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Buttermilk Brined Grilled Chicken

Can y'all tell this is my favorite oven grilling pan? LOL

Just like marinades, brines are also your friend. They add tremendous flavor to meats and make Weeknight Winner meals flavorful. Brines are not just for turkeys at Thanksgiving!

I was going to add some herbs to the brine but at the last minute decided not too. It didn't need anything additional.  Place your chicken in the brine in the morning and oven grill (or charcoal/gas grill) when you get home and viola, delicious dinner.

Buttermilk Brined Grilled Chicken
adapted from http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/grilled-buttermilk-chicken-10000001010520/

What you need:

• 1 pint buttermilk
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• Non-stick cooking spray 
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil
• 4 skinless chicken thighs
• 6 chicken drumsticks

What to do:

• In a large bowl, mix buttermilk, onions, garlic, salt, sugar, cumin, and pepper
• Rinse chicken thighs and drumsticks and pat dry. Trim off excess fat. Submerge chicken pieces in buttermilk brine. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours, or up to 1 day
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Take chicken from brine; discard brine. Drain excess brine from chicken
• Spray a grill skillet with non-stick spray. Heat grill skillet over high heat
• Place chicken on grill pan and sear for 3-5 minutes per side. Only flipping once
• Place grill skillet in oven and roast for 30-45 minutes or until juices run clear Be sure to let the chicken rest before eating...gotta let the juices redistribute!

Originally posted June 27, 2011 on my old blog

Yogurt Marinated Chicken



Skinless chicken thighs are so full of awesome flavor with this easy marinade.  I keep saying, marinades are your friend for weeknight meals! I even think the marinade would be fantastic run through a blender and used a salad dressing. It is that tasty.

The same reason I love cooking with chicken thighs is the same reason I hate cooking with them, all that fat...but it cooks down and adds greatness to whatever you are cooking.  I remove the skin and trim most of the fat off to make my waist line feel better.

I like char on my roasted chicken so I placed the chicken under the broiler for a few minutes. Oh, notice there is no salt in this recipe and you really don't miss it. 

Yogurt Marinated Chicken
adapted from: http://www.livinglou.com/2010/07/lous-authentic-chicken-thighs.html

What you need:

• 4-6 skinless chicken thighs
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt
• Juice and zest from one small lemon
• 1 tsp hot sauce, or to taste
• 1/2 tsp honey
• 3-4 cloves of garlic, crushed
• Half green onion, diced
• 1/4 tsp dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp dried rosemary
• Freshly cracked pepper to taste

What to do:

• Poke several holes into the thighs and set aside
• Whisk together the remaining ingredients, check for flavor
• Place chicken in a large freezer bag and pour marinade over the chicken
• Marinate the poultry for at least 30 minutes (I marinate mine overnight or up to two days)
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Remove chicken from marinade, discard marinade
• Place in a baking dish and bake for 30-45 minutes or until juices run clear
• Be sure to let your chicken rest for about 10 minutes before cutting into it

Originally posted June 1, 2011 on my old blog

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The Fashioneata Files: Twisted Bantu Knot Curls

 

  I saw a video with a natural that did this and I KNEW I had to try it on B's hair.  We LOVED the results!  This was done during pageant weekend so her hair was already flat-ironed. 

The night before festivities, I two-strand twisted then Bantu knotted her hair.  I didn't hold the knots together with pins or anything I just made sure to wrap it pretty tightly.  

    The next morning when I took them down before her first competition, according to B, the curls were "beautimous."  The only thing I did to loosen the curls was run my fingers through it and had her give her head a little shake. 

Now being in this Texas humidity, the curls didn't last long but we agreed that we will definitely do it again! I also want to try it on her hair when it is not flat-ironed. We will keep you posted!  

 

Taco/Chili Seasoning

The more I read labels, the more I want to eat cleaner. While this may not be a true clean recipe, it doesnt have artificial anything. Plus you can adjust it to your tastes! 

If you want to make a hot taco/chili seasoning add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.

Taco/Chili Seasoning
Makes about 2/3 cup

What you need:

• 3 Tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons black pepper

What to do:

In a small bowl combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

I usually add about two tablespoons of seasoning per pound of turkey/ground beef and adjust from there.

