Chicken & Toasted Barley Salad

          Salad                                                                                      

1 pkg uncooked barley                                                                   

8 oz asparagus spears                                                                     

3 chicken breasts or 6 strips                                                            

1/2 tsp salt                                                                                       

1/4 tsp pepper                                                                                 

1 medium peach or nectarine

1/4 c mint leaves

1-2 oranges

1/2 c toasted walnuts or pecans

        Dressing

1/2 c orange juice

1/4 c apple cider vinegar

1/4 c apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp whole grain dijon mustard

2 tbsp olive oil

First toast the barley in a skillet on med-high heat for 5-7 minutes or until fragrant. Cook the barley according to package's directions. Once cooked, drain and rinse. (Start boiling the suggested amount of water while you toast the barley so the water is boiling and ready to cook it.)

                                                        The mischievous toaster of barley

Rinse the asparagus and be sure to chop off the rough ends or you will pay for it at dinner

Sautee asparagus for 5-7 minutes with a few squirts of olive oil.

Season chicken with salt and fresh ground pepper and cook 3-5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is no longer pink.  Please no salmonella poisoning here people...

2Bit at it's finest

Thinly slice the peach and chop the walnuts as well as the fresh mint

Combine cubed size chicken,  peach slices, walnuts, chopped asparagus and mint

For the dressing,  zest the orange on a grater. Combine and whisk together the zest, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, honey and mustard. Then slowly add olive oil until all is well blended.

Add cooked barley and drizzle desired amount of dressing over salad.

Voila`!!

While 2Bit was preparing our excellent lunch,  the most beloved Auntie Jane pleasantly suprised me with these lovely flowers.

You may have noticed the earrings both Bits were wearing. They were purchased in support of an incredible ministry called, Light Force. The ministry reaches out to children and women sold or forced into sex slavery in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Through The Mariposa Project,  making these earrings provides a trade these women can partake in,  giving them other options while boosting their self esteem. Through prayer and the power of Jesus, these women may find self-worth and leave prostitution and exploitation. Check out lightforceintl.com to learn more about what God is doing. Please pray against human trafficking and consider partnering with them.