Greek Chicken Kabobs

Hi friends! I know, it's been a while, but I had to share this recipe. I didn't use to be a kabob lover because it seemed that my chicken would be undercooked and my vegetables would be overcooked. But now that I have figured out the right sizes of everything when cutting, I am sold on the kabob train. 

These Greek Chicken Kabobs are quickly becoming a family favorite. We have made these many times and had them with guests and they are a pleaser for sure. I paired these kabobs up with a yummy Mediterranian Quinoa Salad, which I will post about as well. The kabobs are full of bright citrus flavor and, when cooked right, super tender and juicy!

2 chicken breasts

1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

zest of 1 lemon

1 TBSP balsamic vinegar

2 tsp greek seasoning

5 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1 red pepper

1/4 red onion, 2 really big thick slices

skewers

1- Prepare the chicken by pounding it to an even thickness all the way around. When even, cut into 1 inch by 1-inch pieces.

2- Combine the greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, zest, balsamic vinegar, greek seasoning, garlic, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes in a small mixing bowl.

3- Combine chicken pieces and marinade in a ziplock bag. Massage marinade all over chicken pieces to ensure good coverage and let sit in the refrigerator for 8 hours (massage bag every few hours). 

4- Cut pepper and red onion into 1-1 1/2 inch pieces. 

5- Remove chicken from the refrigerator and start threading meat, peppers, and onion onto skewers. 

6- Heat grill to 400°F. When heated, add skewers and grill roughly 4 minutes per side or until chicken pieces have reached an internal temperature of 165° and vegetables are tender but still crisp.

**Randi's Side Notes**

~If you use wooden skewers make sure that you soak them in water for at least 30 minutes before putting them on the grill. This will help to prevent them from lighting on fire. 

~Cooking time may vary depending on how thick your chicken and vegetable pieces are. Use your best judgment. 

Grilled Zucchini

This is a side dish that I have recently fallen in love with and have made many times during the past few weeks. Growing up, pretty much the only way we ever had zucchini was dredge it in egg and flour and fry it in butter. Which don't get me wrong is wonderful...but full of extra calories that you don't need...all the time :).
Keeping things simple in my kitchen is the best way for me to get a healthier meal on the table. These go with any main dish, but especially work great if you are already cooking something out on the grill. Last night we did these up with some grilled corn on the cob and some grilled pork chops and it was amazing! My husband has become quite the grilling master. This side dish is not only healthy but comes together in a matter of minutes. Enjoy!

Panzanella Style Salad

Okay I know this doesn't look like your typical Panzanella because I didn't slice up the stale bread and incorporate it into the salad, but I've adapted this recipe to how we like it and called it Panzanella for so long now that I don't know what else to call it. So please don't criticize the name if you know your stuff. You can still chop up your bread and put it in the salad so it is traditional, I just don't like to because I like having leftovers.
This recipe we have been using for YEARS! At first, this was a "branching out of our comfort zone" recipe, but now it is a staple at our house.
One thing I like about this recipe is if you have leftovers (the main reason I don't like adding the bread to the salad) is that it tastes great the next day cold or slightly warmed up.

Honey Mustard Grilled Pork Chops

We seem to always have an abundance of pork chops in our freezer, not exactly sure why, but I guess it's a good problem to have. I've been getting tired of our same old pork chops which are good, but a little more on the bland side. So I started my search on Pinterest and came across this recipe. These pork chops are so flavorful and juicy. I love that the basting sauce only requires a few ingredients that I always have on hand and doesn't take long to prepare or to cook. These pork chops paired very well with the Cheesy Bacon & Ranch Potatoes that I posted about recently.

Cheesy Bacon & Ranch Potatoes

I'm pretty sure the title of this recipe says enough, but if it doesn't then let me tell you that this recipe is to die for! Cheese. Bacon. Ranch. Potatoes. Uhhhhh I'm literally salivating as I type this and making a mental note that I need to make this again ASAP! We have been doing a lot of grilled food at our house lately. I like it when I can keep the heat out of the kitchen by turning on the grill and cooking not only my main dish, but also my sides. This side pairs so well with any type of grilled meat or let's be real, I ate these alone as an entire meal because...why not?!

This also makes a great dish that you can have in the cooler months as well because it can also be cooked in the oven.

Grilled Chicken Tacos

Simple meals are my favorite. I have been on a simple meals kick lately and been loving not spending quite as much time in the kitchen. This recipe is no joke. I have made it quite a few times for people and every time I run out of food because everybody keeps going back for more...and more. The ingredients are simple, light, and refreshing and really remind me of Southern California. The thing I like best about this taco recipe is the salad you put on top of it. It adds all the flavor and adds freshness. This meal comes together in under 30-40 minutes which is a huge bonus for those weeknights where you just don't have much energy. ENJOY!

