Since we couldn't go out to outside, we decided to barbeque in the
kitchen. No, we didn't use charcoal! We used the counter top grill, but
you can also broil this chicken and get the same golden brown effect.
And it's not just good food that will help you through these final days of winter: check out Magical Cures for Cabin Fever at Parent's Choice Foundation.
{Makes 4-6 servings}
You'll need:
4 split chicken breasts or 6 chicken thighs
5 cloves of garlic - finely miced
2 lemons or 1/2 cup of lemon juice
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoon of dried basil
A little adult help
Equipment:
A cutting board
A counter top grill (or the broiler in the stove)
Measuring spoons
Lemon juicer
A glass measuring cup
A 9 by 13 inch glass pan
Kitchen shears or scissors
A fork
Plastic wrap
A pair of tongs
Oven mitts
Begin by cutting the chicken into 1 1/2 inch strips. You can cut off any extra fat.
If
you're using fresh lemon, squeeze the juice into the measuring cup. If
you don't quite have enough lemon juice you can use apple cider
vinegar.
Pour the juice into the glass pan. Add the olive oil, pepper and basil. Give your marinade a stir.
Place the chicken in the marinade and turn the pieces until they are all coated.
Cover the chicken with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
When the chicken is ready, heat the grill. This should take about 5 minutes, though each appliance will be different.
Use
tongs to transfer the chicken to the grill. Don't use your fingers,
because the grill will try to cook them just the same.
Close the lid of the grill and wait for about 7 minutes.
While
you're waiting, wash the tongs, because you don't want to handle cooked
meat with the same utensils that you handled raw meat.
When the 7 minutes are up, put the oven
mitts on, because the steam rising off the chicken will be mighty hot.
Watch Belle: she didn't use any. And boy! She really felt the heat!
Ask your adult helper to check to see if the
chicken is done. It should be cooked all the way through, with no pink
left in the center. If there is a little pink, close the broiler and
cook for another 2 minutes.
When the chicken is thoroughly done, use your clean tongs to transfer the meat to a serving dish.
