Mediterranean Summer Feast with #Lawrys Marinades

During summertime we grill out a lot and since meat is my husband’s department, I am in charge of salads.  I am all about cold pasta salads and quick dishes.  I love using ingredients I already have or just trying out new dressings and marinades.  Thanks to The Motherhood and Lawry’s I was challenged to come up with recipes that included a few of Lawry’s products along with five other fabulous bloggers.

Lawry’s Products I got to check out:

Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
Lawry’s Balsamic Herb Marinade
Lawry’s Original Seasoned Salt Marinade

We broke up into two groups with four of the ladies (Vanessa from ChefDruck Musings, Michelle from Honest and Truly, Hyacynth from Undercover Mother, and Melissa from Peanut Butter in my Hair) coming up with the main dish and appetizer and Paula (from Frosted Fingers) and I serving up a salad.  We chose to change up the classic Tomato Mozzarella Salad and add pasta noodles and Lawry’s Balsamic Herb marinade.

Here are our recipes for a Mediterranean summer feast:

The Menu:

• Watermelon Gazpacho Topped with Avocado and Sweet Jumbo Shrimp Seasoned with Lawry’s seasoned salt

• Balsamic Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Peach Chutney and Grilled Pineapple

• Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with Dressing Flavored with Lawry’s Original Marinade

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Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad with Lawry’s Balsamic Herb Marinade

Ingredients:

• Basil Leaves
• Fresh Mozzarella Ball
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Pasta Noodles (any variety)
• Small Red Onion
• Lawry’s Original Seasoned Salt marinade (or you could use Lawry’s Balsamic Herb)

Directions:

• Cook pasta noodles and let cool (or rinse with cold water to cool off if you are in a hurry.)
• Cut up basil leaves, red onion, and mozzarella.  (You can cut up tomatoes if you’d like but we kept them whole)
• Toss everything together and stir in Lawry’s Balsamic Herb!

I left out measurements because it depends on how many people you are serving and how much of each you’d like.  Use more or less of any of the ingredients depending on what you like.  I also really liked the Lawry’s Original Seasoned Salt marinade on it as it is more salty and sweet to me, but Paula preferred the Lawry’s Balsamic Herb Marinade.  We made a bowl big enough for 3-4 adults probably and I could have eaten the whole bowl myself!  I have had similar salads before with an Italian or Balsamic type dressing, but the Lawry’s Original Seasoned Salt really made a difference!  I would have never thought to use it on a salad!  Lawry’s is a great replacement as it has No MSG and contains Natural Flavors!

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Balsamic Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Peach Chutney and Grilled Pineapple

Peach Chutney 
Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes Number of servings (yield): 4

Ingredients
2 fresh Peaches, peeled and diced
1 shallot, finely chopped
1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 lemon, juiced and zested
1 TBSP of white wine vinegar
2 TBSPs of brown sugar
1 TBSP of balsamic
1 TSP of olive oil

Instructions

1. Chop the peaches, shallots, and onion.
2. Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan. Add the shallots and onion and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the peaches, lemon juice and zest, sugar, and vinegars. Stir well. Lower heat to medium low and let simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes, until the chutney has come together and is a little brown.
4. Will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days after preparation.

Lawry’s Balsamic Marinated Chicken Kebabs with Grilled Pineapple
Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Number of servings (yield): 6

Grilled chicken kebabs can be quite dry but marinating them in the Lawry’s Balsamic Marinade kept the meat tender and delicious.

Ingredients
3 Chicken Breasts, Cut into 2 inch cubes
1 cup of Lawry’s Balsamic Marinade
1 Pineapple, peeled and cored, and cut into 2 inch cubes

Instructions:

1. Wash and cut the chicken into 2 inch cubes, removing most fat and the tenderloins.
2. Place chicken in a bowl and cover with the marinade overnight.
3. Preheat your grill with one direct heat zone and one cooler indirect heat zone.
4. Soak bamboo skewers in water for an hour.
5. Peel, core, and cut the pineapple into 2 inch cubes.
6. Thread the chicken onto skewers.
7. On separate skewers, to maintain even cooking, thread the pineapple. Mixed fruit and meat skewers may look prettier but they don’t cook as evenly or safely.
8. Cook the chicken first on indirect heat, 5-6 minutes on each side.
9. Cook the pineapple second, also on indirect heat, 2 minutes max on each side to have it caramelize but not burn.
10. Serve immediately, or place in the fridge to serve cold. The peach chutney makes a delicious dipping sauce.

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Watermelon Gazpacho with Grilled Shrimp
Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 10 minutes Number of servings (yield): 8

This delicious summer soup was adapted from an Watermelon Gazpacho with Grilled Shrimp Eating Well Recipe.

Ingredients
1 Medium Seedless or Seeded Watermelon (about 8cups), Finely Diced
1 medium cucumber, peeled, seeded and finely diced
1/2 red bell pepper, finely diced
2 avocados, coarsely chopped
3/4 pound of large shrimp, peeled and deveined
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 TBSPS of Lawry’s Seasoned Salt
Salt and Pepper to your Taste

Instructions

1. 1. Mix watermelon, cucumber, bell pepper, white wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil in a large bowl.

1. 1. Measure 3 cups of the mixture into a blender or food processor and puree. Transfer to another large bowl. Puree another 3 cups and add to the bowl.

1. 1. Taste the soup and salt as desired.

1. 1. Top with the remaining diced mixture and the avocado.

1. 1. Season the shrimp with Lawry’s Seasoned Salt.

1. 1. Thread onto skewers. Cook on direct heat for 3-4 minutes on each side.

1. 1. Remove the shrimp from the skewers and arrange them prettily around the soup.

1. Serve chilled.

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BUY IT:  Look for Lawry’s products at your local grocery store in the condiments aisle!

Mom and More Disclosure: I was compensated by The Motherhood on behalf of Lawry’s and was provided with a stipend for groceries in exchange for posting my review and opinion. Please see my Disclosure Policy.