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My life is kind of driven by lists, grocery lists, recipe ideas, appointments, blog posts, blah, bah, blah. Sometimes Post-it notes take over my life – I guess you can say I’m a planner. But when it comes to planning meals in advance? Yeah.. not so much. Honestly, I pretty much suck at planning a meal more than a few hours ahead of time, and really have no desire to do it. I am in utter awe of the bloggers that rock the whole meal planning concept out days, weeks, or months at a time, but it’s just not for me.
A typical day of meal planning through text messages:
Brian: “Hey, what’s for dinner?”
Me: “No idea – What are in the mood for?”
Brian: “Not sushi.”
Me: “Okay, are you in the mood for anything?”
Brian: “Meat”
Me: “Okay, well I’ve caught on to that after five years, anything specific?”
Brian: “No”
Me: “Thanks so much for the help!”
Brian: “No problem.”
Seriously this conversation happens at least four days a week. So I’ll usually scope out the fridge and pantry and figure out what I have on hand and what I can whip up to please Brian’s uber descriptive craving.
Earlier this week my fridge was overflowing with produce, so I thought I’d put the onions and peppers to good use and whip up these Asian Chicken Kebabs. Although they were not the juicy steak that Brian had in mind, he loved the sweet and slightly spicy flavor of these kebabs and declared this meal a keeper – which is a pretty good rating from someone who is not so fond of chicken.
I served these Asian Chicken Kebabs alongside steamed rice and grilled asparagus with a little finishing garnish of toasted sesame seeds and green onions. This meal was simple, delicious and perfect for a summer evening.
Looking for more delicious recipes for grilling?
Grilled Peaches with Marscapone Whip from goodLife {eats}
Fajitas from Bluebonnets & Brownies
Grilled Shrimp and Sausage Kabobs from Cookin’ Canuck
Grilled Corn Grits from the Nifty Foodie
How to Grill Pizza from Tidy Mom
Grilled Caesar Salad from Simple Bites
So tell me, are you a meal planner?
Asian Chicken Kebabs
Ingredients:
For the Marinade
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons honey
1-2 teaspoons Sriracha (or other hot sauce)
3 slices fresh ginger root
2 cloves garlic, crushed
For the Kebabs
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cubed
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
1 red onion, cut into wedges
1 large red bell pepper, cut into 2 inch pieces
Directions:
1. In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine the soy sauce, oil, honey, Sriracha, ginger root, and garlic. Heat in microwave on medium for 1 minute, then stir. Heat again for 30 seconds, watch closely so it doesn’t boil. Set aside.
2. Thread the chicken, green bell pepper, onion, and red bell pepper pieces onto skewers alternately. Place skewers in a shallow baking dish and cover with marinade. Cover dish and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.
3. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill Asian Chicken Kebabs until chicken is just cooked through, turning occasionally, about 9-12 minutes.
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At least Brian tells you he wants meat, my husbands reply is always “food”. :(
Wow – the kebabs look incredible!
YUP! I am SO a meal planner. I have a notebook for my food – when it’s open, one side has the recipes (by day) I’m cooking…including the book name and page number. The other side has my grocery list.
I sit down, usually once every 5-6 days and go through my cookbooks based on what I’m in the mood to make and what’s in season. Winging it is not for me…
So helpful aren’t they? That’s why I stopped asking, now dinner is what I feel like!
These look really terrific. Your impromptu meals is a feast!
These look really good, especially with the rice and aspergrass, as my kids used to call it.
Mmmmm, mmmmmm, good!
I’m definitely a planner when I’m cooking for myself at school, since I go grocery shopping weekly and try not to buy anything I won’t have immediate use for. At home…er…less so. Much less so.
That pretty much sums up how mountain man and I do dinner every night of the week! I can’t wait to send this recipe his way the next time he asks :)
I’m a meal planner and I always want to try new things, my husband on the other hand has no ideas or the same ideas. I try to plan out our meals on the weekends so we generally have an idea of what we’re going to have for the week and when it doesn’t happen, there’s mass confusion which includes multiple texts in one day about dinner. LOL
We eat what I feel like eating, except it can’t be seafood because the husband can’t eat it. Whenever I ask what he wants he says, “I dunno…we’ll figure it out,” and the conversation ends there. So I gotta be proactive and just make what I want. He’ll eat it and like it!
Geez your photos are stunning!