Dinner on a Stick

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

01 Mar 2009 05:38 AM

Make dinner fun tonight by adding a stick. If you've ever been to a state fair, then you know kids will eat just about anything off of a skewer (my 4-year-old tried fried alligator once because it was hanging off a wooden stick). The following recipes are not only kid-friendly, but they also make fantastic finger foods for a family potluck or small dinner party:

SPICY CHICKEN SKEWERS

Ingredients:

1-pound chicken breasts, trimmed of fat and cut in 2-inch wide strips

4 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated

4 cups chicken stock

4 tablespoons soy sauce

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 each yellow onion

3 tablespoons garlic

15 ounces tomato puree

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon Ancho Chile powder

1 tablespoon Chipotle puree

Salt and pepper--to taste

Wooden skewers

Directions:

Saute ginger, onion and garlic in oil for 3-4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water and tomatoes and bring to a boil. Cook stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.

Add all the remaining ingredients except for the chicken, soy sauce and peanut butter and simmer for 30 minutes.

Puree mixture and then add soy sauce and peanut butter and simmer another 10 minutes.

Skewer chicken, cook on grill, while brushing with sauce.

Serve hot.

TROPICAL BEEF KABOBS

Ingredients:

1/2 cup soy sauce

3 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoons fresh minced ginger

1/2 cup oil

1 green onion, chopped

2 1/2 pounds beef tenderloin, cut in 2-inch pieces

2 cups fresh pineapple chunks

2 green bell pepper, cut in 2-inch chunks

1 red onion, cut in 1-inch wedges

Wooden or metal skewers

Directions:

Combine soy sauce, honey, vinegar, ginger, garlic powder, oil, and green onion.

Add beef and marinate several hours or overnight.

Remove beef from refrigerator and drain.

Skewer beef, pineapple, and vegetables in an alternating pattern.

Grill for 12 to 20 minutes.

Serve hot.

Related Articles:

How to Make Healthy Corn Dogs at Home

Grilled Seafood

Shrimp Skewers

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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