Originally posted July 18, 2011 on my old blog!

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Sweet Orange Salmon

We eat tons of fish and seafood in our home. I mean we should own stock in a fishery somewhere! We eat so much salmon I am always scouting and trying new recipes. I love lemon on seafood but never thought to add any other type of citrus.

Baybey! This right here…is banging! What’s so gangsta about it is that it literally took less then 20 minutes to prep AND cook! I love easy but top that with delicious and it’s on and poppin! Trust this will be a repeat! Contrary to the title it is not that sweet and there is only a hint of orange. To me it had the perfect combo of sweet and smokey and citrus. Another reason this will remain in the arsenal, you only need non-stick cooking spray to cook it with!

Sweet Orange Salmon

Adapted from Cooking Light at http://www.myrecipes.com/recipes/

What You Need:

• 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Juice and zest from an entire orange
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
• Cooking spray

What To Do:

• Preheat broiler
• Combine first 8 ingredients in a small bowl
• Rub spice mixture over salmon
• Place salmon on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray
• Broil for 8 minutes or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork
• Squeeze fresh orange juice over hot fish. Enjoy

Originally posted on May 12, 2010 from an old blog

Homemade Seasoning Salt

The salt reduction struggle is real at 18082. Both E and I have high blood pressure so any chance I get to lower or eliminate sodium in our diet I take it. A couple of years ago E had a scare that sent him to the hospital.  Seven days and one surgery later, I knew I was going to make some drastic food changes to our diet.

I started with purchasing those salt free seasonings. At the time the selection was limited and they were running about $3.00 for a 2.4 ounce container. I cook nearly everyday there is no way I could afford that on an ongoing basis; plus we like curry spices, garam masala, BBQ seasonings, etc and I just couldn't find low or no sodium versions of the seasonings we liked.

So I started experimenting with my own. I started with a taco/chili seasoning, moved on to a tandoori mix and now a seasoning salt mix. Homemade mixes use better ingredients and waaaaaaaay less sodium than the store purchased brands. You can adjust the spices to your liking and you will definitely taste the difference.


Homemade Seasoning Salt
Adapted from http://www.thecomfortofcooking.com/search?q=seasoning+salt&x=0&y=0

What you need: 

• 3/4 cups chili powder
• 1/2 cup each, ground black pepper, onion powder
• 1/4 cup each, garlic powder, paprika, salt, dried parsley, cayenne pepper, allspice, ground cumin, celery seed
• 1 heaping Tbs turmeric

What to do:

• Mix all of the spices together in a medium bowl until well combined
• Store in an airtight container

Original post date 3/12/12 on my old blog!

Happy Monday

Via

The Fashioneata Files: Interview Wear

   

  Not sure what a "Fashioneata" is, click here! LOL   No, I am not putting that kid of mine to work...yet. However, she did participate in a pageant a couple of weeks ago and this was one of the mandatory outfits.  She killed the interview portion!  Not only did she look really good but she sounded really confident. I was super proud of her. I will post pageant pictures and do a quick recap at a later date.   Eyelet Shirt: Wal.mart, $5 on clearance! Belt: Cato, $6 (for two belts; the other one was light brown) Skirt: Anne Klein, $7 thrift store find Leopard ballet flats from Tar.get Accessories: Bracelet is a Clai.res clearance find Ring is mine and was a gift  

Now Churning: Strawberry Blackberry Sorbet

More sorbet and a little (only a little) less ice cream. That's what I'm aiming for this summer. Fresh frozen berries, lime simple syrup equals all kinds of deliciousness!

Edited to add: There's not a real recipe for this because it is as simple as dumping your semi-unfrozen fruit, lime simple syrup into a blender, pureeing it, letting it get cold, then churn based on your ice cream maker instructions.  You can make as little or as much as you want!

I put some of the puree aside and made a cocktail. It was all kinds of awesomeness as well.

Originally posted on May 31, 2011 on my old site

Google Reader is No Mas!

 

Pour out a little likka for the apps that are no longer with us! 

  And I am sad about it!   But you can still get Southern Girl. City Swirl. all up in your area via the links to the right of this page! I haven't figured out how to get the Feedly follow button working but I am on the case!

       

Happy Monday

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