This week’s featured drink recipe is one of our favorites and references back to one of our favorite TV shows we watched while growing up, Gilligan’s Island.  Although we were not alive when it first aired, (No, we are not THAT old!) we definitely enjoyed watching reruns as kids.  If you did not watch the show, let us give you a short explanation.  Gilligan’s Island was a comic adventure of seven castaways as they attempted to survive on an island on which they had been shipwrecked. Most episodes revolved around the quirky castaways’ conflicts and their unsuccessful attempts to be rescued from the island.  Two of the characters of the show were Mary Ann and Ginger.  Mary Ann was the sweet girl next door who was always baking pies for the other castaways.  Ginger was a movie star who somehow had brought all of her glittery dresses and makeup with her on what was to be a short 3 hour yacht cruise.  The question, “Mary Ann or Ginger?” has persisted among men as to which they prefer long after the series ended.

This drink certainly fits our 3 criteria Easy. Tasty.  Fresh.  It has three simple ingredients: Templeton Rye Whiskey, Ginger Beer (hence the name Mary Ann or Ginger?) and a fresh lime slice.  To create this refreshing drink simply combine 1.5 ounces of Templeton Rye Whiskey over ice in a rocks glass. Top off with ginger beer. Add ice and garnish with a fresh lime slice.  It is delish!

We can already hear some of you now, “Whoa!  I don’t like whiskey,” or, “Beer?  I don’t want to mix whiskey and beer.”  Hear us out. First of all, Templeton Rye Whiskey doesn’t have the harsh whiskey taste that some of you may have experienced in the past.  It is a sweeter, smoother taste. If Rhonda can drink it and like it, then it definitely is not too harsh.  The Ginger Beer is not “beer”.  It is labeled as a non-alcoholic soda, so you don’t need to worry that you are mixing a Bud Light and whiskey.

Craig prefers to make this drink with ginger ale.  Rhonda prefers Goslings Ginger Beer.  Potato.  Pototo.  The ginger beer has only 190 calories per can, and we don’t use a whole can for a serving.  However, if you prefer a drink that is lighter on calories, Canada Dry Ginger Ale has 110 calories per serving (use half of a serving) or better yet, use diet Ginger Ale.

This drink is great to make when you want something easy and tasty. We hope you enjoy this drink as much as we do.

Cheers,

Rhonda and Craig

Thank you to everyone for all the support you have shown regarding our blog.  Starting something like this is kind of nerve racking, but what the heck.  You only live once.  Right?

We were originally going to post a recipe about a fabulous ice cream pie that Rhonda wanted to make this weekend, but reality kicked in and we had to make dinner for our family. Go figure.  As we were preparing dinner, we realized that the grilled chicken recipe we were making fit the criteria for our blog. Easy. Tasty. Fresh! You will have save room for pie in the next post!

Years ago before Pinterest, Rhonda actually had to rip recipes out of magazines or print them off the computer as she found them.  This is a recipe that we adapted from either Southern Living Magazine or Better Homes and Gardens years ago.

First you make the marinade.  The marinade contains ½ cup of blue agave tequila.  We prefer to use Corralejo Reposado.  It is important to choose good quality tequila because you are putting it in the marinade for the flavor.  We are planning a post soon to explain the differences in tequila quality.

Next the recipe calls for you to add in ½ cup of untoasted walnut oil.  However, we can never find untoasted walnut oil.  See criteria #1 above.  Rhonda is a busy mom with a full-time career.  If an ingredient is too far off her little quadrant of stores that she visits most, then she will not buy it.  We can find roasted walnut oil.  It is in our Kroger in the cooking oils section.  It is usually on the top shelf.  Oddly enough, we have also seen the roasted walnut oil at Home Goods in the kitchen and food section.  If you can’t find the walnut oil, you can use regular cooking oil.  We have substituted cooking oil before when we were in a pinch.  It just doesn’t add any flavor.

Then you will add ½ honey, ¼ fresh squeezed lime juice and 1 tsp of finely shredded peel, 1 tsp kosher salt.  Mix all of this together.

Place your chicken breasts into a gallon Ziploc bag.  Rhonda always puts the bag in a bowl or pan before placing in the fridge to prevent accidents.  The recipe originally calls for 12 chicken drumsticks instead of chicken breasts.  We have made the drumsticks and they are tasty.  Our family prefers white meat over dark meat, so we only make the drumsticks occasionally.  Leave the chicken to marinate for at least 4 hours.

When you are ready to grill, place the chicken on a medium heat grill.  Cook indirectly to the flame and turning once half-way.

Garnish with fresh cilantro. Yummo!  The chicken is juicy with a sweet and tangy flavor.  We would love to hear from you if the Corralejo Honey Lime Chicken makes it to your table this summer!

Corralejo Honey Lime Chicken

Prep 15 min

Marinate 4 hours

Grill 20 minutes

1/2 cup blue agave Corralejo Reposado Tequila

1/2 cup roasted walnut oil

1/2 cup honey

2-3 limes (1 tsp finely shredded peel plus 1/4 cup juice)

1 tsp. kosher salt

4 chicken breasts or 12 chicken drumsticks

fresh cilantro

1.  For marinade, in bowl whisk together tequila and oil.  Whisk in honey, lime juice, peel and salt.  Cover and refrigerate marinade for up to 2 days.
2. Place chicken in self-sealing plastic bag in shallow dish.  Add marinade; seal.  Refrigerate 4-8 hours turning occasionally.  Drain and discard marinade.
3. Place chicken on medium heat grill.  Adjust for indirect cooking.  Turning breast over once half-way through cooking.
4. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve.

Cheers!

Rhonda and Craig