Recipe Swap

Are you stressing on what to do for Valentine's Day Dinner? Here is a complete meal idea that will sure swoon your sweetheart. For starters we are going to make a Colorful Vegetable Salad, then we will have stuffed chicken breast with a side of orange rice medley, and dessert we will have chocolate dipped strawberries....Yummmmm. So gather round time is running out and lets begin.

Colorful Vegetable Salad
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• 1 cup cauliflowerets
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ large red onion, sliced
• ½ can pitted ripe olives, drained and sliced
• ½ envelope of ranch salad dressing mix
• 2/3 cup of oil
• ¼ cup vinegar

In a large bowl, toss the vegetables. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the dressing mix, oil, and vinegar; shake well. Pour over the salad and toss. Refrigerate at least three hours before serving.

Orange Rice Medley
• ½ cup chopped onion
• ½ cup chopped green pepper
• ½ cup chopped sweet red pepper
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• 1 cup uncooked long grain rice
• 1 ½ cup chicken broth
• ½ cup orange juice
• ¼ tsp. salt
• Dash of pepper
• 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained and coarsely chopped

In a saucepan, over medium heat, sauté onion and peppers in oil till tender. Add rice; stir until lightly browned. Add broth, orange juice, salt and pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15- 20 minutes or until most liquid is absorbed. Stir in the oranges.

Stuffed Chicken Breast
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 cups chopped onion
• 2 slices firm whole wheat or white bread cut into ¼-inch cubes
• ¼ cup each of chopped pistachios, dried cranberries, and sniped apricots
• 1 Tbsp. chopped thyme or 1 tsp. dried thyme
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 2 skinless boneless chicken breast
• 6 slices bacon

Heat your oven to 375°F. Melt butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onions; cover and cook for 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in bread, pistachios, cranberries, apricots, and thyme. Stir in broth; toss until moist. Pound your chicken breast till it is ½-inch thick. Mound your stuffing crosswise down the middle. Fold sides of chicken over stuffing into a tight roll. Skewer with toothpicks to help keep stuffing enclosed. Place pick side down in pan; wrap bacon crosswise around meat tucking ends under. Roast for 60 - 70 minutes.

Chocolate dipped Strawberries
You need a pint of strawberries, and some melting chocolate. Make sure you clean and hull the strawberries. Melt some chocolate in a double broiler. With a skewer dip a strawberry into the chocolate and feed your favorite valentine. You never know, passions explode from this desert.