Dinner on the Grill

Grilled chicken breasts, grilled vegetables with balsamic vinaigrette, fingerling potatoes with olive oil and rosemary

I marinated the chicken breasts for an hour in red wine, olive oil, garlic, tarragon, chives, basil, salt and pepper. Cook 3-4 minutes on direct heat on each side, then move away from hottest coals, cover and cook for 10-12 more minutes. Cooking time varies depending on how hot your grill is and the size of the chicken breasts.

 Veggies on the grill - should have used a red bell pepper (for color)

The vegetables were the star of this dinner, though. One of my favorite flavors is slightly charred broccoli florets doused in balsamic vinaigrette. They're still crunchy, and balsamic vinegar is a perfect complement. Same goes for the bell peppers, zucchini and yellow squash. Put rinsed and chopped vegetables into a bowl and add salt and pepper. Add dressing (1part balsamic vinegar to 2 parts olive oil and a squirt or 2 of any mustard) and toss before grilling. They don't need much time on the grill -- maybe 3 minutes each side over the hottest coals -- and they are good at room temperature, so you can cook them first, then throw them back in the bowl with the dressing and toss again.

Welcome!

Welcome to my recipe/cooking/food blog. I'm new to this, so I'm just going to start up.

Cooking has long been a love of mine, and though I'm no master chef, I know my way around a kitchen. I'm especially inspired by how the best flavors can come from the simplest ingredients. I grew up in a household that was light on the processed food. This is mainly due to my mom's food knowledge and thoughtfulness and partly due to the fact that both of my parents are really good cooks.  I'm no food saint, though, by any means, and this blog is not a pulpit. 

 My favorite cooking genre is Mediterranean food. My other food passions include: cheap, nutritious, simple and accessible. I'm going to share recipes here that cover those bases and more, and I hope to start up discussions about anything involving food. I think most people have strong opinions about food, reaching far beyond likes and dislikes, and since it's something we can't live without, it's worth discussing (and enjoying!). I welcome your comments and questions.

Here are some basics I keep on-hand: garlic cloves, onions (white or yellow), carrots, celery, olive oil, (cheaper) cooking oil, rice, pasta, beans (legumes), dried herbs and spices, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar. With these ingredients, alone, you have a great dish. Add one or two other things - tomatoes, bell peppers, greens, meat or fish, and you have an amazing meal.

Next post, a basic red sauce.