Tuesday Megalinks

Tomorrow, CHG is featuring a joint post with one of the best cooking blogs out there, Casual Kitchen. Dan and I will discuss how to buy a good cookbook, and which ones would be solid basics for your home. Come on back (same bat time, same bat channel) for the excitement.

Bitten: Why I Never Buy Vinaigrette
NY Times food guy Mark Bittman started a blog! (“Food guy.” Way to use that English degree, Kris.) Here, he discusses homemade vs. store-bought dressing.

Casual Kitchen: How to Apply the 80/20 Rule to Cooking
As the business world goes, so does food prep. Minimizing input and maximizing output is a must.

Culinate: Planning meals around a pot of beans
Personable, endearing piece from ex-food critic Carrie Floyd on how she feeds her family for a week using legumes. When her kids protest, she disguises the beans’ true identities with foreign languages: “’Those aren’t beans,’ I say, ‘they’re fagioli.’ When they persist, I switch to French: ‘Haricots!’”

Culinate: Stocking up – the basics of making meat stock
In-depth look at the art of stock. It’s all in the details, man.

Festival of Frugality #112: Lazy Man and Money
Lazy Man cuts the festival down to a sleeker, more manageable size than its previous incarnations, which makes for much easier reading. Suggested: Wise Bread’s Cooking Without Crepe Pans and Other Expensive Kitchen Tools and Lightening Online’s continuing series on Reducing the Grocery Budget (which has been excellent so far.)

Gourmet: A Rooster’s Wake-Up Call
Short of setting it aflame, there’s no quicker way to add tongue-scorching heat to a meal than sriracha. Gourmet’s Alan Systma explains why the chef-approved hot sauce should be you-approved, too. (Thanks to Serious Eats for the link.)

LA Times: Parchment paper - A kitchen marvel, and cheap!
Though the world grows increasingly paperless, parchment remains a kitchen stalwart. We couldn’t cook fish en papillote, bake decent cookies, or create Native American village dioramas without it. (Thanks to Serious Eats for the link.)

Make it From Scratch Festival #51: It’s All for the Best
Good V-Day dinner ideas in this week’s MiFS Festival, hosted by Heather. For the diet-conscious, there’s a craft how-to for felt cupcakes from GreenStyleMom. (Note: I will eat anything cupcake-shaped. Felt included.)

Serious Eats: Ed Levine's Serious Diet Week 5 - Can "Start Living, Stop Dieting" Work for a Food Writer?
In which an avowed foodie wonders if a change in lifestyle can mesh with his chosen occupation. Incidentally? Whoever’s behind the current Weight Watchers campaign needs a Clio Award immediately. The "Start Living, Stop Dieting" slogan works two ways: it separates the company from gimmicky weight-loss plans AND promises people that deprivation shouldn’t be associated with healthy eating. Kudos.

Serious Eats: What to Do with 24 Leftover Egg Yolks?
Made an Angel Food cake and don’t know how to use the refuse? Join in this thread and learn about everything from lemon curd to hollandaise.

The Simple Dollar: 100 Great Tips for Saving Money for Those Just Getting Started
PHENOMENAL post. Trent goes well beyond the usual “keep a budget” routine, delving into dozens of well-thought-out beginners’ strategies. Food makes up a good 10% of the list. Pass it on. (To everyone. Even your dog.)

The Simple Dollar: What You Spend, What You Eat – The Deep Connection Between Food and Personal Finance
Wow. Dude’s on a roll.

Slashfood: Buttermilk in a pinch? Add some vinegar to your milk (and other emergency substitutions)
Short, neat list of oft-used improvisations. I never thought of adding vinegar and milk together, having always assumed it would create some kind of time-space vortex. Mmm ... vortex.

Wise Bread: Bridging the Gap from Dining Out to Eating In
Ah, yes. Beyond learning to operate a spatula, eating out has undoubtedly been my biggest foil in saving cash. Be sure to read the comments for more suggestions.

