Chicken Soulvaki

Light and fresh flavors for chicken

The past few days have been really nice out. It is hard to believe that spring is here, if only for a day or two at a time. With the warmer weather, the grill as already been fired up multiple times. This chicken soulvaki is a quick and easy. We enjoy the chicken on flat bread with tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions and lettuce. If there are leftovers, I made a salad with tzatziki as the dressing. This is our go to summer meal, because it doesn't involve heating up the oven (unless you don't have a grill). Summer isn't here yet, but spring alright started to cook it up. 

Chicken Soulvaki

1 pound chicken breast, cut into strips or

chicken tenders

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 lemon, juice and zest or 1/4 cup lemon juice

1 Tablespoon tzatziki 

1/4 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Combine all ingredients and stir well. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes at minimum to overnight. Skewer the meat, if using wood skewers be sure to soak them for at least 20 minutes. Cook on the grill or under a broiler for about 4-5 minutes per side, until chicken is cooked through.
Serve on flat bread with tzatziki, cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, and onions.

Adapted from Closet Cooking

Midnight Brownies

For the late night snacker or day time eater.

Dark as night, these brownies could be eaten at midnight without anyone seeing that you are eating anything. At my house, we have come to enjoy dark chocolate over milk chocolate more and more. Our candy dish was filled with dark chocolate until it wasn't possible to keep full anymore. When I was picking up some sprinkles to make these cookies. I saw the dark cocoa powder. I bought it not knowing I needed it for the cookies, even though I did. The only thing on my mind was brownies, dark chocolate brownies. Since I had walnuts in the pantry, I added them in to give a crunch. I also enjoy the creamy melted chocolate chips in my brownies, so I threw some in too. Feel free to add or delete either of these depending on your tastes.  

Midnight Brownies

2 cups sugar 
1/2 cup baking dark cocoa 
1/2 teaspoon baking soda 
2/3 cup vegetable oil, divided 
1/2 cup boiling water 
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt 
2 eggs 
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13 in by 9 in pan.
In a large bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa and baking soda. Add 1/3 cup oil and water; beat until smooth. Beat in the flour, vanilla, salt, eggs and remaining 1/3 cup oil. Stir in walnut.   

Spread into prepare pan.  Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. *Note- with the dark chocolate it can be hard to tell if they are done. Check the side. 

Adapted from Taste of Home

Pineapple Cherry Cookies

Tropical cookies to fight the winter blues

There seems to be a desire for spring that many are feeling throughout the cold weather states. There are glimpses of sun and warmer days that trick you. When the sun hides its face for a couple of days, these cookies can help to rid you of the winter blues. The bright colors and tropical favors may transport you to a warmer time or place. These are also great if you don't like a really sweet cookie as the favors shine without the sweet. Until the sun shines through the clouds and spring has sprung, eat pineapple cherry cookies!

Pineapple Cherry Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1/4 cup finely chopped maraschino cherries

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. 
In a large bowl, cream butter with sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Add one egg at a time, combine after each one. Also beat in vanilla. 
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in pineapple and cherries. 
Drop tablespoons on an ungreased baking sheet (or silp-mat lined baking sheet). Bake for 7-9 minutes until lightly brown along edges. Remove to wire rack and cool.
 

Slight change from All Recipes