Thursday, May 20, 2010

Coocoo for cookouts!

My sister, Brandee, over at Think Tank Momma , got me started with this blogging business!




Think Tank Momma




The majority of my followers are her friends!  So most of you already know she hosts Share a Spoon on her blog every Thursday now.  Since I suggested this weeks' theme, Grill it up, I thought I should join in on the fun!



We recently purchased a grill.  Nothing fancy. . . in fact we bought it at a garage sale!  We were on our way to go look at grills when we drove past this guy having a garage sale and there it was.  Almost as if fate intervened!  We cookout every weekend now!  The best part is my sweetheart does most of the work!  I prep the food and make the sides and he stands outside in the heat and does the dirty work!  (Just as it should be)!  Added bonus, Justin does the dishes!

So last weekend we made kabobs!  They turned out FANFREAKINGTASTIC!  I wish I had taken pictures!  I didn't though, I'm a slacker, what can I say!  But here's a list of what we had. . .

chicken breast (cubed)
shrimp (peeled and deveined)
yellow squash (sliced)
zucchini (sliced)
mini purple onions
fresh pineapple (chunks)
baby portabella mushrooms
green pepper
Grill Mates Hawaiian Luau Marinade
Pear Ginger Salad Dressing (A Perfect Pear)
Fresh mint (chopped)
skewers (we used wooden ones soaked in water)
Worcestershire sauce
corn on the cob
olive oil
salt and pepper



We used the Grill Mates Hawaiian Luau like a dry rub on the chicken on shrimp!  It was delicious!  It has a kick to it so be prepared!


 
I used this Ginger Pear dressing along with the chopped fresh mint on the squash, zucchini, green peppers, and mini purple onions.  (This was the first time I've ever even seen mini purple onions)!  They are the cutest things ever!  A little bigger than a pearl onion and easier to peel!  They were absolutely perfect for kabobs and grilling!  I found them right in the regular grocery store (Publix, where shopping is a pleasure)!  The Ginger Pear dressing was something my mother-in-law had in the pantry, it turned out to be some kind of yumminess!

I used the worcestershire sauce on the baby bellas!  If you're not a fan of mushrooms, you might want to go ahead and try this trick!  Justin HATES mushrooms and even he liked them cooked this way!

The fresh pineapple needed NOTHING!  It was perfect just the way it was.  I bought a fresh pineapple and peeled/chopped it up myself.  It's pretty easy, as long as you have a good sharp knife.  If not, you can go ahead and get the pineapple that's pre-peeled and already chopped up. 

I wrapped the fresh corn on the cob in tinfoil and drizzled it with olive oil, and then salt and peppered it.  William cooked it right on the grill next to the kabobs.  When it was done, I added a little butter and it was . . . . HEAVEN!  I love fresh corn on the cob! 

I skewered the chicken, onions, and peppers together, because they have the same cooking time.  Then the squash, zucchini, baby bellas, and pineapple together.  I also made the shrimp ones with pineapple.  I'm not positive on the cooking time. . . cause the sweetheart does that part?  I'd say about 10-15 minutes on the chicken ones.  A little less on the shrimp ones (once they turn pink they're done).  It did take longer on the squash than we thought. . . so go ahead and get those ones on early with the chicken ones.  


The whole family loved this grill out!  It's Thursday and we're still talking about how yummy everything was!  I hope you'll try it out!  Please feel free to share your favorites and link up with my sista. . . .

4 comments:

adrienzgirl said...

This sounds amazing. I love grilled pineapple. I could eat a whole one! Thanks for this week's theme!

Anonymous said...

mmmmmm! Kabobs sound yummy! Ive never seen mini red onions either. I love red onions so I will have to keep an eye out for them!

Imaginative Me said...

Yeah, I've never seen Mini Red Onions either! What country are you in? :)
I've never thought to soak my wooden skewers in water!!! So simple yet so clever!!! These kabobs sound yummy, never tried those grill mates seasonings.

Nancy C said...

I love Kabobs. There's something so calming about putting them together...such mindless work. Fun to do while talking with a friend.