(Photos courtesy of Flickr members reya, barron, and wine-scribbler.)

CI’s Orange-Sesame Stir-Fry Sauce: Just When I Thought I Was Out

Right before my senior year of college, I successfully executed my very first stir-fry for my friends J and B. Thinking back, I’m sure it was fairly basic: bottled marinade, some peppers, an onion, and probably some chicken. Yet, I was SO proud. Embarrassingly proud. Prouder than I was at my actual graduation. (And I had three majors! But one was Communication, which is kind of like majoring in T.V. and Beer. Anyway…)

Nowadays, I still rely on stir-fry when time is tight and ingredients are low. They’re incredibly quick, infinitely protean, and skimping on oil doesn’t make a crazy difference in the taste. Their one drawback is the cost of semi-decent sauces. The cheap ones are full of high fructose corn syrup and preservatives. The expensive ones are … well, expensive.

Enter Cook’s Illustrated Best 30-Minute Recipe, a cookbook I swore to back away from for awhile. (I lied.) On page 102, the editors have a five-recipe list of stir-fry sauces you can make from everyday kitchen staples. A few weeks ago, I highlighted the Sweet and Sour variety (also good for dipping!) Last night, I tried the Orange Sesame, which shall henceforth be called “Awesome Sauce,” a la Tenacious D.

Here’s how it went: first, I steamed 2/3rd cup broccoli in a shallow pan for about 4 minutes, until they were crisp-tender. (The water had evaporated, so there was no need to drain.) Then, over medium heat, I added a ¼ teaspoon of sesame oil and sautéed ¼ teaspoon of grated ginger and ¼ teaspoon of minced garlic for about 30 seconds. Finally, a ¼ cup of Awesome Sauce went in. It took about three minutes to thicken, but when it did …

So. Good.

My apartment still smells like a high-class Chinese joint, which is very different from the coffee-and-dust scent it usually sports. The Boyfriend gave Awesome Sauce a wide-eyed “Mm!” of approval as well, and it’s definitely on the short list for V-Day this Thursday. Plus? One serving costs a grand total of $0.19. I’m over the moon.

In the coming weeks, I’ll really, honest-to-goodness attempt to put the CI book down (even though we tried the Cold Sesame Noodles with Shredded Chicken, and it, too, transcends mere food). So, you can expect recipes from other places. Like …

Or maybe …

And then there’s …

Okay. No promises.

Orange-Sesame Stir-Fry Sauce
Makes enough for 4 servings of stir-fry (1 lb protein + 1-1/2 lbs vegetables)
Adapted from Cook's Illustrated Best 30-Minute Recipe.

½ cup orange juice
¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil (I used regular sesame oil and it worked well. – Kris)
2 teaspoons cornstarch

1) Mix all ingredients. In a bowl. Thoroughly. With a whisk, if you like. Add it towards the end of any stir-fry and heat to thicken. You won't be sorry.

Approximate Calories, Fat, and Price per Serving
53 calories, 2.5 g fat, $0.19

Calculations
½ cup orange juice: 55 calories, 0 g fat, $0.16
¼ cup soy sauce: 34 calories, 0 g fat, $0.38
¼ cup low-sodium chicken broth: 22 calories, 0.75 g fat, $0.06
2 teaspoons toasted (or regular – Kris) sesame oil: 80 calories, 9 g fat, $0.12
2 teaspoons cornstarch: 20 calories, 0 g fat, $0.02
TOTAL: 211 calories, 9.75 g fat, $0.74
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 53 calories, 2.5 g fat, $0.19

Barefoot Contessa’s Orange Yogurt: Marry Me, Ina

One quick note before today’s recipe: reader Zac made a great point in the comment section about yesterday’s plastic container tip. If you do save these guys, it’s best not to microwave/heat them up. That kind of material isn’t intended for high temperatures, and can either A) melt, or B) leak weird chemicals into your food. With that …

My love for Ina Garten is boundless and well-documented. Someday, I imagine snatching her from graying, intellectual Jeffrey and whisking her away to Brooklyn, where her quality Hamptonian cuisine would nourish and enlighten all the borough’s hungry denizens. Alas, Ina-napping is at least illegal, and at most bad for getting into heaven, so no dice. But in lieu of her actual presence, I can keep making her food.

