Indiana may have a harsh winter, but that only makes the warm weather of spring and summer much more exciting. The unseasonably warm weather has had people out and about taking advantage of the sunshine. Because it is so nice, people now look forward to eating outside, and nothing is more popular when eating outdoors than barbeque. Little 500 is right around the corner and everyone should kick off this great college weekend with a barbeque. You can have a complete Little 500 barbeque with easy recipes like Grill-less barbecue chicken. There is nothing that goes better with barbeque than baked beans. The flavor compliments the tangy barbeque so well you can't have a cookout without them. Don't forget the coleslaw! The cold side goes wonderfully with any meal on a hot day. The following are some finger-licking recipes to make your barbeque a success and your stomach happy.
Grill-less Barbeque Chicken\n1/4 cup light brown sugar\n1 tablespoon chili powder\n2 teaspoons ground cumin\n1/2 teaspoon salt\n1/2 teaspoon paprika\n1/4 teaspoon black pepper\n1 pound skinless, boneless \nchicken breast\n2 tablespoons olive oil\n1 cup thinly sliced onion\n1 cup fat-free, low sodium \nchicken broth\n1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Combine the first six ingredients in a bowl. Rub the surface of the chicken with the brown sugar mixture. Heat the oil on a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until tender. Remove the chicken from the pan. Add the onion to the pan, and cook for an additional 2 minutes or until tender, stirring constantly. Return the chicken to the pan, and add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until the chicken is done. Remove chicken from the pan and shred with two forks. Return the chicken to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until the liquid evaporates. Stir in the balsamic vinegar.\nThe above recipe is great because it doesn't require a grill like most other barbeque chicken dishes. A great way to serve the chicken is on Texas toast or a hamburger bun. You may want to add your favorite barbeque sauce to the sandwich, but hey, it's all up to your taste buds.
Baked Beans\n1/2 pound slab bacon, thickly \nsliced and chopped into about 1/2-\ninch pieces\n2 (32 ounce) cans baked beans \n1/2 cup ketchup \n1/3 cup brown sugar \n2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce \n2 tablespoons honey
In a large pot, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat for four minutes. Add baked beans, ketchup, brown sugar, hot pepper sauce and honey, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat slightly to maintain a simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until flavors are combined. Serve immediately.
Coleslaw\n4 cups cabbage, thinly sliced (you \ncan get this pre-packaged)\n1 cup grated carrots \n1/2 cup mayonnaise (regular or \nlight)\n1/2 cup sour cream (regular or \nlight)\n2 teaspoons cider vinegar \nSugar \nSalt \nPepper \n2 teaspoons celery seed
In a large bowl, combine the cabbage and carrots. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and sour cream. Mix well. Stir in vinegar, a dash of sugar, salt, pepper and celery seed. Pour the mixture over cabbage, and toss to coat. Chill and serve.
The recipes are great, but what is there to drink? Although my personal preference would be an ice cold beer, there are those of us who have not reached that ripe age of 21, so make a great glass of lemonade to cool off on a hot day.
Fresh--Squeezed Lemonade\n1 1/2 cups sugar\n1/2 cup boiling water\n1 tablespoon grated lemon rind\n1 1/2 cups fresh lemon juice (8 \nlarge lemons)\n5 cups water
Stir together sugar and boiling water until sugar dissolves. Stir in lemon rind, lemon juice and 5 cups water. Chill. Serve over ice. You can also make it hard lemonade by adding some vodka, but choose the amount at your own discretion!
These recipes are well-suited for the warm weather and a great way to enjoy food with your friends. Having a cookout with for Little 500 is a great way to celebrate the weekend just remember to be safe!
