Island Grilled Chicken

Maui Sunset #5 at The Four Seasons Resort Wailea

7/07/13: To be quite honest, I have absolutely no idea what I was doing the day that I decided to make Island Grilled Chicken. I mean, really, that was about two months ago and, let’s be honest, sometimes recipes and ideas all start to blend together at some point.

Maui Sunset #1 at Kamaole Beach across the street (South Kihei Rd) from our hotel

At any rate, I figure I would take this opportunity to tell you about my most memorable island adventure: Maui, Hawaii. As I’ve mentioned before, my college roommate, Erin, asked me to be a bridesmaid in her Maui wedding. Of course, I was thrilled, and it ended up being the most beautiful place I have ever been. I asked myself repeatedly throughout the trip (YouTube’s After the Dentist style), “Is this real life?”

Maui Sunset #2, Happy Hour on the Bensons' lanai at mana Kai Maui Resort

Maui Sunset #2, Happy Hour on the Bensons' lanai at mana Kai Maui Resort

And the sunsets. Oh. My. Gosh. The sunsets. I have never- not at the lake, not at the river, not in Alaska, not on either coast, not in Florida or Mexico- never EVER seen a sunset like a Maui sunset. Holy. Moly.  They were absolutely breath-taking.

Maui Sunset #3 at Erin & Alex's Rehearsal Dinner at the
Plantation House Restaurant at the Plantation Golf Course

Maui Sunset #3 at Erin & Alex's Rehearsal Dinner at the
Plantation House Restaurant at the Plantation Golf Course

We watched the sunsets every night that we were there- from the beach, from a luau, from the Kapalua golf course, from Erin’s family’s hotel room- but the last sunset of the trip had to have been the most spectacular. Everyone had recommended that we try to get to the Four Seasons for happy hour to watch the sunset, and I would give anything to be able to do that just once a year for the rest of my life. We had fun, fruity drinks on the patio and watched the most blazingly beautiful sunset I have ever seen in my whole life. As you can see by the pictures, it completely changed color schemes and phases numerous times in the short time it was setting. We were in awe.

Maui Sunset #4 at Erin & Alex's wedding reception
The Grand Luau at Honua'ula

Maui Sunset #4 at Erin & Alex's wedding reception
The Grand Luau at Honua'ula

I always think of Granny when the sunsets. For more on that, read my story for Strawberry Shortcake. She loved sunsets, and I am sure that I inherited my love for the blazing orange beauty from her.  While it makes me sad to think of her never getting to see a Maui sunset, I had no doubt she was watching right alongside of Andy and me on the Four Seasons patio- and knowing Granny, she probably had her own fruity drink in hand, too.

Maui Sunset #5, Four Seasons Resort Wailea

Island Grilled Chicken

Pinterest.com

Servings: 2; WW PointsPlus Value: 5

Spaghetti Squash & Island Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 1-2 lemons)
• 1 ½ tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• ½ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 2 chicken breasts

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients together
2. Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour, up to overnight
3. Grill chicken over medium heat, appr 15-25 mins depending on thickness

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Grilled Summer Asparagus

Longhorns at Hayley's wedding

June 16, 2013: My college roommate, Hayley, and her husband, Ben, got married this weekend in Frederickburg, Texas. Ben and Hayley live in Houston, but she is from Fort Worth and he is from Dallas. They decided on Fredericksburg as both mutual territory for the UT Longhorn and SMU Mustang and also because it is a really neat Texas destination. 

On Thursday, June 13, Andy and I were going to be busy wrapping up some work things and starting to pack for the weekend, so we ate dinner at home. I made Firecracker Grilled Salmon, but needed a side. I pulled out my "Texas Favorites by Jon Bonnell" cookbook and found a recipe he had for a "Summer Vegetable Salad" that included asparagus, so I prepped it per his recipe, and it definitely took place as my top favorite asparagus recipe. 

MaryEllen, me, Andy, and JK at Hayley & Ben's wedding

We wanted to make the most out of our adventure down to south Texas, so we broke up the trip into two parts. Friday, June 14, we had decided to drive to see my best friend and her husband, Whitney and Todd, at their home in La Vernia. On the way there, Andy got a nail in his truck tire. Of all places to pull over at, we happened to stop at a car repair shop. They had Andy's spare on, and we were back on the road in only 12 minutes!