Today’s recipe is the very last listed in the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, and easily missed among the Outrageous Brownies and Banana Crunch Muffins. It’s a simple Orange Yogurt, made tastier by the additions of honey, vanilla, golden raisins, walnuts and freshly squeezed juice. As with all Ina’s stuff, it’s pleasant, different and uncomplicated. If you can work a spoon, you can make this dish. (If you can’t work a spoon … maybe take lessons?)

A few points if you decide to take the plunge:

1) Wash the orange since it’s being zested. Otherwise, it’s Funky Aftertaste City, population: you.

2) There are a billion permutations for this thing and ingredients can be swapped out as you like. Food.com reviewers have some suggestions.

3) If you have a choice between generic yogurt and something slightly more upscale, I’d go with option #2. I’m finding our supermarket brand, while passable, isn’t necessarily conducive to meal quality.

4) Ms. Garten suggests using low-fat instead of fat-free yogurt. I used fat-free, because I’m contrary trying to lose a few pounds.

5) I had NO IDEA draining yogurt would produce that much liquid. I halved the recipe and still pulled out nearly a cup of water. Crazy. My roommate M was hilariously repulsed.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to attend to the crazy guy in front of my apartment who’s been yelling at a tree for the last five minutes. (This is not a joke.) Ahh … Brooklyn.

(Ina, get here FAST.)

Orange Yogurt
Makes 4 servings at about 2/3rd cup each
Adapted from Barefoot Contessa.

4 cups (2 pints) plain yogurt (I used fat-free, so calcs are for that. – Kris)
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup good honey
1 orange, zest grated
1/2 to 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
Orange, orange zest, raisins and walnuts, for garnish (optional)

1) Adjust a small sieve or wire colander so it's hanging over a bowl. Line it with a paper towel or two (or cheesecloth, if you have it). Dump yogurt in sieve and refrigerate for at least 3 hours. It should drain, producing a surprising amount of yogurt water. Discard the yogurt water.

2) In a medium bowl, gently stir yogurt, raisins, walnuts, vanilla, honey, and orange zest together. If it's too thick, a little orange juice will make it less so. Top with orange, zest, raisins, or walnuts. Serve.

Approximate Calories, Fat and Price per Serving
291.5 calories, 5.1 g fat, $1.07

Calculations
4 cups (2 pints) plain yogurt (I used fat-free. – Kris): 508 calories, 1.6 g fat, $2.00
1/4 cup raisins: 109 calories, 0.2 g fat, $0.45
1/4 cup chopped walnuts: 193 calories, 18.4 g fat, $0.58
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract: 18 calories, 0 g fat, $0.06
1/4 cup good honey: 258 calories, 0 g fat, $0.72
1 orange, zest grated: negligible calories and fat, free (comes with the orange)
1/2 to 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice: 80 calories, 0.4 g fat, $0.50
Garnish (optional): negligible calories and fat, (comes with the orange)
TOTAL: 1166 calories, 20.6 g fat, $4.31
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): 291.5 calories, 5.1 g fat, $1.07

(Ina photo courtesy of foodieobsessed.com.)

CHG Favorites of the Week

(Voting is open until tomorrow for Culinate’s Death by Chocolate contest. Thank you to everyone who’s put in a good word!)

