Welcome to In The Kitchen With Jackie O! I'm so excited to have you follow along as I share my authentic and generational recipes, adventures through the mountains, and all things family and friends.
I grew up in a family who gathered frequently, cooked phenomenally, and continued traditions that have lasted through many generations. I am here to bring you with a timeless experience, one that will allow you to genuinely connect with loved ones and peers on a personal level through cooking.
It’s hot out, you’re mildly hungry and you want something light, refreshing, and filling for an afternoon lunch after sweating in the heat trying to complete yard work. You reach for the refrigerator door and find yourself pondering what to make.
You realize you’ve have everything you need to make Jackie O’s favorite summertime salad! Fresh blueberries, handpicked yesterday. Marinaded chicken, ready to go. Fresh salad greens, always on hand. Feta cheese, in the cheese drawer. Balsamic vinegar, on the counter.
You’re ready! You run outside out of pure excitement and fire up the grill so the chicken can start cooking. As the grill heats up, you come inside to get all of your ingredients prepped.
SPECIAL SECRET
The key to perfect grilled chicken is the marinade it’s cooked in. My grandfather would stop in Pennsylvania to get Lupo’s Original Speedie Marinade after our family reunions every summer. My parents started the same tradition and we would have chicken speedies all summer long.
Lupo’s Original Speedie Marinade has become a favorite of mine and is the perfect marinade for this summer salad! Give it a try on other meats too and you won’t be disappointed!
After the grill is heated up, you throw that savory chicken on and let it sizzle. As the chicken is cooks, you go back inside to prep your greens. To prep the greens, you thoroughly wash them to ensure they are really clean. After you clean the greens, you transfer them to paper towels to dry.
To speed up the drying process, you use extra paper towels to pat them dry. Use the same cleaning process for the blueberries. Toss the greens and blueberries together using tongs once cleaned in a large serving bowl.
You turn the chicken on the grill to cook the other side and you admire those beautiful char marks! What a piece of meat! You bring it inside once cooked and let it set for a few minutes.
Rough chop the chicken once cooled into pieces and place it on the greens. You top this beauty with some tangy feta cheese, walnuts, and a touch of balsamic vinegar and you’re ready to devour!
Simple. Crisp. Refreshing. This summertime salad is sure to be on the top of the list. The savory grilled chicken combined with the tangy flavors of feta cheese and the sweetness of the blueberries will have taste buds singing!
After the chicken is done marinating, heat your grill up and ensure the burners are at the medium temperature setting.
Place chicken on the grill and let cook on each side for approximately 5 minutes each, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
As the chicken cooks, chop the lettuce into 2-3 inch pieces.
Thoroughly wash lettuce to ensure they are clean.
Place the lettuce on a paper towel and pat the lettuce with another paper towel until almost completely dry.
After the greens are dried, place them in a large serving dish.
Rough chop the halved and whole walnuts and sprinkle around the top of the lettuce.
After the chicken is cooked, chop it into 1-2 inch pieces and place on top of the lettuce.
Sprinkle the feta cheese and blueberries over the greens, chicken and walnuts.
Add the croutons to the salad and top with balsamic vinegar, to taste.
Toss together, plate, and serve!
Notes
Ensure chicken is fully covered with marinade. There should be approximately two inches of marinade above the chicken when you place it in the Ziploc bag to marinade overnight.
You will notice after 24-48 hours of sitting in the marinade, the chicken will start to turn a white color. This is normal.
Make sure the chicken is evenly distributed on the bed of greens.
USE YOUR KITCHEN TO CELEBRATE THE FINER THINGS IN LIFE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
Embrace the Mediterranean culture and join me in bringing people together one spice at a time! Curated cooking classes consisting of classic Mediterranean and American meals and treats coming to you and your loved ones soon! Get ready for a cork popping, belly laughing, jovial time!
CONNECT WITH JACKIE O
Contact for recipe requests, sharing all things food, and connecting with yours truly! xoxo Jackie O
RATE THIS RECIPE
I love to hear your feedback! Leave a recipe rating and comment on what you liked best below!
