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Grilled Chicken With Blueberry BBQ Sauce

One of my favorite summer dinners has to be grilled BBQ chicken, grilled corn and zucchini. I do love all BBQ sauce, but who says BBQ sauce has to red and tomatoey anyway? Let’s change it up with a delightful homemade blueberry BBQ sauce that’s naturally sweet, savory and just a little bit spicy. A healthier (low-sugar!) alternative to bottled sauce. And guaranteed to be the hit at your next dinner party. PS. This easy to make healthier sauce is so scrumptious you’ll want to make extra and serve it over everything!

Bon Appétit!


PS. If you have any grilling tips to share, please leave a comment below, seriously.

Grilled Chicken With Blueberry BBQ Sauce

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup fresh blueberries (I used wild Maine Blueberries)
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • pinch of cayenne pepper
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard, or sub. Dijon mustard

Directions:

For Blueberry BBQ sauce..

In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat to simmer. Cook uncovered, whisking frequently, for an hour or so..

 

Grilled corn and zucchini take about 10 minutes each to cook. The

Recipe for: Grilled corn

 

Recipe for: Grilled Zucchini

 

*BBQ: Tips for chicken:

You all know that I LOVE to cook. But I have to admit that grilling is not my favorite. I just don’t like standing there over the hot grill when I could be running around doing something else. So I always try to find someone else to take “the grill guy” job. I’m just too damn busy and I’ll run-away from the grill. Not a good idea, the un-attended food will burn. I need someone else to blame. Anyway…

1. Here’s the best way to BBQ chicken that I’ve found. First of all, I like a whole chicken, cut-up. This way you get two of everything, 2 breasts, 2 legs, 2 wings, 2 thighs etc. I find that cooking bone-in chicken (and with the protective skin) is so much juicier. Another thing, I find poaching (or boiling) the chicken (for 15-20 minutes) is the answer to the question “is this done yet?” Not only is the chicken moist and perfectly cooked but less apt to dry-out (or burn) on the grill.

*For boneless chicken you absolutely must marinade before cooking, or at the very least cover with lots of canola oil. Try to marinade your chicken (in a niiice Italian dressing) a day before cooking, or as soon as you think of it.

A good rule for perfectly cooked BBQ chicken is to grill on low, and cook it slow….

**Yes, that’s right. Lower and slower is the golden rule with grilled chicken.

2. Spray or oil the chicken pieces liberally before tossing it on the grill. You’ll want to grill at a medium-low temperature for 5-10 minutes (on each side). Don’t try to move the pieces around before they’re cooked, unless it flares-up. In that case, move the chicken off the flame and turn the temp. down. I’ve been known to douse the flames with a little beer. Everyone watching will say: “WOW! That was so cool!” Now, you can see why I’m not the go-to grill-girl.

3. Next, brush the sauce (or marinade) on the cooked side of the chicken after you turn it. Or the sugars in the sauce will flame-up and burn. A a few grill-marks are a good thing, a lot of char is bad. You may want to serve some blueberry BBQ sauce on the side for dipping. I’m hungry, let’s eat!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Classic French Hollandaise Sauce

Everyone needs a great go-to recipe for classic French Hollandaise sauce. You know, that rich, smooth, heavenly, and delightfully lemony sauce. The one that we “health-nuts” try like hell to avoid? The sauce that makes eggs Benedict worth waking up early for, and going to brunch on Sunday. That sexy sauce that makes asparagus sing. The very sauce when poured over salmon entices even small children to devour. Yes dears, Hollandaise is the sauce you need to learn to make.

I see you rolling your eyes over there. I know what your thinking. I’m here to tell you that if you can follow a recipe you can make this fabulous sauce. I just know it! So make Julia Child proud of you. And get your whisk ready. Remember to remain vigilant, and as my foodie-friend James insists “honey, you just can’t walk away from the stove!!!”

Bon Appétit!

If you like this recipe and want to share it with your family/friends, just click on the facebook link above. *You may want to print and save this one.

 

 

Eggs Benedict with Sautéed Spinach & Mushrooms, and side of home fries.

One of my favorite breakfasts. Just substitute lobster for meat. Heavenly.

* I read somewhere that when Martha Stewart was in Jail she was asked the question: “What did you miss the most in jail?” She didn’t mention her daughter Alexa, her beloved dogs, or even one of her gorgeous estates.

She said “lemons.” She missed the flavor of lemon most of all. I love you Martha.

 

Classic French Hollandaise Sauce

(Recipe adapted from Alton Brown)

Ingredients:

  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon water
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar
  • 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

  1. Pour 1-inch of water into a large saucepan; over medium heat, bring to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low.
  2. Place egg yolks and 1 teaspoon water in a medium mixing bowl and whisk until mixture lightens in color, approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Add the sugar and whisk for another 30 seconds.
  3. Place the mixture over the simmering water and whisk constantly for 3 to 5 minutes, or until you pull your whisk through, the mixture coats the whisk (like in the photo above).
  4. Remove the bowl from over the pan and gradually add the butter, 1 piece at a time, and whisk until all of the butter is incorporated. Place the bowl back over the simmering water occasionally so that it will be warm enough the melt the butter. *You may cheat and slowly add melted butter instead of the chilled pieces. But remember, “you just can’t leave the stove!”
  5. Add the salt, lemon juice, and cayenne pepper. Serve immediately or hold in a thermos to keep warm. If the sauce starts to break, whisk in some warm water.
  6. To make Sauce Béarnaise I add some finely chopped tarragon and fresh black pepper. Yum.
  7. Enjoy!