Summer, Salsa, Stuffed Chicken Breast and a Sexy Bubbly Prosseco Cocktail

It's summer time and one of my most favorite things to make is a mango salsa. It's easy to make and you can add any fruit to make it even better. This time I used strawberry, asian pears and mango. Cut them all up add onions (I used cipollini onions, they are small sweet onions I find at Russos), cilantro, a hot pepper and a little citrus, this time I used lemon juice usually I use lime. I let it sit over night so that all the different flavors can have time to mix together. Today I used this as a side dish but usually just add some tortilla and watch it disappear.

For dinner I wanted to make one of my most favorite dishes to make, stuffed chicken breast. Tonight I stuffed it with brussel sprouts, carrots, shallots, corn and cheese. I cut the carrots into small cubes, cut corn kernels off the cob, cut the brussel sprouts into small pieces and cook them in a skillet for about 10-15 minuets. Then with a pairing knife I cut a small opening into the side of the breast and carefully cut a pocket in the chicken. I add the brussel sprouts mash a long with cheese that I have also cut into small cubes. This time I used Tomme Cheese that I bought from Beacon Hill Wine and Gourmet in Melrose. They have a great cheese selection and Rebecca the owner really knows her cheese. I then topped the chicken breast in a pepper, rosemary and thyme mixture and cooked in the oven until the chicken was at 160 degrees. For side dishes I cut up small potatoes, covered them in the same pepper mixture as the chicken and cooked them for about a hour. I also used the salsa that I made as a nice side salad.

As for the Sexy Bubbly Prosseco Cocktail I came up with a doozey. The salsa always have some extra juice, so  I poured a small amount of the juice(about an ounce) in a Champagne Flute, added a smaller amount of Armagnac and topped it off with Prosecco. Some of you may not know what Armagnac is. It is a region in Southwest France that is well known for its brandy. Armagnac is very similar to Cognac, the major difference is the Armagnac is distilled twice while Cognac is only once. Armagnac is also less expensive and can be seen as a little harsher. The rep from Armagnac de Montal told me that Armagnac is more manly than Cognac. Got to love the French, they even make fun of other French people. The drink came out good a little strange but good. It was kinda like a bellini but less sweet.