Grilled Chicken Marinade

I love summer. The best part about summer, for me, is using the grill. There is just something about standing at the grill and listening to your food cook that is so beyond satisfying. I'm not gonna lie, whenever I see one of my neighbors grilling, I get a bit envious of whatever they are preparing because it always smells amazing. What is it about getting that char on a piece of meat that makes it mouthwatering?
When we grill at our house we like to keep it simple. Grilled fresh vegetables and some kind of marinated meat.
I came across this amazing chicken marinade when I was trying to accommodate different food allergies/intolerances for a family reunion. Testing out new recipes on a lot of people is always a little nerve wracking, but this one paid off big time.
If you are looking for a really easy to put together marinade to go on your chicken for your next barbecue, this is the one. The one that is going to have everybody asking for the recipe, and the one that has everybody coming back for more.

Mediterranean Chicken Bowls

This recipe was shared with me by an amazing friend of mine, who also happens to be a fantastic cook! She knows that I love Middle Eastern food and knew I had been looking for a recipe that I could tweak a bit to turn it into an Anti-Inflammatory recipe. The flavors in this recipe are so bright and fresh but also have all of the warm spices that are classic to the food in that area. Having the fresh vegetables alongside the warm quinoa and chicken really adds that crunch that, for me, makes for the perfect texture combination in your mouth. The thing that ties this dish together so well is the sauce. I personally like to throw all the ingredients in my bowl with a big dollop of sauce and mix it like a tornado ran through so that I get a little bit of everything in one bite.
One of my favorite things that I love about this dish is that it is full of foods that are Anti-Inflammatory. I hear people say all the time that Ant-Inflammatory foods are bland or that they feel like there just aren't any good recipes out there. Well, here it is. This recipe is far from bland.

Grilled Pork Chops

As summer is drawing to a close I thought I would share my new favorite pork chop recipe. Summer food to me means grilled meat, fresh salads, veggies, and of course watermelon. This pork chop recipe is fantastic. Pretty much anything grilled is fantastic but the spice mixture on these chops is bomb (or bomb to the wigwam as my husband would say it). As soon as you get these babies on the grill the air is filled with the most amazing smell, I literally had to stop myself from smelling the marinade bag (kinda weird, don't judge). I like this recipe because it has a good balance of flavors from sweet to spicy.
*When I make it I don't add quite as much of the chili powder (I only do 1 tsp.) because my kids don't like spicy food. This still gives it a tiny bit of heat, but not to much for kids.

Simple Thai Chicken

Guys. This chicken recipe is AWESOME! The thighs come out super moist (yes I said moist and I know many of you cringed at that), it's super flavorful, and the best part is its super easy!
I had all the ingredients right in my fridge so that was an added bonus as I loathe going to the grocery store. I'm sure I'm not the only one out there who will do everything I can to find recipes that I already have the ingredients for so I can avoid getting dressed and dragging my children out for an epic battle at the store.
This recipe came together so quickly and had so much flavor jammed into the sauce. That is one thing I love about Asian cooking. It's usually simple and full of flavor, which for me is the way to go. Even my 5 year old daughter loved it and she has become the pickiest eater in the world.

Grilled Steak with Garlic butter

For valentine's day this year we decided to stick to kind of the traditional steak and shrimp meal. We usually opt to stay at home and cook together rather then going out and waiting forever for a table in a crowded restaurant.
Anyway, instead of having just a plain steak this year we decided to jazz it up with some garlic butter. This recipe was so incredibly easy and very delicious. It took a plain old, still good, steak to another level, without having to really do anything to it.

Classic Tinfoil Dinner

You know, tinfoil dinners are one of my favorites. There are a few reasons why I absolutely love them
1- EASY
2- No dishes to clean up
3- scrumptious!
These are my favorite thing to make when we are camping but they are also one of my favorite things to just have at home. You don't have to have a big fire or a tent pitched to eat these babies. I love that these dinners are so versatile. Not only can you throw whatever sounds good in a packet and it will almost always come out amazing, but you can cook it so many different ways as well.
Here is how I did my basic basic classic tinfoil dinner last night!
(Oh and I apologize for the REALLY bad photo. I forgot to snap a couple pictures last night since I wasn't here to eat it when it came out of the oven so I took a photo of what the leftovers looked like lol...sorry!)

Carne Asada

I realize this picture isn't the best of quality but my camera on my phone was all I had around when I made these the other night.
I could eat beef tacos every day of the week. While living in Southern California and working at the mall I grew accustomed to being able to have fantastic carne asada tacos whenever my little heart desired.
Since we are still fairly new to Arizona I haven't found a place yet that sells fantastic tacos for a good price so I had to resort to making my own. This recipe is fantastic. Its nice and zingy from all the citrus you put in the marinade but has all the wonderful classic flavors of a true Mexican taco. I served mine up on a white corn tortilla with some fresh made Pico De Gallo and avocado.

Greek Marinated Chicken

What a great morning! I love Mondays. You may think that I am being sarcastic, but really, I do LOVE Mondays! Its the start of a fresh new week with no procrastinating, no tantrums, no missed chores, nothing! Mondays are usually the days that I end up getting the most done. So here is your motivation for the day! GET UP! Okay, read and print this recipe first, comment, and then get up!
I have been wanting to make this recipe for a long time. I have come across it on Pinterest quite a few times and finally I had all the ingredients on hand so I made it. Boy am I glad I did. Man, that marinade is so bright. Its lemony and herby...mmmm. Not to mention that its super easy. I know I have had a bunch of good chicken recipes on here as of late, and it doesn't seem like I post much else, but honestly I can't help it that all the great sounding recipes are chicken. One reason that I use chicken a lot is because it is so easy to live on a $45-$50 a week food budget. Anyway, give this recipe a try. I served mine up with some yummy quinoa and roasted broccoli.