Our flat tire, but it only took 12 minutes to change!

We met The Creels for dinner at La Fogata in San Antonio while it was pouring rain atop our covered patio. Then we followed them back to their beautiful home in La Vernia, about 30 minutes southeast of San Antonio. We spent the night catching up (although Whitney and I talk on the phone daily), checking out their son-to-be, Kolt's, nursery in progress, and watching Hangover 2.

Chisholm Trail Winery

Saturday, June 15, Whitney and Todd made us bacon and cheese biscuit sandwiches and then we were en route to Fredericksburg. After checking in to our hotel, The Sunday House, Andy and I headed out to our favorite winery, Chisholm Trail. We had gone there in February 2011, and it was the first winery that ever taught me how to properly taste wine. 

Rancho Ponte Winery

After Chisholm Trail, we went to Rancho Ponte for another wine tasting before we headed back to get ready for the Newell wedding. The Newells had arranged for a shuttle to take us to the winery where the wedding ceremony and reception were, Becker Vineyards. The weather was perfect, and Hayley was a beautiful bride! We spent the night dancing and sampling all of the wines Becker had to offer. I left the wedding the sweatiest hot mess I've ever been at a wedding. I was soaked but it was so fun dancing the night away with my favorite boy and Longhorn girls. 

Andy and me on the shuttle on the way to Becker Vineyards for the Newell Wedding

Ben & Hayley Newell!

Sunday morning, I slept late while Andy did a little sight seeing around town. When he got back, we had breakfast at my favorite little brunch spot in Fredericksburg, Mahaley's, with our friends, Katie, Leo, and Scott. After lunch and checking out of The Sunday House, we went to Luckenbach, Texas, (with Waylan and Willie and the boys). It's been a super fun but tiring weekend and we still have two hours left on our drive back to Funkytown- actually, I think it may be a good time for a nap.

Andy and me in Luckenbach, Texas

Grilled Summer Asparagus

By Jon Bonnell

Serving: 2; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 1

• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed & washed
• Pepper, as desired
• Salt, as desired
• Garlic powder, as desired
• Olive oil

Grilled Summer Asparagus and Firecracker Salmon

1. Drizzle asparagus with olive oil
2. Sprinkle with pepper, salt, and garlic powder
3. Grill 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Foil Packet Salmon

June 3, 2013: After our fabulous getaway to San Diego, our friends, Keri and Bradley, had invited us to join them at a benefit for Lena Pope Home's charter school, Chapel Hill Academy. I actually had interned at Chapel Hill for my Practicum I class in graduate school at TCU, so I was extra exceed about the event.  The benefit, Rock the Fort, had many sponsors, one of which was Keri's childhood neighbors and Texas Jet owners, the Pigmans. The Pigmans had offered Keri and Bradley a handful of seats at their table, and we were graciously asked to join. 

Bradley, Keri, Andy, and me at Rock the Fort

The benefit was at the Heart of Texas Ranch in the new Edwards Ranch area in Fort Worth. There were four food trucks and Charlie Robison headlined. Our tickets got us drinks, and yummy food from trucks boasting barbecue, tacos, loaded fries, and ice cream. We knew a lot of people in attendance, and the benefit was a huge success with over 700 attendees! We spent the evening chowing down and jamming out "in my hometown."

Andy and me at Rock the Fort

The morning after we rocked the Fort, I was going to the store. When I asked if Andy had any requests, he said, "Fish!" Andy and I were in full-blown fish mode from our getaway to San Diego.  Poor guy, I think he gets tired of my fixing chicken breasts every which way every week. So off to Kroger it was, and they happen to have salmon on sale. I had seen on The Today Show just how easy grilling in foil packets can be, so I found this recipe for Foil Packet Salmon. The fish turned out perfectly- moist, full of flavor, and clean up was a breeze!

