition. Stir in nuts and rind. Pour into greased and floured 9 x 5 loaf pan. Bake 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out fairly clean. Cool 10 minutes then remove from pan.
SHRIMP SALAD WITH CILANTRO LIME DRESSING
Prep time: 15 minutes. Chilling time: if needed. Serves: 4
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lb medium size shrimp
1/2 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
1 cup tomatoes, diced small
1 small red onion, diced small
1 cucumber, diced small
2 scallions, chopped
1/2 red pepper, diced small
1 cup pineapple, chopped small
12 Bibb lettuce leaves
Cilantro Lime Dressing:
3 tbsp oil
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
Season with salt and pepper
Garnish: 4 lime and 4 lemon wedges
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high; season shrimp with cumin, salt and pepper. Add shrimp to skillet and cook until opaque throughout, about 5 minutes. Transfer shrimp to a plate. When cool, chop in small pieces
In a large bowl mix together tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, scallions, red pepper, and pineapple. Add chopped shrimp.
Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, lime juice, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper.
To Serve: Divide lettuce leaves among four plates. Top with shrimp and vegetable mixture. Drizzle with dressing.
STRAWBERRIES SNOW WHITE
Prep time: 20 minutes. Serves: 4
3 cups fresh whole strawberries
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp sugar
2 tbsp Grand Marnier
1 orange
1 banana
1 kiwifruit
(or fruits of your choice)
Clean and hull strawberries, drain and chill. Whip together cream, sugar and Grand Marnier, until stiff; do not over whip. Grate orange peel (zest), then peel and slice orange, banana and kiwifruit. Spread cream mixture evenly on 4 dessert plates. Arrange sliced fruit and sprinkle with zest. Dot each one with several strawberries, tip end up. Enjoy!
