Mango Rice Salad with Grilled Shrimp

This is from Cooking Through the Seasons. My favorite cookbook of all time. This was really delicious and a great grilling recipe. It will definitely be one of the first that I whip out next spring/summer. This recipe really turned me on to coconut rice as I am NOT a coconut lover but coconut rice is great.

1 tbsp minced fresh garlic

1 tbsp minced peeled fresh ginger

1 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

4 tsp curry powder

1/8 tsp ground red pepper

1/8 tsp ground cumin

1.5 lbs medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 cups water

2/3 c light coconut milk

1 1/4 cup shredded carrot

2 c diced peeled mango (about 2 mangoes)

1.5 c diced red bell pepper

1/2 c sliced green onions

1 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

1 tbsp chopped fresh parlsey

2 tbsp fresh lime juice

1/2 tsp salt

1. Combine first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Add shrimp; toss to coat. Cover and chill1 hour.

2. Bring water and coconut milk to a boil in a medium saucepan; add rice. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Add carrot and next 7 ingredients; toss gently to combine.

3. Prepare grill or grill pan to medium-high heat.

4. Thread 3 shrimp onto each of 12 skewers. Place skewers on grill rack or grill pan coated until shrimp are done. Serve kebabes over salad and garnish cilantro springs if desired.

Spicy Cucumber Salad with Peanuts

I love this salad. And fresh cucumber from the Farmer's Market is perfect for this recipe. The sugar draws out the water from the cucumbers so they are especially crisp. It's the perfect blend of sweet and spicy.

1.5 lbs cucumber peeled and halved lengthwise and sliced thick
1/2 c. rice vinegar
1/2 c. water
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons red onion, minced
1 tablespoon dry roasted peanuts.

Combine vinegar, water, sugar, and pepper in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cook until reduced to about 1/3 c. (about 10 minutes). Remove vinegar reductions from heat; cool. Stir in onion.. Combine cucumbers and vinegar reduction in a medium bowl; toss well. Sprinkle with peanuts.