Oh Summer!!!
It seems like yesterday that I was snuggling in my favorite blanket with babyD, lazing for those extra 10 mins..waiting it go get just a wee bit warmer.
The days which went by miraculously fast and the nights that magically seemed to last forever.
The evenings spent slurping many a delicious bowl of soup with Daddylonglegs and indulging in all things fried, and sweet in the world without the fear of those extra rolls of belly fat showing (God bless the inventor of sweaters) or my face breaking out in the worst case of acne known to mankind.
I miss it all..everything about winter..
But I love Summer too.. if not,as much!
Now I have so much time to do the thousand and one things I need to get done in a day..the days seem aglow with the most beautiful shade of yellow..bathing my home and everything around it in the most heartwarming color ever...My garden is a riot of colors..butterflies and bees keep buzzing all the time..and babyD and her friends have the best time playing in the evenings..their innocent pure laughter echoing the joy in my heart.
And if winter had the snuggly blankie moments of joy, summer isn't completely void of its share of special moments either..
If we devoured bowls of hot soup and sticky drums of heaven in winters, come summer we bond over my refrigerator staple of icecreams, popsicles, frozen yogurts..If we devoured all things hot in winter, I eat things cold in this crazy summer heat...Cold watermelon, cantaloupes..strawberries..cucumbers..and so much more!!
Afternoon siesta time..spent in the cooling comfort of the air conditioned room,reading a favorite book on weekends as baby peacefully sleeps next to me, happily away in some dream world..Its all I need to love something..A few special memories,some special moments, something to call it my own...
And what can suggest summer better than a BBQ and some grilled meat!!!
Well here we go ...I will try not to deviate further..
Here's the low down on this really delicious and simple chicken. The chicken is marinated overnight in a really delicious spicy yet sweet mix of pineapple juice and sriracha, grilled when ready to eat. I served it with some grilled colored peppers and grilled pineapples (But naturally)!!
It wasn't too sweet (trust me,you can make it sweeter if you desire, but this was balanced well) ..It wasn't heavy at all..and just perfect for the summer mid week dinners. It took me 20 mins to make this on the whole. I served it alongside an easy and quick salad and some Spaghetti Aglio Olio (coming up next!).
Just what you need to lift up your spirits in the crushing heat!!
RECIPE:
Ingredients:
3 Skinless Chicken Breast Portions
1 red and yellow peppers
6-7 pineapple rings or chunks( I used the bottled ones I had in my fridge)
Pineapple Marinade:
Pineapple Marinade:
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon ginger minced
- 2 teaspoon garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper,freshly ground
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoon red chillie flakes
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2-3tablespoon sriracha sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- Dash of Thai sweet chillie sauce
- Red chillie flakes
Pineapple Marinade:
- Mix together all the ingredients for the marinade except the garlic salt,pepper and red chillie flakes.
- Pound the chicken into similar thickness,wash and dry well using a clean kitchen towel.
- Rub all over with garlic salt, black pepper and red chillie flakes.
- Pour the marinade all over the spice rubbed chicken and let it soak in it well. Cover and refrigerate for 4-6 hrs or even overnight.
Pineapple Grilling Sauce:
- Mix the ingredients listed above.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Once it starts boiling,simmer for 4-6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Vegetables:
- Cut red and yellow peppers into rings.Grab the drained pineapple chunks and the marinated chicken.
- Heat the grill to medium-high heat.
- Place the pineapple and the peppers on the grill..just sprinkle some salt and mixed herbs on them for flavor and grill till just charred.
- Oil the grates lightly using a wad of oiled tissues. Now place the marinated chicken on the grills and cook,brushing it with the pineapple grilling sauce often, for almost 12-15 mins till the chicken is cooked fully.
- Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Serve on a bed of grilled peppers and pineapples (you can add onions too) , drizzle a little more sauce around the chicken if desired.
Love,
A welcoming summer,
S :)