Blog of the Week
The Pioneer Woman Cooks
From Ree, creator of the wildly popular Confessions of a Pioneer Woman, comes this gorgeously designed cooking site with the drooliest pictures this side of Smitten Kitchen. Beyond the food, the writing rocks and the step-by-step instructions (with accompanying photos, natch) are incredibly helpful. Also? Her. Kitchen. Is. So. Pretty. (*drowns in own envy*)

Food Comedy of the Week
“Weekend Plans” by Riegel & Blatt
In which two married dudes recount how life has changed since waving arrivederci to their roaring twenties. Included: brunch, wine, and farmers market. This is kind of my life, only much funnier and with trips to Gymboree.

Organization of the Week
Food Gatherers
Based in Ann Arbor and ranked fourth among all philanthropies by Charity Navigator, Food Gatherers … well, I’ll let them tell you: “exists to alleviate hunger and eliminate its causes in our community by: reducing food waste through the rescue and distribution of perishable and non perishable food; coordinating with other hunger relief providers; educating the public about hunger; and developing new food resources.” Aces.

Quote of the Week
“I like to use 'I Can't Believe it's Not Butter' on my toast in the morning, because sometimes when I eat breakfast, I like to be incredulous. ‘How was breakfast?’ ‘Unbelievable.’” – Demetri Martin

Tip of the Week
This may seem basic (“duh”) to some and totally foreign (“wha?”) to others, but here goes. Whenever The Boyfriend, our housemates or I finish food that comes in plastic containers (parmesan cheese, Chinese food, drywall, etc.), we wash ‘em out and use ‘em as Tupperware. They’re stellar for taking lunch to work, storing food, and sending friends home with leftovers, and we don’t have to pay for new stuff, ever. (P.S. We don’t eat drywall. Often.)

Untried Cheap, Healthy Recipe of the Week
Kairee Raisu at A Good American Wife
New mom Anne whips up a hearty meat-and-potatoes meal with a nifty, curry-soaked Japanese twist. Domo arigato.

Video of the Week
“Eggs and Sausage” by Tom Waits
Armed with the gravelliest of rasps and the smoothest sax solo since Clarence Clemons put lips to reed, Tom Waits trips the graveyard shift fantastic. You may never swing by another diner at 1am without hearing it in your head.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr member mamabrarian and eBay member southern.hodgepodge)

Grocery Shopping: What Works for Me

(Thank you to everyone who voted for CHG in Culinate’s Death by Chocolate contest. If you didn’t see it early yesterday, the entry should be up now. Voting goes through the 8th. Yay!)

Recently, Kacie over at Sense to Save posted an online challenge asking bloggers to recap their grocery shopping methods. I really liked the idea, and figured it might be good for blog transparency purposes. (A.k.a. Do I walk the walk?) Also, I’m secretly hoping someone out there has a better system, and is willing to share.

So first, here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how I USED to buy food:

1) Become hungry. This part was simple. It usually involved moving, speaking, or watching an Olive Garden ad. (Curse you, unlimited breadsticks. CURSE YOU.)

2) Go to nearest bodega/supermarket/insanely expensive coffee shop. I live within a one-block radius of three delis, a supermarket, and a KFC. In the old days, I’d cruise over to any one of these and pick up whatever tickled my fancy (which was everything).

3) Buy whatever I want to eat. Price was no object.

4) Shovel food into gaping maw. Fat/calorie/preservative content was no object.

5) Lament lack of funds and ever-expanding tuchus. This part generally involved a lot of self-loathing and vows to never eat again. Needless to say, the pledges didn’t stick, and I was back at Step 1 pretty dang fast. Why, hello there, vicious, self-perpetuating circle of poor eating habits! My name is Kris.

My old method lacked forethought, concern for my health, and any discernable spending strategy. These days, it’s different. I cook. I plan meals a week in advance. I study nutrition labels like I’m being tested later. And while the following process may seem a tad time-consuming, I promise it’s not. Half of it happens in my head before pen is ever set to paper. I:

1) Take stock. What food do I need more of? What am I okay with for another month? Why the crap do I have 128 ounces of chicken breast? This step ensures I know what’s already on hand, so I don’t go buying a ninth pound of poultry.

