Grilled Tandoori Chicken Recipe

Summer is almost over! It’s hard to imagine, but school starts next week for the girls, so I thought I'd use the barbecue one more time before storing it until next season. I marinated chicken breasts in tandoori sauce (I removed the skin because Lulu's aunt who’s visiting doesn't like it).

A generous amount of plain yogurt is necessary to ensure that the meat is moist. The traditional spices from garam masala are also used (cumin, coriander, red chile and other spices). I grilled the chicken breasts for about 10 minutes and the meat was ready to be served. It’s actually a pretty stress-free recipe if -like me-, you have a ready-made jar of garam masala in your pantry.

Honey Garlic Chicken Drumsticks (Barbecue Chicken Drummettes)

Chicken drumsticks are great party food. They are easy to make and everyone, including my little munchkin, loves to nibble on them while having a conversation.

This time around, I seasoned the chicken with a dry rub, then grilled the drumsticks on the barbecue and glazed the chicken until fully cooked. I also used both dried and fresh thyme to flavor the chicken. Our garden is over-flowing with lemon thyme, so I used a food dehydrator my father-in-law gave to me as a birthday present and dried several trays. When dried, herbs have a much stronger flavor, and I’ll be able to use the thyme well into November.

The chicken drumsticks were tender and sweet with a crunchy skin. Get grilling, and enjoy some yourself!

Asparagus Chicken Stir Fry Recipe (Black Bean Sauce Chicken)

I receive many questions and recipe suggestions from readers. It might take a while for me to respond but I want you to know that I read every single one of them and they always fill me with joy. So here's Bill's (a regular reader) recipe for asparagus chicken. I didn’t make many changes; I just added a few more bold and spicy flavors to counteract the blandness of chicken. Specifically, I used black bean garlic sauce and red chiles, in keeping with the Asian theme of the dish.

The key to making sure this dish turns out well is not to overcook the asparagus. I chose to use baby asparagus in this dish but regardless, it should be bright green and still have some crunch . The texture, if cooked properly, is wonderful, and baby asparagus is visually appealing to boot.

For a little background, here's what Bill wrote about the dish:

"I got this recipe a very long time ago while taking a cooking class at “Isle of Skye Kitchen” in Saratoga [California], a combo antique store and vendor of exotic spices ... long gone. It has been a family favorite for years. Here it is with some personal experience updates."

Thanks Bill!

Easy Barbecue Chicken Recipe for July 4th

I have been grilling a lot of poultry lately on the wonderful barbecue grill we purchased this past Memorial Day weekend. I’ve made tandoori chicken and soy sauce quail and they both turned out lovely. I thought it was time to experiment a bit and create a new recipe for the upcoming July 4th weekend. I had a jar of delicious chokecherry jelly that Daddy's friends from Minnesota gave us, and I decided to make a marinade and glaze out of it. The jelly imparts a tangy sweet flavor to the chicken that is perfect for a hot summer day.

If you're having a barbecue this July 4^th weekend, give this grilled chicken recipe a try. It's to die for! For more grilling recipes, check out Mark Bittman's latest post, 101 Fast Recipes for Grilling.

Turkey and Cheese Sandwich Recipe

Since I arrived in America 5 years ago, I've been searching for the best deli-sliced turkey and I think I've found my favorite one of all. My little munchkin is home from school until next week as she will attend summer school. She only eats turkey and cheese sandwiches, so that's what we had today for lunch, with a pack of potato chips.

I think I've spoiled her a little too much, as she prefers hot turkey sandwiches so the cheese is melted. For today’s turkey sandwich, I made a Mornay sauce, which is a white sauce made of flour, butter, mustard and milk. I also add a pinch of nutmeg to enhance the flavor. I smothered the bread with the sauce, stacked many layers of greens adn the turkey slices and voilà, lunch was ready.

For the vegetarians in the family, I made the exact same version using tofurkey slices. It's the perfect meal when you're in a hurry!

Note: The sandwiches pictured on the left are made with tofurkey and the ones on the right with real turkey slices.