White Sangria

Use whatever stone fruits look freshest at your market to create this refreshing sangria. Its the perfect cooler for a hot summer day.

Ingredients

  • 6 peaches, plums or nectarines, or your favorite
    combination of stone fruits, halved, pitted and
    sliced 1/4 inch thick
  • 1 1/2 cups peach nectar
  • 1/4 cup orange liqueur, such as Cointreau
  • 1 bottle (750ml) dry Spanish white wine (white
    Rioja) or Sauvignon Blanc
  • 2 cups club soda, or more, to taste
  • Ice cubes for serving

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine the fruit, peach nectar, orange liqueur and wine. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours.

Stir in the club soda and ladle the sangria into ice-filled glasses. Serve immediately. Serves 6 to 8.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Outdoor Entertaining, by George Dolese (Free Press, 2006).

California Pizza Kitchen Thai Chicken Pizza

California Pizza Kitchen Thai Chicken Pizza
Prep Time: 15 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Yield: 2 pizzas
Ingredients
·         Spicy peanut sauce
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons minced ginger ( or more if you wish)
  • 2 minced garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon vietnamese chili sauce ( or dried chili flakes)
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons water
Thai chicken pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 10 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
For the pizza            
  • 1 pizza dough, use your own recipe
  • cornmeal or flour, for handling
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 4 scallions, slivered diagonally
  • 1/2 cup white bean sprouts
  • 1/4 cup shredded carrots
  • 2 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
1.             Combine sauce ingredients in a small pan over medium heat.
2.             Bring the sauce to a boil; boil gently for one minute.
3.             Divide into 2 portions for use on chicken and pizza; set aside.
4.             To make Thai chicken: Cook the chicken in olive oil over med-high heat, stirring, until just cooked; 5 to 6 minutes do not overcook.
5.             Set aside in refrigerator until chilled through.
6.             Once chilled, coat the chicken with 1/4 cup sauce.
7.             Set aside in refrigerator.
8.             To make the pizza: Use a large spoon to spread 1/4 cup sauce evenly over pizza dough within the rim.
9.             Cover sauce with 3/4 cup cheese.
10.          Distribute half the chicken pieces over the cheese followed by half the green onions, bean sprouts, and carrots, respectively.
11.          Sprinkle an additional 1/4cup cheese over the toppings and top the pizza with 1 TBSP chopped peanuts.
12.          Transfer the pizza to oven; bake until crisp and golden and the cheese is bubbly, 9 to 10 minute.
13.          When cooked through, remove pizza from oven.
14.          Sprinkle 1TBSP chopped cilantro over the hot cheesy surface.
15.          Repeat with remaining ingredients for a second pizza.

Marinated Zucchini Salad With Chipoltes

2 medium zucchini
1/2 tsp. salt
5 Tbsp white vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. oregano
1/2 c. olive oil
1 cup garbanzo beans, drained
3 green onions, sliced
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives
1 ripe avocado, cut into 1/2″ cubes
1 chipotle in adobo sauce, minced
3 Tbsp grated Romano cheese or 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 head Boston lettuce, cored, separated into leaves

Cut zucchini in half lengthwise, and slice 1/4″ thick, crosswise. Place slices in bowl and toss with salt. Spread out on several thicknesses of paper towels to drain for 30 minutes. Pat dry

Combine vinegar, garlic, and oregano. Gradually whisk in oil. Add zucchini, onions, beans, and olives.

Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 min. and up to 4 hrs.

Just before serving, add avocado, chipotle and cheese; toss to mix. Serve over bed of lettuce.

Refrigerate several hours or overnight before serving.