2) Plan ahead. Which holidays are coming up? Birthdays? What foods should I be on the lookout for? If it’s close to Thanksgiving, butter, onions, or sparkling cider are good bets. For the Super Bowl, chips and beer are the order of the day. Prepping for celebrations this way has saved me a ton of dough.

3) Gauge moods. What are The Boyfriend and I craving? What have we OD’d on lately? (A.k.a. Is it possible to consume too much spaghetti?) By checking our appetites before I set out, I avoid guessing and extraneous purchases while shopping.

4) Consider the blog. What can I make for Monday and Friday? Do I have a backup in case something goes terribly, terribly wrong? (See: Teriyaki Sweet Potatoes.)

5) Make a preliminary list. Based on the previous five steps, what are the foods I absolutely have to buy, whether or not they’re on sale? Here’s a recent prelim list, from the week I made Curried Sweet Potato Stew:

• Fruit
• Veggies (peppers, mushrooms, etc.)
• Snack dip
• Tomatoes
• Romaine
• Carrot
• Ginger
• At least four sweet potatoes
• Broth
• Brown lentils

6) Browse online circulars. What are this week’s loss leaders? What produce has the biggest markdown? Is there EVER, EVER a deal on soy milk? (Answer: no.) Each Friday, I read three local supermarket circulars for values and adjust my list accordingly. I also …

7) Record good deals in a price book. JD at Get Rich Slowly has the definitive post on these guys. (Go! Look now! Then come back.) They’re KEY to scoring deals and keeping track of cost cycles over the course of a year.

8) Research recipes. Is pork going on mega-sale? Will broccoli never hit $0.88/lb again? If there’s a solid discount item (or items), I’ll plan a recipe around it and note whatever else I need.

9) Make a master list. Ultimately, what do I want to buy? Based on all the previous steps, I create a final shopping document complete with brand names and prices. (That’s making it way more complex than it sounds. Really, it’s a piece of notebook paper.) When I hit the aisles, I don’t deviate from my plan.

10) Eat. What will tide me over while I shop? This strategy is all over personal finance blogs, and for good reason. It keeps my impulse M&M purchases WAY, way down.

11) Grab my canvas tote. It’s pretty! And environmentally sound! (But mostly pretty.)

12) Find my keys. I lose them a lot.

13) Shop. I hoof it, so my final haul depends entirely on A) my upper body strength at the time, and B) what can be crammed into my fridge. With four people sharing it, space is at an extreme premium.

And that’s it. All told, I blow about two hours and $45 each week (including walking time) on planning and shopping for a pair of people. Compared to Crystal and Keren, it looks like amateur night at the Apollo. But it’s much better than before, and I’m still working on it. Specifically, I’m trying to better these areas:

1) Coupons. The online databases are useless for my zip code and most coupons are for convenience products, which I tend to eschew anyway. (Also, I’m lazy. Oh, so very lazy.) Nonetheless, I know they CAN be a boon, and resolve to start a collection.

2) CVS/Target/Walgreens deals. While CVS and Walgreens are pretty far away and the Brooklyn Target is legendarily insane, it’s worth braving all three for the discounts.

3) Eating less meat. The Boyfriend and I thrive on poultry. (If God’s a chicken, we’re kinda screwed.) It’s comparatively thrifty and can be cooked 14,000,000 different ways. Yet, legumes, veggies and starches are cheaper. If I can ease Chicken Provencal out of our diets, it could make a big dent in the budget.

So, all you readers out there – how do you shop? What improvements have you made in your system? What’s your best grocery tip? Our operators are waiting for your call. (Translation: comments are open.)

