Best Chicken Kabob Marinade

Yesterday I had the best chicken kabob ever! It was tender, full of flavor and it was extremely easy to make (always a huge plus in my household). Although you do need a couple of special ingredients to replicate it, this recipe is a super easy, healthy dinner variation for kids and adults. It goes great with salads and almost any side dish. Did I mention that it doesn’t taste like any other grilled chicken you had this summer?
I have to say that I have borrowed this recipe from my friend’s mom when she made these kabobs for occasional summer gathering. I fell in love at the first bite!

To make 10 skewers of chicken kabobs you will need:

2 lbs of Amish boneless skinless chicken breast
4 medium size garlic cloves
1 bunch or so of chopped fresh cilantro (the more the better)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice*
1/2 cup olive oil (I used regular olive oil)
Kosher salt, seasoned salt and fresh grounded pepper to taste
1 tsp paprika
1 to 2 tbs sumac powder (this is a spice that is used in Arabic cuisine. If you ever had Fattoush salad it is that dark purple/red powder that gives this salad a distinct flavor. It is a must have ingredient in this recipe and you can buy it in any Middle-Eastern market or just ask a friend to share - that’s what I did ;)

In a large Tupperware or a bowl combine cubed chicken breast, crushed garlic (you can mince it but I prefer to use a garlic press), chopped cilantro, lemon juice, olive oil, and seasonings. Stir the mixture well and let it sit in a refrigerator for at least 4 to 5 hrs. (this pictures was taken before I added seasoning)
I usually start to marinate my meat in the morning to make sure it is ready to go on the grill around dinner time. DO NOT forget to soak your wooden skewers in water for at least one hour before they go on a hot grill.

Cooking time:
Preheat grill to high heat. Place kabobs on the grill and reduce heat to medium. Cook 5 to 7 minutes on each side. Or just ask your husband to cook them - that’s what I did ;)

*Hint: I have been making lots of fresh lemonade this summer and I have noticed that it is easier to store your lemons in a form of a lemon juice. Fresh bags of lemons never fit in my refrigerator and they usually have to hang around until one or even more lemons go bad. Now I juice two or three bags at once and store my lemons this way. With all this hot weather it runs out rather quickly: making lemonade for kids, lemon drop cocktails for parents, making marinades and even fingernail soaks.

Hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my whole family did!

Till next time,
Liana.

Suhm-thing

This month Marmalade Hills made its debut in Birmingham, MI. Our products are now available at Suhm-thing. Let me just tell you a few things about this one of a kind place. Suhm-thing is like a breath of fresh air for the same old line-up of traditional gift boutiques. It is young, hip and trendy with a lightly sophisticated twist. This store is full of affordable and unique gifts that you won’t find anywhere else! Their gifts range from jewelry and soaps to hats and baby toys. Even being their frequent visitor I can spend hours just browsing and trying things on. Owners, David and Michael, travel around the country to bring their local customers finest selection of gift options. They are are very down to earth and friendly people that I had an opportunity to do a brief interview with.

Liana: Tell us what you love about your neighborhood. What makes it special?
David: I love the fact that Birmingham is such a quaint and friendly town. People from all over come to walk the downtown area. Birmingham is also a frequent stop for vacationers and visitor from out of state. Most recently there has been a little bit of Hollywood walking the streets and shopping the stores. A few days ago we had Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley's younger sister shopping at Suhm-thing. His wife commented that we were one of her favorite stores in Birmingham. Usher was spotted doing shopping in a neighboring store.


Liana: Tell us a little bit about your store, what makes it unique?
David: We consider Suhm-thing an urban gift store. Our displays are made out of old wood crates, pallets and wooden spools. Our items are unique in that you will not find them at your local big box store. We've had repeated customers that tell us they love giving and receiving gifts from our store.

Liana: What are your customers like?
David: Right now during the peak summer months, we have a lot of tourists shopping in town. I love engaging in conversation with them to find out where they are from, who they are visiting and where they are going next. I also love the first time customers. When they leave the store many people say they loved being in it and it made them happy.



Liana: How do you stay connected with your customers?
David: Suhm-thing has a FaceBook page. We announce new items on FB when we receive them. Our regular customers come in once a week just to see what new items have arrived. A lot of our regulars just stop in to smell what candle is burning or to get a friendly hello from our employee, Jackie. Our most recent post on FB is for an event we are hosting on September 10, 2010 from 6 to 9 pm at Suhm-thing in colaboration with Marmalade Hills. Liana, the creator of Marmalade Hills products, is going to be our special guest that evening. Our customers will be able to shop in fun and relaxed atmosphere, get to meet Liana and experience all of her wonderful products right in the store.


Liana: What is your favorite Marmalade Hills product?
David: I love the massage candles and the bars of soap. The scents are amazing. I also personally use the Lip Balms and they make my lips feel smooth.

Hope you enjoyed this fun interview and please stop by Suhm-thing to meet me on September 10th. Also if you are around Dream Cruise on August 21st stop by and say Hi to Jackie, she is THE best!

Till next time,
Liana.