Grilled Asian Chicken Salad

When I saw this recipe on Pinterest I knew that I had to give it a try. I don't know if it was because it looked so good or if it was because the person who had pinned it said that this recipe alone had like 20,000 views or something to that effect. Either way my interests were peeked.
Im glad that I did try it. This salad is so light and refreshing but the dressing is packed with so much flavor that you really don't need anything to go along with it. Even if you don't like salads, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND you at least give the dressing a try because it is FANTASTIC!
This is a typical Asian salad, where it doesn't have lettuce but is full of cabbage and carrots instead. (Yes in case you were wondering my nails have been orange for a day now after shredding them on the cheese grater!)
This salad makes a great main dish and can stand all on its own just fine or if you are really hungry and a go getter for meals, then it would make a great appetizer. Oh and I am totally making this for the next Asian Inspired Potluck we have!

Honey Mustard Drumsticks

I have really been on a chicken kick lately. But honestly I don't really ever get sick of chicken. Its so versatile. Not only do you have a few different choices on what kind of chicken you want but you choose how it gets cooked. Grill it? Maybe. Roast it? Maybe. Fry it? Maybe. Not only is cooking it super versatile but so is whatever you pair it with. You can marinade a billion different ways, or mix with a billion different ingredients and it can come out different every time!
This week I have been on a grilling kick so most of my chicken and veggies have been grilled. I love how the grill adds that extra bit of mmm mmm to the outside of the chicken (yes Im talking about that burned chard part) while leaving the inside super moist! This recipe was fantastic. Its a honey mustard marinade and sticks to the skin and flavors the chicken so much! Give it a try!

The Gage Dog

Ohhhhh the hot dog. Everybody's favorite thing they hate to love. I personally am not a huge fan of the cheap (I don't know whats really in them) dogs from the grocery store, but, this recipe I will eat...everytime! The GAGE dog.
We were having a bbq at my sisters house a few years ago and my brother in law said that we had to try this version of a hot dog. It was fantastic. How can a hot dog with bacon not be good. Anyway, I believe it was his creation, or maybe it was something that he had seen before, BUT my husband loved it (as I recall he may have snarfed down one or two extra hot dogs that day.) Since they are brothers and they both love them, it is now called the GAGE dog in our household.

*I forgot to snap a picture of our dogs this time, so I tried to find the closest

thing on the web I could to what it looks like. I will update a new picture

when we make them again! But this is a great picture for if you forget to wrap the bacon around the dog, like I sometimes do :)*

Dad's Texas BBQ

Mmmm Mmmm Mmmm. I love BBQ season! And now that I live in the great state of Arizona, its ALWAYS BBQ season! This makes my tummy very happy :)
This BBQ sauce recipe is one that I grew up on. It's one that my dad always used whenever he would do up some ribs. In my opinion I think it would be good on any kind of meat, but you can never go wrong with it when its on some fantastic ribs...
(Yes I did just have to wipe a little drool off my chin...)
If you don't use all of the sauce it can save in the fridge for at least a week, depending on how you store it.
For me, this recipe just brings back fond memories of dad at the grill, mom making some macaroni salad, and me bringing the dishes outside to eat with the family on the deck!

Lime, Coconut, Curry Chicken

Yes. You take the Lime and the Coconut and stir it all up.  I know you were thinking it, and frankly I was singing it as I typed it.
This is a fantastic marinade for chicken. At first I was a little skeptical because it marinades in coconut milk but I'll tell you what...Its like chicken curry without all the soupy mess! Grill it, fry it, bake it, who cares. Just cook it and get that jazzy bit of song in your belly! I bet you money that while you are zesting your lime and have that can of coconut milk sitting next to it, you will be humming that tune just like me. (Okay I won't actually bet you money because frankly I always lose bets and don't really feel like dishing out a bunch of money to people I don't even know)
Top it off with some fresh squeezed lime juice and cilantro and you've got yourself a tangy delicious bit of chicken!

Grilled Corn on the Cob

Oh corn! Sweet delicious corn. I love living in Arizona. Why you may ask....because I can get corn all summer and fall  for a fairly decent price. Where I grew up, I swear you could only buy corn on the cob in September and then it would only be available for like a month.
As I was looking through the corn at the grocery store I was contemplating which method of corn on the cob I would be using. Boiled, baked, steamed, or grilled! DING DING...grilled!
I LOVE grilled corn on the cob! I have come to realize that it isn't as scary as I always thought it was. Grilling the corn adds so much flavor to it. Getting those nice char marks...mmm. I have found that there are three typical methods of grilling corn on the cob, in foil, in the husk, and directly on the grill itself. So here is a mini tutorial on how to grill corn on the cob all three ways! Enjoy!