The Ultimate Summer Dinner Menu: Starter Main and A Champagne Dessert

Starter

Spicy Chilled Tomato and Vodka Soup

Ingredients

* 1 ½ lbs fresh Italian (Roma) tomatoes
* 3 green onions
* 3 celery stalks
* 1 Jalapeño pepper
* 2 ½ tsp lemon juice
* 1 ½ cups tomato juice
* 1 1/4 cups Vodka
* Salt and fresh pepper
* 1/4 cup finely chopped chives
* fresh parsley for garnish
* Tabasco Sauce (optional)

Method

1. Remove tomato skins ( submerse them into boiling water for one minute, let cool then peel skins off).
2. Remove insides of the tomatoes and discard.
3. Chop up tomato pulp.
4. Put tomato pieces, celery, jalapeño, chives and celery in blender and blend until smooth.
5. Add tomato juice and Vodka and blend a little more.
6. Season with salt and pepper and serve chilled with a parsley sprig as garnish.

Main

Grilled Jalapeno Chicken Breast

Serve these smoky breasts with a light salad and they are sure to be a hit at any summer BBQ.
Ingredients

* 6 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts
* 1 lime
* ½ -3/4 cup Chipotle chilli paste
* 3 tbsp Olive oil
* ½ tsp Honey mustard
* ½ tsp Garlic powder1/2 - 3/4 tsp smoked paprika
* ½ tsp Cayenne pepper

Method

* Grate peel of the lime and put the zest into a bowl
* Put Chicken breasts into a large zip-top bag
* Add remaining ingredients and the juice of the lime to the bowl with lime zest and whisk together. .
* Pour half of the mixture into zip-top bag and massage until meat is coated.(reserve second half for later)
* Refrigerate for up to 2 hrs
* Place meat on an oiled grill over medium heat and discard marinade in the bag. .
* BBQ with lid closed for 10-15 minutes, flipping meat occasionally
* Serve with reserved marinade drizzled on top.

Dessert

Champagne Jello Martinis

These Martinis are a variation of a Jello Shooter and go great with Sunday brunch.
Preparation

* Martini glasses
* Small plastic skewers
* Dessert spoons

Ingredients

* One pkg of your favorite Jello Jelly powder. (Lighter colors work best)
* 1 1/4 cups champagne or sparkling wine
* 3/4 cups boiling water
* Fruit of your choice

Method

1. Completely dissolve Jello powder in 3/4 cup boiling water
2. Gently stir in 1 1/4 cups champagne or sparkling wine. .
3. Refrigerate until Jello begins to set. .
4. Place skewers of fruit onto one side of the glasses and refrigerate until Jello is completely set

Suggestions

* Lemon Jello with Blueberry skewers
* Peach Jello with Mixed Mellon skewers
* Orange Jello with Raspberry skewers
* Cherry Jello with Cherry or Pineapple skewers