Josh's Recipes from the January club meeting

These are fairly easy with few ingredients and the elegance of a French bistro.

Grilled Chicken Paillard with Lemon and Black Pepper and Arugula-Tomato Salad

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 small shallot, chopped
1/4 cup pure olive oil
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground fresh black pepper
4 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, pounded thinly
Salt
1/2 pound arugula
2 ripe beefsteak tomatoes, diced
1 small red onion, peeled, halved and thinly sliced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus additional for garnish
Lemon halves, for garnish

Whisk together lemon juice, shallot, olive oil and black pepper in a large baking dish. Add the chicken, turn to coat and marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
Preheat grill to high. Remove chicken from marinade, season with salt on both sides and grill for 2 to 3 minutes per side or until golden brown and just cooked through. Combine arugula, tomatoes and onions in a large bowl, toss with the vinegar and oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Place each paillard on a large plate, drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil and top with some of the arugula-tomato salad. Garnish with lemon halves.

Grilled Potato and Goat Cheese Napoleon with Basil Vinaigrette

1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1/2 cup pure olive oil 4 red potatoes, parboiled and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
Olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
8 ounces soft goat cheese
Basil leaves, for garnish
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, optional

Place vinegar and basil in a blender with salt and pepper and blend until smooth. With the motor running, slowly add the oil and blend until emulsified, check for seasoning. Heat grill to high. Brush potato slices on both sides with oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Make stacks with the following layers: potato, 1 tablespoon goat cheese, potato, 1 tablespoon goat cheese, ending with potato. Line the grill with foil and grill the stacks, covered, about 1 minute or until cheese starts to melt. When the cheese is almost melted, slide the stacks from the foil to the grate of the grill just to crisp the bottom, about 1 to 2 minutes more. Drizzle the basil vinaigrette on and around the potatoes and top each Napoleon with some of the basis leaves and chives, if using.