food and drink

Milder weather is not just blue skies and blooming flowers, it is the beginning of the outdoor meeting. There is also a good excuse to go to the menu. Kabobs and salads are favorites in the warmer months, and canned fruit slightly improve a recipe. Canned Bartlett pears are ripe to eat, always ready, and contain virtually no fat or cholesterol. So the next time hosting a get-together, a little sweetness, the festival with this pantry staple. Serve Blueberry, apricot and pear salad with almonds or Grilled Chicken and Pear Kabobs with family and guests.

Blueberry, apricot and pear salad with almonds

Makes 12 servings

1 can sweetened (15 ounces) Bartlett pear halves in extra-light

1 can sweetened (81 / 4 ounces) Bartlett pear halves in extra-light

1 can (15 ounces) blueberries in light syrup

1 can sweetened (83 / 4 ounces) apricot halves in extra-light

Juice of 1 lemon small

1 / 2 cup sliced ​​almonds, toasted

Drain both cans pear halves, slice into bite-size pieces. Drain apricots, halved. Drain blueberries share, in salads and lies, lies, and pears and apricots. Top salads with lemon juice and almonds, to serve.

Nutrition information (per serving): Calories: 78 Protein: 1.5 g, Carbohydrates: 14.5g, Fiber: 1.5 g, Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 6mg.

Grilled pear and

Chicken Kabobs

Makes 4 servings

1 can (15 ounces) Bartlett pear halves

1 / 2 cup bottled barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

8 kabob skewers

1 red, green or yellow sweet pepper, cut into 11/2-inch squares

1 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 11/2-inch pieces

Preheat grill or broiler. Drain pears, reserve juice. Cut pears into 11/2-inch chunks and set aside. In a bowl, mix barbecue sauce, honey, mustard, garlic and 3 tablespoons of the reserved pear juice. On 4 skewers, alternate the pear and pepper pieces.

On the remaining skewers, place chicken pieces. Brush skewered all the ingredients thoroughly with the sauce mixture. Barbecue chicken skewers over medium coals for 10 minutes (or grill for 5 minutes), brushing occasionally with sauce.

Add pear pepper skewers, grill for 5 to 7 minutes (or grill 2 to 4 minutes) more or until meat is no longer pink and pears and peppers are heated through. Serve a chicken kabob and a pear kabob per serving.

Nutrition information (per serving): Calories: 241 Protein: 25g, Carbs: 29g, Fiber: 1g, fat: 3g, cholesterol: 63mg, sodium: 407mg.

A “Pear-fect idea for outdoor gatherings a blueberry, pear and apricot is salad with almonds.

Tags: Canned pears