Grilled Polenta with Crab

Serves 4 as appetizer

Perfect summer appetizer – totally delicious & simple crab salad on grilled polenta, you can have this on the table n 20 minutes, easy! 

INGREDIENTS

• Makes about 20 rounds
• 1 polenta chub
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 green onion chopped
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
• 1 tablespoon chili sauce
• Juice from 1/2 lime
• Kosher salt & pepper
• 1  1/2 cups fresh crab meat
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped

DIRECTIONS

• Pre-heat grill pan to medium/high
• Slice polenta into 1/4 inch thick rounds
• Lightly drizzle with olive oil, season with Kosher salt and pepper & cook on grill pan until crispy and well marked, 5-7 minutes on each side
• In a bowl mix diced green onions, red pepper, chili sauce, lime juice, pinch salt and crab meat
• Spoon some crab mixture on each round, top with a slice of avocado and wee bit of cilantro. 

Hoisin Beef Skewers

Makes about 2 dozen skewers

These can be made in 5 minutes and cooked in about 5. That's pretty darn good - plus you get to eat them off those cool little sticks. Put the steak in the freezer for about 15 minutes before slicing - it will make it easier.

Ingredients

• 1 pound steak, I think a New York works well
• 1/2 cup Hoisin sauce, supermarket Asian aisle
• Juice from 2 limes
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• bamboo skewers
• chili sauce, to taste
• green onions, thinly sliced and toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Directions

1. Mix Hoisin, lime juice and garlic well - set aside
2. Trim steak across grain into slices about 1/4 thick
3. Thread steak onto skewers
4. Add some of the sauce to the skewered meat - reserving some for dipping
5. Heat grill pan or bbq really well
6. They won't take long - no more than about 3 minutes a side
7. Mix a little chili sauce with reserved dipping sauce and serve on the side

Yakitori Chicken

Japan is famous for the little shops that serve many incredibly delicious types of charcoal grilled chicken. The 'little' refers to the fact that the shops can be as small as having seats for as few as 6 or 8 people. The 'many types' refers to the many different 'parts' of the chicken they use. For our purposes, we'll stick with just thighs.

Ingredients

• 16 bamboo skewers
• 4 chicken thighs
• 5 tablespoons soy sauce
• 5 tablespoons sake
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 green onions

Directions

1. Soak skewers in water for 20 minutes
2. Combine soy, sake and sugar in small pot over medium heat for 5 minutes
3. Cut each thigh into approximately 8 bite size pieces
4. Thread 2 chicken pieces onto a skewer with a piece of green onion in the middle
5. Grill chicken over medium heat until done, basting constantly while they cook until done

Smoked Salmon, Dill And Goat Cheese Pizza

Serves 4

Bring on the brunch baby, cuz this is one of my favorite things to serve.

Ingredients

• 1 - 10 oz pre baked pizza crust
• Olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped fresh dill
• 5 ounces soft goat cheese
• 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 4 ounces smoked salmon, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons capers, optional

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450.
2. Brush crust lightly with olive oil.
3. Spread goatcheese over the crust, sprinkle with 1/2 the dill then top with sliced onions
4. Bake until cheese melts and crust starts getting crispy about 12 minutes.
5. Remove from oven, top with salmon and remaining dill