Monday, August 4, 2008

Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Red Onion & Mint

We're getting back to normal here in the good old 'hood, and it felt great to make a real dinner last night! This is the only picture I got; sorry it's not the best representation of how good the meal actually tasted!

Summertime sometimes equals slacking in the dinner department at our house, and this family needed 'real' food -- not the pool food (popcorn chicken, mini pizzas, and cheeseburgers) we've been munching on since mid-June!

On last night's menu was a fantastic grilled chicken recipe that I love to do in the summer. It has some Greek flavors going on - mint, oregano, and garlic - and it's great paired with a big Greek salad. We also had one of my favorite redskin potato dishes, and although the picture is not that good, these are a standby for me in the summer and people always ask for the recipe! Toasted flatbread finished off the plate.

We shared this meal and a couple of bottles of wine with friends on the patio. We told stories about our friend Brad, and although there were a few tears, it does feel like things are starting to get back to normal in our wonderful neighborhood.
Grilled Chicken Kebabs with Red Onion & Mint
Serves: 4
1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into 1 inch pieces (I used thighs and they were excellent)
2 T. extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 t. dried mint
1 t. dried oregano
1 t. salt
1 t. ground black pepper
1 bunch fresh mint
1 red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
Mix chicken, olive oil, garlic, mint, oregano, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Let marinate 30 minutes (** I let mine go for about two hours).
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Pull off the large mint leaves from stems. Alternate chicken, onion, and mint leaves on skewers; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until chicken is just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 9 minutes. Serve alongside a big Greek Salad, Redskin Potatoes with Brown Butter, and Grilled Flatbreads.
Redskin Potatoes with Parsley & Browned Butter
Serves: 4-6
Source: I honestly have no idea but you MUST make these!
1 1/2 lbs. small redskin potatoes
1 very large pinch of chopped Italian parsley
1/2 stick butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Place the potatoes in a large skillet and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until potatoes can be pierced with a knife, about 20 minutes. Drain potatoes and return to the same pan. Sprinkle with parsley, and drop the butter onto the potatoes. Cover the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook the potatoes for an additional 25 minutes, tossing occasionally, and watching to be sure the butter browns and doesn't burn. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with additional parsley if desired.

7 comments:

Aggie said...

I'm glad you are back in the kitchen..

These look so tasty! They look great (your picture works for me!!) Your potatoes sound so so good.

What a lovely summer evening meal!

Robin said...

Ooh those potatoes do sound nice. It is nice that you are so close to your neighbors. It is nice that you can all support eachother. Glad to see you back to cooking. It does make us feel a little useful.

Obsessive Foodie or Food Addict....You Decide said...

Anything w/brown butter goes down like budder.

Glad things are coming around for you.

I think I am done blogging but will still read.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Dinner looks great! Glad you are back and cooking! I have an award for you on my blog.

Leah said...

Aggie & Robin Sue, thanks for stopping by -- try the potatoes, they are soooo yummy!

Stacey, don't you dare stop blogging! Just take a leave of absence and come back in the fall when your kids aren't in your face as much. I'll be so sad if you stop writing your entertaining posts!

Lisa, THANK YOU SO MUCH for the award! I hope I can figure out how to copy it on to my blog -- I'm so ignorant when it comes to my computer! Last time I got an award was about three months ago and I can't remember for the life of me how I got the picture from Prudy's blog on to mine! Any suggestions?! Thanks again!

krysta said...

i think kabobs are the perfect summer by the pool food. they look wonderful.

Obsessive Foodie or Food Addict....You Decide said...

Leah hahahah, I have a post that I started days ago and I can't seem to finish it. I can't think straight........WHEN DOES SCHOOL START AGAIN!!!!!!!!! I can't seem to complete my thoughts........there goes another heart palp....WHERE'S MY PHUCKING CLONOPIN AND GLASS OF WINE!