(Photos courtesy of Flickr members Tortuga One, and Neato Coolville)

Tuesday Megalinks: Primary Edition

Oh, man. Just a ton of links today. But first:

1) Stephanie at Stop the Ride was kind enough to tag me with the Excellent Blog Award, which I’m passing on to the following:
Casual Kitchen
Dabbles with Apples
Fat Free Vegan Kitchen
Get Fit Slowly
Zen Habits

2) I’m in a contest! And not a speedeating one, either. A wonderful, as-yet-unknown-to-me reader nominated CHG for Culinate’s Death by Chocolate blogging challenge. Whichever blogger receives the most votes gets to go to Napa Valley, where he/she will O.D. on chocolate and wine. (Some people have the American Dream. I dream about overdosing on cocoa and cabernet.) There’s a link to Death by Chocolate at the bottom right of this page. If you have the time and/or the inclination, a vote for CHG would be neato. (And thank YOU, as-yet-unknown reader!)

And with that, the links!

BBC: Good food ‘boosts earning power’
Not only will healthy eating make you smarter, taller, and prettier, but now it will make you richer, too. This stuff is magic.

Being Frugal: Saving Money on Groceries
Nice breakdown of three major online coupon sites: The Grocery Game, Coupon Mom and My Grocery Deals. Lynnae’s sticking with TGG for now, but might switch teams in the future.

Biblical Womanhood: Time Management and Bargain Hunting
Crystal feeds her family of four on $35 a week. Here, she recounts how she does it without blowing hours on the ‘net searching for deals, thus leaving her kids to parent themselves. Her advice: start small, yo.

Chow: Is There a Difference Between Brown Eggs and White Eggs?
Short answer: nope. Unless you're dyeing Easter eggs. Then it gets tricky.

Chow: Obese People Not Served Here
I realize this piece of legislation isn’t meant to become law, but still - it’s a tiny bit overboard. The resulting message isn’t, “There needs to be more attention paid to the obesity issue,” but rather, “Making heavy folks feel even worse about themselves will cause them to change.” Boo.

FatFree Vegan: Oatmeal – It’s What’s for Breakfast
Admittedly, I’ve never tried steel-cut oats before. After reading this post, I’m ready to convert for life. Check out the recipe for Cherry Pie Oats and try to keep from drooling.

Festival of Frugality #111: Being Frugal
Lynnae brings some Super Bowlian flavor to this week’s Festival (which is awesome, natch), and names Cheap Healthy Good as the MVP Wide Receiver. Sweet! (I AM PLAXICO.) Also worth checking out are Early Retirement Extreme’s How to Downsize Your Kitchen (good for us apartment dwellers) and Raw Food is Easier on the Budget over at Raw Food Blog.

Get Fit Slowly: Nine Ways to a Longer Life
JD summarizes Consumer Reports' 2008 study on tried-and-true ways to maintain your vim and vigor. Ol’ faithfuls like “don’t smoke” and “exercise” make the list, but newer additions like “consider vitamin D” and “eat colorful produce” get face time as well.

Make it from Scratch Festival #50: Stop the Ride
Stephanie takes on the MifS Festival as it reaches the half-century mark. A ton of good recipes in here, along with crafty-type stuff for you crafty types.

Mill Musings: Surviving and Thriving on $20 or Less Per Week Grocery Budget
You will be gobsmacked at what Kendra can do with $20. I can’t even fit that much food into my cabinets. (Thanks to Frugal Hacks for the link.)

Neatorama: 10 Diets You Probably Want to Avoid
Oranges, books, underwear - all totally delicious, but not often found on the everyday menu. It’s a shame, too, because quite a few folks survived precarious situations by snacking on ‘em.

New York Times: Dip Once or Dip Twice
Conclusive proof that double dipping is a crime against nature.

SAHMmy Says: Tips on Providing Meals for New Moms
My friends and family are spawning like salmon on fertility drugs, so this post comes at a great time. Excellent advice from someone who’s been on both sides of the casserole fence. (Which is not actually a fence made of casserole.)

(Photos courtesy of Flickr members Roadsidepictures and greefus groinks.)

Spiced Chicken Skewers with Grapes: The Chicken Recipe OF CHAMPIONS

Before our regularly scheduled Monday recipe, I’d like to get a few quick things out of the way.

