Celery Tabboulah

Cook 1 cup of dry barley, or another grain such as cracked wheat or quinoa. Add barley to a pot of boiling water and cook until softened, about 15 minutes. Drain barley, add to a large bowl, and allow to cool. Finely chop 1 bunch of celery (about 2 cups) and add to barley. Finely chop 1 red onion, 1/4th bunch of mint (about 1/4 cup), and 2 cloves of garlic, then add to the mix. Finely chop 1 pint of cherry tomatoes and add to the mix. Add the juice of 2 lemons (about 1/4 cup lemon juice), 1/4 cup of olive oil, 1 tsp of salt, and 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper.  

Roasted Buffy Squash and Eggplant with Sage Pesto 

Cantaloupe Sorbet

Remove rind from cantaloupe and chop cantaloupe into 1/2 inch pieces. Add to a freezer bag and freeze for several hours to several days. Dissolve 2 tbsp of sugar into 1/4 cup of boiling water, either on stovetop or in microwave. Set syrup in refrigerator to cool. Remove cantaloupe from freezer and add to blender. First blend with pulses, then add the ~1/4 cup of syrup and blend until smooth. To improve the texture transfer the cantaloupe mixture to a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until fluffy. Eat immediately, or return to freezer and freeze until firm. Sorbet can be prepared 3 days ahead. 

Grilled Butterfly Chicken with Mint Sauce

Spice rub- 2 tbsp paprika, 2 tbsp white sugar, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper.

Preheat grill with charcoal or gas. Create a hotter zone with more charcoal for the beginning of cooking, then a cooler zone with less charcoal for finishing the bird. Spachcock, or butterfly the thawed whole chicken by using kitchen shears to cut along the backbone beginning at the rear with the chicken breast down. Remove the backbone by cutting along both sides, and set the backbone aside to be used in stock later. This technique allows the whole bird to lie flat on the grill which reduces cooking time. Cover the bird with the dry spice rub on all surfaces. Place the chicken on the grill with the breasts facing up. Cook over high heat for severals minutes, then slide the bird to the cooler zone and cook covered for about 45 minutes, or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F. 

To prepare mint sauce- very finely chop mint leaves and add to a small mixing bowl. Add 2 tbsp of white wine vinegar, and 2 tbsp of boiling water with 1 tbsp of sugar dissolved. Mix ingredients thoroughly and serve with grilled chicken. 

Cabbage and Green Bean Stirfry

Dice 1 red onion and saute in a preheated wok with 3 tbsp of canola oil. After several minutes add 3 cloves of crushed and diced garlic and 2 sliced or diced purple peppers. Add 1/4 cup of soy sauce and 1 tbsp of diced ginger root. Cook for several minutes.

Thinly slice 1 large head of cabbage and remove the stems from 1 pint of green beans. Slice green beans into halves. Add sliced cabbage and green beans to wok and 1 cup of chicken stock. Cook uncovered for 10-15 minutes, or until beans and cabbage become tender. Add 1 tbsp of white wine vinegar. Remove from heat and serve.