Island Chicken Drumsticks

July28

The kids are on vacation but, hey, guess what? You’re not!

Big and little people still need to be fed, so why not make something quick and easy that can be thrown on the grill or in the oven like these Island Chicken Drumsticks?

island chicken drumsticks mama's high strung

Here’s what you do:

  1. Buy one of those 12-packs of chicken legs (or more if you’re feeling particularly ambitious).
  2. Prepare the dry rub from spices you probably already have in your pantry. You don’t need to follow my recipe… use what you have!
  3. Heat up the grill or oven and in 20 minutes dinner will be ready.

If you DO make extra drummies, you’ll have something to feed the hungry horde for lunch tomorrow or a picnic dinner the day AFTER tomorrow. Perfect. Easy. Just like summer should be!



The Kitchen Think: Are No-Snack School Halloween Parties Fair?

October29

Say goodbye to this at your kids’ school Halloween parties:

Halloween cupcakes

I have a feeling that what just happened at my neighborhood school is going to become a nationwide trend by next year: no snacks, candy or treats at school holiday parties.

Halloween is just too frightening for parents of kids with allergies.

But I know EXACTLY what those worried parents are thinking… and what they fear each time their child walks out the door. My youngest has an anaphylactic shock-inducing allergy to peanuts. She’s learned to be safe about her food. But every time I hear of a child who dies because of allergic reaction, that gnawing anxiety that it could happen to her comes flooding back.

Nut allergies were once the biggest concern at school parties. These days, navigating the allergy minefield is just too tricky, so why chance it at all? Even moving from sugary sweets to healthy treats like apples and hummus won’t work… someone might have a legume allergy.

With the nation’s obesity rate where it is, classroom parties should not HAVE to be food based… there are other ways to celebrate. Instead of decorating cupcakes, the school in my neighborhood will be making bracelets and cards to send to a children’s hospital and doing other age-appropriate community projects.

But honestly, it does make me a little sad to see that food-festooned parties are on their way out. I used to love to see some of the more inventive things the really competitive moms would bring to the Halloween parties.

Thank goodness for Pinterest!

 

Plated + Served: Grilled Halloumi and Veggie Kebabs

May28

This recipe brings a whole new meaning to the phrase “grilled cheese.” 

Halloumi  is a semi-hard, unripened brined cheese, so it browns beautifully on the outside, but stays soft and delicious on the inside. That means it won’t melt or drip through the grill racks.

Skewering halloumi (and veggies) can be tricky for some, so cook it on a grilling basket or tray (not a wire basket) instead. And make sure you spray the tray with non-stick spray—that will make the halloumi much easier to turn over the fire.

This recipe is so simple… just a quick brush of olive oil is all you need. The slightly salty taste of the halloumi really goes well with fresh early summer veggies.

“Grilled cheese” anyone? You bet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi…
I’m Christina Chavez

I was a TV journalist for many years, but with a house full of kids I decided to come off the road, go to culinary school and follow my passion for cooking. Mama’s High Strung is all about food… everything from creative recipe ideas to some really cool kitchen gadgets and cooking tips. I live in Chicago, but I love to travel and write about my food discoveries! You can reach me by email: mamashighstrung@gmail.com