Balsamic Grilled Chicken, Strawberry, and Feta Salad

Whew!  It has been a busy month.  Between my intense one month graduate class (which is thankfully over till the next one starts in a few days), t-ball, our enormous garden and our summer travels I haven't had much time to think, much less blog.  Ok, so it's only been a couple of weeks, but I have missed you and writing about my favorite topic...food of course.  

In all of our busyness, dinner has been a lot of things this month...pizza, takeout, cereal (gasp), and on occasion a good home-cooked meal.  One of our new favorites that made the rounds twice this month because 1) it's super easy and 2) we love it, is this amazing balsamic grilled chicken, strawberry, and feta salad.  
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Balsamic glaze is a lot like balsamic vinegar only a little sweeter, richer and thicker.  We fell in love with it a few years ago when we went to Italy and it is a favorite on salads and sandwiches.  
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I make a simple balsamic glaze and baste the chicken while grilling.  When I say simple, I mean simple like two ingredients, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar.  I bring about 1 1/2 cups balsamic vinegar and 1/3 cup packed brown sugar to a low boil then reduce the heat stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes or longer until the balsamic glaze coats the back of a spoon.  Don't worry too much about thickness, the glaze will be delicious and will thicken up some as it sits.  Thin or thick, it's delicious either way.  If you want to skip this whole process, you can buy a store bought balsamic glaze (no judging here...I have some too and love it).  

Simple, hearty, cool, perfect for summer.  Enjoy this delicious balsamic grilled chicken, strawberry, and feta salad anytime...even on busy nights.  
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Balsamic Glaze:

1 1/2 cups balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar

Bring balsamic vinegar and packed brown sugar to a low boil then reduce the heat stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes or longer until the balsamic glaze coats the back of a spoon.  Don't worry too much about thickness, the glaze will be delicious and will thicken up some as it sits.  Thin or thick, it's delicious either way.  Store extra glaze in the fridge for drizzling over salads or grilling.  

Balsamic Grilled Chicken, Strawberry, and Feta Salad: 
Serves 3-4 (depending on how large you make your salads, this is plenty for our family of 2 adults and 3 children).

1 head red leaf lettuce, cleaned and torn into bite size pieces
3 chicken breasts
1 lb. strawberries, cleaned and sliced
1 pkg. crumbled feta cheese
Balsamic glaze (recipe above or store bought)

1.  Grill chicken, basting with balsamic glaze until done.
2.  While chicken is grilling, prepare salads layering lettuce and strawberries on each plate.  
3.  When chicken is done, slice and portion on salads.
4.  Top with crumbled feta and drizzle with balsamic glaze.  
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Yum