Ragu or Grilled Chicken Skewers
- Bess Hawthorne
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
Join Carmen Horner as she shares her favorite mouth-watering recipes (and why she always doubles or triples them), a hot tip for finding Staub on sale, and a memorable story that will reveal why she works ahead when planning for company! A seasoned hostess, she offers advice on greeting guests, creating cozy lighting and décor, and including kids in growing food. Plus, we reveal our 10/10 favorite kitchen products! We're so glad you're here!
Winter Menu: Rich and Meaty Lamb Ragù
Serve over pappardelle pasta ( or a brown rice pilaf for GF) and sprinkle with parsley.Â
Serve with:
Grilled Summer Veggies Medley
Zucchini, cut into chunks
Red onion, sliced in rounds
Sweet baby bell peppers, whole
Toss these with olive oil, seasoning salt like Lawry’s, oregano and garlic powder (not salt).
Bbq them in a grill basket until they get a few charred bits but don’t overdo it.Â
Crusty Bread and Garlic Butter
Bring 1 cup butter to room temperature, whip in a Kitchen Aid with 1 clove minced garlic, 3 Tbsp chopped parsley, and salt to taste. Make this at least an hour ahead, preferably more, for the flavors to develop. Let guests spread this butter on their own bread, or grill this butter right onto your bread slices when you're outside grilling your veggies.Â
Summer Menu: Grilled Chicken Skewers with Cilantro Lime Red Pepper Salad over Flatbreads
Chicken Skewers/Souvlaki:
(Submitted by Carmen Horner)
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Ingredients:
About 1 ½ pounds cubed chicken breast or thighs
¼ cup plain full fat yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon pepper
Serve with:
Tzatziki sauce or garlic labneh
Sweet Bell Pepper Salad with Cilantro-Lime Garlic Vinaigrette
Grilled warm flatbread or pitaÂ
Bamboo skewers or metal skewers
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Directions:
1. Let marinate overnight so the yogurt really gets a chance to tenderize your chicken.
2. When ready to cook, thread onto presoaked bamboo skewers or metal skewers, grill on a BBQ to doneness.
3. Serve the skewers with tzatziki sauce or garlic labneh (my fav) over the bell pepper salad ALL on a grilled warm flatbread or pita!Â
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Sweet Bell Pepper Salad with Cilantro-Lime Garlic Vinaigrette
(Submitted by Carmen Horner)
Ingredients:
3-5 red bell peppers
Cilantro Lime Garlic Vinaigrette*
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced shallots, from one medium shallot
2 teaspoons salt
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
9 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, best quality such as ColavitaÂ
1 teaspoon lime zest (be sure to zest limes before juicing them)
6 tablespoons fresh lime juiceÂ
½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Serve with:
Chicken Skewers/Souvlaki
Tzatziki sauce or garlic labneh
Grilled warm flatbread or pitaÂ
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Directions:
For peppers:
Julienne 3-5 red bell peppers (depending on their size) as thin as you like, lengthways (a mandolin works great here) so you end up with long julienned slices. Marinate with the vinaigrette at least an hour in the fridge before serving.Â
For vinaigrette:
Mix everything together in a mason jar or whiz everything except the cilantro in a blender to better emulsify, add the cilantro after.
* (Vinaigrette recipe credit to Jenn Segal of Once Upon A Chef. The vinaigrette shows up in her Black Bean Salad Recipe which you should ABSOLUTELY try also; it is SO good.)Â
……AAAAND one more summer salad just for fun:Â
This salad really needs the addition of some sugar in the vinaigrette (to taste, 1-2 Tbsp) and minced garlic, also to taste. Otherwise, it’s perfect!Â
Desserts:Â
Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
Meyer Lemon Tart
Don’t skip the Meyer lemons here if at all possible! They are juicier and sweeter with less acidity than normal lemons and they often have them at Safeway.Â
*Note- Personally I don’t love the tart crust recipe here, but just use your favorite tart crust, or pie crust recipe for that matter, and blind bake, filling in the Meyer lemon cream after.Â
Recommended Drink Recipe
Kahlúa-Spiked Frozen Mocha Lattes
Cook Time: 12 hours | Servings: Yield 6 servings
Ingredients:
3/4 cup sugar
5 1/2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
4 teaspoons natural unsweetened cocoa powder
2 pinches of salt
2 1/2 cups water, divided
2 cups half and half
3/4 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon (scant) vanilla extract
3/4 cup Kahlúa or other coffee-flavored liqueur
Special Equipment
Ice cube trays (enough to make about forty-five 1 3/4x1 3/4x1 1/4-inch ice cubes)
Even Easier
Instead of making whipped cream, try an organic, all-natural aerosol whipped cream, like Clover Farms.
Directions:
Whisk first 3 ingredients and pinch of salt in medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in 1 cup water, whisking until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves and mixture just begins to boil, whisking often, about 3 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add 1 1/2 cups water and half and half; whisk to blend. Transfer to pitcher. Pour espresso mixture into ice cube trays, filling cubes almost to top (mixture will make about 45 ice cubes). Freeze espresso mixture in trays. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 month ahead. Store espresso ice cubes in resealable plastic bag and keep frozen.
Using electric mixer, beat cream, brown sugar, vanilla, and pinch of salt in medium bowl until peaks form. Cover; chill.
Place 6 glass coffee mugs or other glasses in freezer 15 minutes. Working in 3 batches, place 14 espresso ice cubes and 1/4 cup Kahlúa in processor. Blend until thick and smooth, about 30 seconds. Divide between 2 chilled mugs; place in freezer. Repeat 2 more times with espresso ice cubes, Kahlúa, and chilled mugs. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 hour ahead. Keep frozen.
Spoon sweetened whipped cream atop frozen mocha lattes and serve.
Nutrition:
One serving contains: Calories (kcal) 437.5 %Calories from Fat 42.3 Fat (g) 20.6 Saturated Fat (g) 12.8 Cholesterol (mg) 70.7 Carbohydrates (g) 50.3 Dietary Fiber (g) 0.4 Total Sugars (g) 44.9 Net Carbs (g) 49.9 Protein (g) 3.4 Sodium (mg) 87.6
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(Check for ones marked as visual imperfections for a better price.)