Green Pepper, Pineapple, Chicken Skewers

Ok, the fun part about this recipe is that you could really thread a ton of different veggies on the skewer if you wanted! I chose green pepper and fresh pineapple because it sounded the most delicious with the spices I intended on putting on the chicken!

Sorry for the last few posts being so open-ended and non-specific, but these recipes really just depend on how many you want to make and what your personal tastes are! #sorrynotsorry

Ingredients:

Chicken tenderloins
Green Pepper
Fresh Pineapple
Crushed red pepper
Salt
Pepper
Paprika
Brown Sugar
Garlic (powder OR fresh minced)

Cut your tenderloins into 3 - 4 pieces each.

Combine all the spices in whatever ratio you deem best and toss over raw chicken pieces until very even.

Soak skewers in water.

Thread pineapple pieces, green pepper pieces, and spiced tenderloins onto skewers.

Grill until chicken is cooked through.

BONUS:

Have a few grilled skewers with JUST pineapple.... Ohhh my word, yum!

Easy Pad Thai

So, sorry to break it to you, but I'm not going to be super specific in this recipe (gasp!).  But, I just love how I throw things together to resemble a favorite such as Pad Thai. This won't be the most authentic (double gasp!)... but it was delicious!

Ingredients (you get to decide how much of them for the most part!)

Rice noodles
Carrots
Bean Sprouts
Lime
Green Onion
Cilantro
Peanuts
Soy Sauce
Sugar
Sriracha Sauce
Rotisserie Chicken

Cook your rice noodles according to package directions.

In a small sauce pan, combine the juice of the lime, a few tsp sugar, a little bit of soy sauce, a couple tbsp of water, and a little sriracha hot sauce.  Heat until sugar disolves, then set aside for now.

Chop your carrots (or any other veggies you include... baby corn would be yummy in this)

In a wok, add your noodles, torn up chicken, carrots, and sauce (not the bean sprouts yet). Toss for a couple minutes until sauce has been soaked up by noodles.

Pour into a serving dish, add the bean sprouts, peanuts, green onion and cilantro.

Garnish with the wedges of the lime you used in the sauce.

Yum!

Honey Sesame Chicken

Honey Sesame Chicken

2 Large Chicken Breasts
3/4 Cup Honey
1/2 Cup Soy Sauce
1/2 Cup Apple Juice
1/4 Cup Ketchup
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
Pinch Crushed Red Pepper
1 1/2 Tablespoons Cornstarch (mix with a little water to make a paste before adding)

Add in everything except the cornstarch to the crock-pot and cook on low for 4 hours. 

Then, take out the Chicken, add the cornstarch (stir until blended).  Cook just the sauce for 15-30 minutes, uncovered.  While sauce is cooking, chop up the chicken.  After sauce has thickened up, add the chicken back in just to coat.

Serve over rice.

Freezer version: Combine everything in a freezer bag except cornstarch.  Thaw overnight in the fridge when you're ready to make it.  Then you can continue to use the above directions concerning the cornstarch.

Sweet and Sour Chicken with Homemade Sauce

As I've said before, I LOVE all types of Chinese food.  This recipe really hits the spot, and is a lot better for you than having the breaded and fried chicken you'd normally get in Sweet and Sour from a take-out place.
Sweet and Sour Sauce

1/4 Cup Ketchup
1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 Cup White Sugar
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce

1 Cup Pineapple Juice*
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

In a small mixing bowl, combine the Ketchup, ACV, Sugar, and Soy Sauce.

In another mixing bowl, combine the Pineapple Juice and Cornstarch.

In a small saucepan, heat the Olive Oil over medium heat.  Then, add all the other ingredients.  Keep on stirring until the sauce gets nice and thick.  

*If making this with the Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe below, just use the drained juice from the canned pineapple.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

2 Large Chicken Breasts, in bite-sized pieces
2 Green Peppers, chopped
3 Large Carrots, chopped
1 Can Pineapple Chunks (Large can!)
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Batch Sweet and Sour Sauce from above recipe

In a wok, heat the Olive Oil, then add the Chicken pieces.  Cook until Chicken is done.  Now you can add your veggies and pineapple.  Once the Carrots and Peppers have had a chance to soften just a little bit, add the sauce.  Let cook just a few more minutes.  

Serve over brown rice.

Derek's rating: 7/10

Bourbon Chicken with a side of Red Beans and Rice

Bourbon Chicken

If you're anything like me, you love "Chinese" take-out... whether it be from a legitimate and authentic Chinese restaurant or from a questionable mall food-court.  When I saw the Pinterest link to a Bourbon Chicken recipe, I just had to try it (and put my own personal taste into adjusting measurements).  


2 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (Cut into bite-sized pieces)
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Garlic Clove
1/4 Teaspoon Ginger
1 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/2 Cup Apple Juice
1/3 Cup Light Brown Sugar (or Dark!)
2 Tablespoons Ketchup
1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1/2 Cup Water
1/4 Cup Soy Sauce (Or a little less if desired)
1 Tablespoon Corn Starch


Directions:

Heat your olive oil in a large skillet.  Once your olive oil is nice and hot, add only your chunks of chicken until the outsides are slightly browned.  Remove the chicken.

In the same pan, add all of the other remaining ingredients over medium heat.  Stir until everything has dissolved.  

Add the chicken back in and simmer for 20 minutes.  Do not cover.

ENJOY!


Red Beans and Rice

2 Cups Red Beans, cooked/canned
1 Tablespoon Minced Garlic
1 Small Yellow Onion, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
===
2 Cups cooked rice (white or brown)
1 Teaspoon Chili Powder
1/8 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Oregano
Salt & Pepper, to taste
1/4 Cup Olive Oil


In a medium-sized pan heat olive oil.  Saute minced garlic with the onion.  Once the onion has softened up, add the red beans.

In a large mixing bowl, toss the garlic/onion/bean mixture with the cooked rice and other remaining ingredients.

ENJOY!



This meal sure does bring back good memories of Somerset Mall.  It could only get better by having roasted potatoes.  There's always next time!

My husband will be adding his opinions of the meals after each post.  Here was his thoughts on the Bourbon Chicken/Red Beans and Rice: 10/10.


Original Bourbon Chicken Recipe
Original RB&R Recipe