Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

Whether Mother Nature like its or not, its time to grill…… Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

When boneless skinless chicken is on sale……. you stock up! After all you never know when a chicken idea will come across your mind.

Kabobs are a perfect summer griller. I did not use them for this recipe as I only have two and we had a few more people than that for dinner, but if you can find kabob baskets……buy them. Much easier to turn, and nothing falls off the skewer or spins around……you know what I’m talking about!

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

But, I used bamboo screwers for this recipe and soaked them for a few hours so they didn’t burn during cooking.

The biggest part of the recipe, is making sure you have similar size chunks of meat and veggies. I prepped my meat and veggies ahead, so when the time came I just had to skewer them.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

Strips of bacon, woven in-between keeps the meat moist and gives the kabobs that smoky bacon flavor.

The real start of the show, is the sauce, sweet and spicy……..pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, and a nice pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

So, you all know that a pinch wasn’t really how much I used, being the house of spice. But, for normal folks, a pinch will add just the right amount of heat.

Cornstarch thickens the sauce and gives it that nice shine you get from cornstarch. Brush the sauce during just the last few minutes of grilling as the sauce will burn quickly.

Serve the extra sauce on the side along with some steam rice and you have a perfect summer meal.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs ………get your grill on!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Kabobs

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 chunks
  • 1 large fresh pineapple, cut into inch chunks
  • 2 large red bell peppers, cut into inch pieces
  • 1 large onion, cut into inch pieces
  • 12 strips of thick applewood smoked bacon
  • FOR SAUCE:
  • 1½ cups pineapple juice
  • 1½ tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes or to taste.
  • 6 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for several hours.

Instructions

  1. To make the sauce: Combine cornstarch and brown sugar in a large sauce pan, whisk until combined. Add remaining ingredients and bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 2 minutes or until thickened. Set-aside until ready to use.
  2. Begin with a pieces of bacon and weave around each piece of chicken and pineapple, then place the bell pepper and onion together and weave the bacon around both of those. Continue weaving until you have 4 pieces of chicken on each kabob. Spray kabobs with non stick cooking spray ( I use coconut oil spray)
  3. Preheat the grill to medium high. Grill the kabobs for 10-15, turning a couple of times, until done.
  4. Brush with sauce during the last few minutes of grilling.
  5. Serve with remaining sauce and steamed rice.

 

Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl

It’s the weekend…..oh hum……a rainy weekend at that……..lets cook!! Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl is good today, and tomorrow, and the day after that!

Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl

I adapted this recipe from Southern Living, it looked so good I had to try it. Plus, noodle bowls are all the rage and we just stay current!!

Good warm, room temp, or cold, this is really an awesome dish. You can eat it today…..and by the way, I couldn’t quit eating it, so I had to put it away…..no self control!

Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl

I did put some in a container for work on Monday. Now, contrary to popular belief, I think our school lunches are awesome, but they are geared for kids, so I pack a lunch sometimes.

This is one of those times. I love, love, love asian food. This noodle bowl is the perfect blend of all of my favorite things.

Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl

Rice noodles are fool proof, just cover them with boiling water and let them set……what could be easier?

The sauce is a mixture of soy, rice wine vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and sweet chili sauce. It is slightly spicy and the sesame oil with it’s rich amber color and distinctive nutty flavor, gives the noodle bowl that Asian flavor I love so much. The black sesame seeds give it a hint of color, but if you cannot find them toasted sesame seeds will work just as well.

Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl

All the veggies give a crispy freshness to the bowl, and make it a pretty bowl and make its pretty healthy. Vegetarian if you will……

Need a dish today and lunch tomorrow? Try Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl …….and sing the Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl praises !

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Asian Veggie Noodle Bowl


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoon Sweet Chili Sauce
  • 14 ounce package rice noodles
  • 1 15-ounce can cut baby corn, rinsed and drained
  • 1 8-ounce can sliced water chestnuts, rinsed and drained
  • 1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup sugar snap peas. sliced
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped green onions
  • Black sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions

  1. Whisk together first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside.
  2. Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Drain and place in a large bowl.
  3. Pour vinegar mixture over hot cooked noodles. Toss to combine. Add vegetables, toss to combine. Sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired. Serve hot or cold.

 

Italian Marinated Cheese

Italian Marinated Cheese

Italian Marinated Cheese

Cheese and crackers are an easy, go-to appetizer for any type of party, because after all who doesn’t like  cheese. No matter what type of event you go to, the traditional cheese and cracker plate is there……so how about making it something to remember……..???

Italian Marinated Cheese is several things:

  • Easy to make
  • Easy to take along
  • Stores for several weeks
  • Looks elegant
  • Is super tasty

With the holidays or anytime you  are in charge of bringing the cheese tray, make up a batch of this cheese.

I purchased cheese that was already cubed……..because, even with my cheese knife ……..one of my favorite tools…….its still a pain in the a#@ to cut cheese and make it all perfect little cubes. Let the people who make the cheese, cut the cheese….tee hee……….but seriously, it makes this recipe super easy. Place all the cubes in a single layer in a dish about 2 inches in depth.

The marinade  is a simple vinaigrette with Italian seasoning, red peppers, green onions, garlic, oil and vinegar. The green onions and red peppers give it a festive look and add a great taste to the marinade.

Once you have the cheese in the dish and the marinade made, pour the marinade over the cheese and let it set for at least 8 hours so the flavors really get into the cheese.

Italian Marinated Cheese

Then when cheese tray duty calls, just put the Italian  Marinated Cheese in a pretty container and serve with some nice crackers. Some fresh fruit on the side adds to the elegance, and you will be the talk of the party……..it will be our little secret about how easy it was……..;)

Italian Marinated Cheese Collage

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Italian Marinated Cheese

Italian Marinated Cheese

  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Prep Time: 8 hours
  • Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 4 cups 1x
  • Category: Snack
  • Method: Marinade
  • Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Scale
  • 18-oz package of Colby and Monterey Jack cheese cubes (about 2 cups)
  • 18-oz package of Cheddar Cheese cubes (about 2 cups)
  • Marinade:
  • 1/2 c. olive oil
  • 1/2 c. white wine vinegar
  • 3 T. chopped fresh parsley
  • 3 T. minced green onions
  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup minced red pepper
  • 2 tsp. sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  1. Combine all marinade ingredients and whisk until the mixture is emulsified, set aside.
  2. Arrange cheese cubes in a single layer in a shallow baking dish.
  3. Pour marinade over cheese slices.  Cover and refrigerate at least eight hours.
  4. To serve, transfer cheese to a serving dish, spoon marinade over the cheese.  Serve with assorted crackers.

Keywords: cheese, appetizer, red pepper, spice, make ahead, easy