Back to the Grill

We haven't grilled out as much recently and since it has been getting warm in the house I decided it would be a good idea to avoid turning on the oven.

• Chicken with Orange-Honey Glaze
• Grilled Mixed Vegetables with Potatoes

Basic Preparation

I've written a lot in the past about using fresh ingredients as a way to improve the quality of what you make at home. The same can be said for grinding your own spices. With a small, inexpensive spice or coffee grinder you will be impressed with the improved flavor of the spices you use.
When cooking foil wrapped vegetables on the grill, especially potatoes, be sure to get the foil well sealed to allow the heat and steam to build up. If you don't, you are likely to find the starchier veggies underdone while the others may dry out. Never allow glazed meats to cook glaze side down or the sugar in the glaze will crystallize and burn before the meat is cooked through. If you want a little crystallization, apply the glaze at the end and cook with the lid up for a couple of extra minutes when the meat is nearly done.

Chicken with Orange-Honey Glaze
4 servings

3 cups orange juice
5 fresh thyme sprigs
1/4 cup clover honey
3 tbs spicy Hungarian paprika
1 tbs ground cumin
1 tbs dty mustard powder
2 tsp ground fennel seeds
2 tbs canola oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and pepper

Combine the juice and thyme in a medium saucepan and boil over high heat until reduced to about 1/2 cup. Remove the thyme sprigs and whisk in the honey and 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp of pepper.

Stir together the dry spices and 1 tsp each salt and pepper. Brush both sides of the chicken with oil and rub generously with the spices.

Place the chicken on a medium-high grill for about 4 minutes. Turn over and apply the glaze to the top only. Finish cooking for another 4 minutes and until the internal temperature is at the correct temperature.

Drizzle with more glaze before serving.

Grilled Mixed Vegetables with Potatoes

4 servings

4 medium potatoes, sliced, peel on

12 asparagus spears, cut into thirds with the woody part discarded

2 Roma tomatoes, sliced

1 small onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

assorted fresh or dried herbs

extra virgin olive oil

salt and pepper

Place the vegetables in a large, shallow bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss them with the herbs and the salt and pepper. Place in a piece of aluminum foil about 2 feet long and seal well. Cook on medium-high grill about 20 minutes.

Not Just For The Soul

I guarantee if you make this chicken soup recipe, you will never open another can or packet again. It is adapted from a recipe by Emeril Lagasse. The onion, thyme, and parsley were provided by Dewdrop Farms in Springboro, Ohio.

Basic Preparation

I cannot stress enough the importance of using freshly ground pepper. Find a good grinder and never buy pre-ground...ever! I also suggest never using salted butter when cooking. You can always adjust the salt at the end. If you don't have real chicken stock or canned I would advise against using bouillon. Why go to all the bother of making fresh chicken soup if you just plan to ruin it with those little cubes. Open up a can of soup and wait until you can buy some. The only substitute for regular bouillon is Better Than Bouillon. If you are using a small noodle like alphabet or stars be sure not too much or they will swell and you'll end up noodle cake.

Simple Chicken Noodle Soup
4 hearty servings

1 whole chicken (3-4 lbs)
1 quart chicken stock
2 quarts water
2 medium onions, quartered
2 carrots, roughly chopped

2 celery stalks, roughly chopped

2 sprigs fresh thyme

5-6 parsley stems

2 bay leaves

2 tbs unsalted butter

1/2 cup diced onions

1/2 cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup diced celery

2 tsp salt

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1/4 lb noodles

2 tbs fresh parsley

Place the chicken in a large soup pot and cover with chicken broth and water. Add the onion quarters, roughly chopped carrots and celery, thyme, parsley stems, and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, partially cover, and simmer for 1 hour.

Remove the chicken and, when cool enough to handle, shred the meat. Strain the liquid through cheese cloth and discard the vegetables reserving the liquid.

Melt the butter in the pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced carrots, onions, and celery and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in the reserved broth and meat and bring to a boil. Add the noodles and simmer until cooked, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in the parsley and salt and pepper to taste.