Lemonade Cheesecake & Summer BBQ

This is from out BBQ we had last night with our good good friends Pete and Peg. Pete gave me some lessons in photography so with his hints hopefully my pictures will start improving. They loved the food. But they left and I had forgotton about the pie. Sorry guys. Thanks for coming. Love ya!

Click Post Title for cheesecake link. This was quick, low fat and very tasty.

Greek Inspired Wild Rice Salad

1 cup cooked wild rice
1 cup crimini mushrooms sliced in 1/2
1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in 1/2
1/4 of an English Cucumber, chopped
1/4 cup of red onion, chopped
2 TB of "Olive the Other Relish" (6/05 post recipe)
4 mint leaves
1/2 chopped Italian Parsley
2 sprigs fresh Oregano
Mad Dog EVOO, about 1/4 cup maybe less
S&P
Topped with fresh grated Mizithra Cheese

Toss and serve. Serves 4-6 Will stay well for a few days too in the fridge.

BBQ chicken skewers in Homemade Cherry Coca Cola sauce

Sauce: adapted from Bon Appetite Magazine
1 TB canola oil
1 onion chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
2 bottles of Heinz chili sauce
1 12 ounce jar of blackberry jam
1 cup cherry coca cola
1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar
Franks hot sauce (as much as you like)
1 TB powdered mustard
1 tsp celery salt
1 TB chipoltle powder (or less if you like less heat)
1/4 cup brown sugar
S&P to taste

Saute onions in oil on med high for about 10 minutes or until soft add garlic for 1 minute then add the rest of your ingredients. Lower heat to low and simmer for 1 hour stirring occasionally. Reduce down to 3 cups
Can be stored for a couple of weeks. I reused the chili sauce jars for the sauce.

2 lbs of chicken tenders marinated in buttermilk for about an hour. Skewered then grilled. Baste with sauce the last few minutes. The sauce was tangy and good. For me, I could have used a little more of the chipoltle powder for more of a kick.