1) Apologies to reader Megan. Dude. I shouldn’t have doubted.

2) EEEEEEEEEEEE!

3) Seriously? DID YOU SEE THAT? Especially that part at the end when Manning evaded like, 15 guys who were trying to bring him down and then threw a 32-yard pass to Tyree, who had to jump, like, 150 FEET in the air to catch the ball ON HIS HEAD and then still managed to stay alive after landing on his back where it looked like the defender had SNAPPED HIM IN TWO but he still kept possession and put the Giants in a good position for the touchdown? Yeah, that was neat.

4) Preview of the Manning house at Thanksgiving:
PEYTON MANNING: I’m thankful for winning the Super Bowl last year.
ELI MANNING: I’m thankful for winning the Super Bowl this year.
COOPER MANNING: I have not won the Super Bowl, but I’m thankful for having brothers who did. I am also thankful for potatoes.
MRS. MANNING: I am thankful our DNA is made of fairy dust. High five, dear.
MR. MANNING: Yeah, our family is awesome. High five, honey.

5) As is his ritual, my dad wore his 21-year-old Giants boxers (purchased for the 1987 Super Bowl) on the outside of his pants for the game. My family is firmly convinced this was, and will continue to be, the key to sweet Blue victory.

So ... oh yeah. Food. This is a food blog. Must … write about … food (GIANTS).

Okay. Here goes. Since Saturday was a bit jammed by Super Bowl preparations, I had to cook something fast, easy, and light. Fortunately, Ellie Krieger was shining her pearly whites at exactly the same time I was making up the grocery list. While I didn’t have a grill handy, I figured her Spiced Chicken Skewers would work just fine with my broiler.

By rule, food on a stick automatically tastes four times better than its non-impaled counterparts. But even with this in mind, The Boyfriend and I were pleasantly surprised by Ellie’s dish. It was simple, inexpensive, and wonderfully moist, with enough hint of lemon to keep it from being blah. Warmed and split by the heat, the grapes were a nice touch, too.

Food Network kindly provided fat and calorie computations, so only the price is figured out below. It’s also worth noting that this would be a great meal for someone on Weight Watchers. I think it comes out to four (maybe five?) points. Bonus.

That's all for now, I think. My parents are still delirious, so if anyone needs me, I’ll be trying to convince Dad that boxers-outside-of-pants might not be a good look for work. (But why burst the man’s bubble?)

GO BLUE!

Spiced Chicken Skewers with Grapes

Serves 4 – 2 skewers each
Adapted from Ellie Krieger.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
8 (10-inch) skewers (Metal or wood will work. – Kris)
1 1/2 cups seedless green grapes
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves (I skipped this. – Kris)
1 lemon, cut into wedges (I skipped this, too. – Kris)

1) Combine oil, zest, juice, garlic, cumin, coriander, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together. Add chicken and mix so every piece is coated with marinade. Let sit for 20 minutes. During this time, soak wooden skewers if you're using them. (Or they'll burn. Metal skewers don't need soaking.)

2)  Skewer the chicken and grapes like so: chicken, grape, chicken, grape, chicken, grape, chicken, grape. Spray a grate or broiler pan with cooking spray. Broil or grill skewers for 3 minutes. Turn over and cook another 3 or 4 minutes, until some grapes split and chicken is done. If desired, serve topped with mint and next to lemon slices.

Approximate Calories, Fat, and Price per Serving
220 calories, 6 g fat, $0.71

Calculations
2 tablespoons olive oil: $0.16
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest: $0.05
1 tablespoon lemon juice: $0.20
2 cloves garlic, minced: $0.10
1 teaspoon ground cumin: $0.02
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander: $0.02
1/2 teaspoon salt: $0.01
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 3/4-inch cubes: $1.79
1 1/2 cups seedless green grapes: $0.48
Cooking spray: $0.02
TOTAL: $2.85
PER SERVING (TOTAL/4): $0.71