Charlie Robison performing at Rock the Fort

Foil Packet Salmon

Servings: 2; Wight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 7

Foil Packet Salmon with Grilled Red Potatoes and salad

• 4 salmon fillets (4 ounces each)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
• 1 teaspoon curry powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Foil Packet Salmon with Grilled Red Potatoes

1. Lay out 4 pieces of foil, large enough to wrap up and form a packet around each fillet
2. Place each fillet in the foil, skin side down
3. Sprinkle the garlic powder, lemon-pepper seasoning, curry powder, and salt atop the fillets, distributing evenly
4. Fold foil into a packet around each fillet
5. Grill on medium heat for 6-8 minutes on each side (longer for thicker fillets)

Foil Packet Salmon

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Grilled Red Potatoes

June 11, 2013:  Andy was asked by his boss at the Texas Department of Insurance to attend a conference in San Diego, California. Being a beach lover and always wanting to go on vacation, I immediately asked if I could tag along. Being a nice boyfriend, he said yes, so onto the American Airlines website I went. I booked a seat on his flights there and back, and made sure I could be out from work. All systems were go.

Andy and me on Coronado Island looking back at San Diego

We went to San Diego on the morning of Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Andy didn't have to do any conference-ing that first day, so we went on a few adventures. First, we used our handy dandy Yelp app to find some lunch. We were staying at the San Diego Marriott Marquis & Marina, so we were right on the bay and around the corner from the Gaslamp Quarter.   We went to a highly recommended place called Spike Africa's Fresh Fish Grill & Bar and it was delicious.  I had fish tacos that were incredibly fresh, and quite frankly put other fish tacos to shame. We asked the manager for other restaurant suggestions in the area, and he suggested quite a few and even took the time to write them down for us. After lunch, we stopped by a few clothing stores in the quarter, and I bought two new great dresses.

After lunch, we headed to the ferry to go over to the island of Coronado. We wandered around the shopping village, and then rented bicycles to ride around the island. After pedaling for an hour or so, we started to get chilly and decided to head back to the mainland to change for dinner. One of my co-workers, Linda, had suggested The Fish Market. This was where I had my first of San Diego meals that came complete with red potatoes.

Our pool at the Marriott Marquis on the Bay in San Diego

On Wednesday, I woke up and went to get a massage at Premiere Massage. I had found a Groupon for Premiere Massage, and it ended up being the best massage I have ever gotten. Oswell was fabulous, and I highly recommend him to any San Diego peeps out there! I went back and laid out for a bit until Andy's meetings were over. That night we went to a Padres game. The stadium was beautiful, and it was a cool, crisp great night for baseball!

Andy and me at the Padres Game

Thursday I woke up and went to the shopping village down the boardwalk from our hotel, the Marriott Marquis on the bay. I wandered around and had lunch on a sunny patio- blackened chicken salad complete with a bloody mary. I then spent the entire rest of the day laying out by the pool at the hotel with a berry mojito in hand. We had many recommendations for happy hour and dinner, so we went to Vin de Syrah for happy hour, and it was unbelievably awesome! It is an Alice in Wonderland themed bar with a hidden entrance, fresh rustic bruschetta, and affordable happy hour specials. Then we had an amazing Italian dinner at Cucina Urbana. I was fat and happy- San Diego's food is spectacular.

Petco Park- Go Padres!

As if all of that wasn't enough, Andy only had a half day on Friday, so we got to have a lunch date on the boardwalk. We ate at a restaurant that was adjacent to our hotel, Roy's, where we had an appetizer of Roy's Original Hawaiian Blackened Island Ahi. It was hands down the best fish I have ever had! For lunch, I had the Classic Roasted Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi Mahi, and Andy had a rice Hawaiian Style Misoyaki Butterfish. We left feeling stuffed, but full of Omega 3s and jealous that California has such wonderful seafood.

Andy and me on the boardwalk on the bay in San Diego

When we got home, Andy was still on his fish-kick, and he wanted more salmon and more red potatoes. I googled a recipe for Grilled Red Potatoes because the grill was already going to be on for Foil Packet Salmon, and I had never grilled little potatoes on the grill before. Stove top, yes- in Spicy Potatoes, but never on the grill. They turned out so well that we had them about once a week since. So we may not have crazy-fresh seafood here in Tejas, but the red potatoes will always remind me of San Diego!


Grilled Red Potatoes
Servings: 2; Weight Watchers PointsPlus Value: 6

• 6 red potatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Foil Packet Salmon and Grilled Red Potatoes

1. Wash potatoes thoroughly
2. Slice into halves
3. Microwave for 6-8 mins
4. Combine olive oil, garlic, and salt in a large ziplock bag
5. Add potatoes, toss until coated (careful, they're hot!)
6. Grill on medium heat, 20-30mins (30mins for crispier potatoes)

Keep on cookin'!
-Katherine