Photo courtesy of food tv.ca (I ate mine before I could take a picture )

I had never tried Cedar plank Salmon before last Friday. I had heard about cedar plank salmon and I had certainly seen cedar plank salmon on my share of dinner menus but for some reason, the dish never seemed to tickle my palate’s fancy. I often prepare easy salmon recipes at home so when I go to a restaurant I like to order something I can’t (or don’t have the patience to) prepare myself.

For me, cedar plank salmon was like the guy that all your friends think is so handsome and charming but you don’t have much interest in. It isn’t until you meet him that you understand what all the fuss is about. I have finally been introduced to cedar plank salmon and now I understand what all the fuss is about.

The beauty of cedar plank salmon is that you can add any seasoning or flavoring you like. The cedar plank imbues the salmon with a lovely smokiness that enhances the natural flavor of the salmon and compliments the flavor of whatever seasoning you choose.

Despite its gourmet air, this one of those quick and easy recipes that can fit into your weekly meal plan. If you are all about easy meal planning then simply pick up some cedar planks on your way home, (you can even get them in grocery stores now!) fire up the outdoor grill and prepare to make this quick dinner recipe.

I should also mention that this recipe works great without the cedar plank. If you don’t have any slabs of wood you can use a folded piece of tin foil that has been coated with a thin layer of olive oil.

Cedar Plank Salmon with Lemon and Garlic

**Remember that the cedar planks need to soak in water for at least 30 minutes before going on the grill. The longer you soak the planks, the better. If you can, soak them overnight but 30 minutes should do. A moist plank means more smoke and ensures that the plank doesn’t catch fire.

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets-2- 3 inches wide or any thickness you like
• 2 large cloves of garlic- minced
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of fresh dill (optional)
• Salt and fresh ground pepper
• A little olive oil to coat the planks
• Two lemon slices for each fillet of salmon

Directions

1. Season the salmon with salt and pepper- set aside
2. In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic and fresh dill
3. Drizzle the extra olive oil on the cedar planks, a thin layer will do
4. Place the salmon on the planks and add a few tablespoons of the flavored oil mixture to each fillet.
5. Place the lemon slices on top of the seasoned salmon and place the whole plank on the grill.
6. The cool lemon slices will keep the minced garlic from burning
7. As the salmon cooks, continue to baste the lemon-topped salmon with the flavored oil. Baste is once or twice, making sure to baste the sides as well as the top
8. The salmon should take no longer than 15-20 minutes to cook depending on their size.
9. Finish the salmon with a spritz of fresh lemon juice and enjoy!

Easy summer recipes are my favorite kind and this Asian inspired grilled chicken recipe is one of the easiest I’ve ever prepared.  Who wants to fuss with ovens and frying pans when the beautiful weather and clear skies make outdoor grilling such a pleasure?

Summer is finally here and that means firing up the BBQ for grilled chicken, grilled veggies and any number of delicious things that can be thrown on the fire. It also means pulling out your collection of easy summer recipes and indulging in some cool, comforting summer foods.

Easy Summer recipes like salads and grilled foods definitely make me feel summery. For me, easy summer recipes are those that require a minimal amount of kitchen time but are delicious and satisfying.

Grilled chicken is one of my favorite things to prepare in the summer because it is the quintessential BBQ food. There are so many easy summer recipes for grilled chicken that you could probably follow a different grilled chicken recipe for every day of the summer and never have the same dish twice. There’s garlic and herb grilled chicken, spicy grilled chicken, lemon pepper grilled chicken… the possibilities are endless and they all involve cooking outside rather than inside.

Sweet chili lime grilled chicken is the perfect summer main course. I pair it with a cool rice salad and fresh green beans but it could easily go with any summer side-dish you like.
The indoor portion of this particular grilled chicken recipe is very minimal. Like a lot of easy summer recipes, this one involves a little bit of chopping, a short marinating period and a short grilling time.

Ingredients

About 8 chicken breast cutlets or 3 chicken breasts cut into cutlets.

Marinade

2 large cloves of garlic-finely minced
1 1/2 tablespoons of fresh ginger- grated
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper
Juice of one lime
2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 cup of sweet chili sauce

Directions
1. Put all the ingredients of the marinade together in your marinating dish and stir
2. Marinade the chicken cutlets for a minimum of 20 minutes. Chicken can marinade in the fridge for up to 2 hours.
3. Place it on a hot grill and cook for a few minutes. Place more of the marinade on the chicken while it is grilling.
4. Turn the chicken after a few minutes and baste the other side. Let the chicken cook for a few minutes on each side.
5. Serve with your favorite summer side dish and enjoy!!