Kabobs & Brown Rice

Last minute feasting required? Kabob it! Combine meat, poultry, seafood vegetables and/or fruit for tasty grilling.

Recently we had a small dinner party and I didn't go to the grocery store or even decide what we were having until mid afternoon! From my freezer, fridge and pantry, I came up with this menu.

Kabobs:

• Pork loin cut in 1 1/2 inch cubes. Put in baggie with marinade.
  
• Marinated in mix which included: Myer lemon juice, garlic, ginger, dark sesame seed oil, orange juice, orange zest, canola oil, salt and pepper, local honey (the only kind I use!)
  
• Other kabob ingredients: apples, green pepper, red onion. Cut these up in chunks and microwave in covered casserole dish for 2-3 minutes just slightly soften.
  
• Remove vegetables from casserole and make brown rice in same dish.
  
• Soak kabob skewers 30 minutes
  
• When ready to grill, skewer ingredients (3 pork, 2 pepper, 1 apple, alternate with onions)
  
• Skewer remaining ingredients when you run out of pork.
  
• We grilled on a charcoal Weber grill which still has the best flavor and ambiance. We use a gas grill often too.
  
• Grill on medium heat until toasty and caramelized.
  

Brown Rice

• I love brown rice and particularly the short grain variety. For all you rice impaired people, it doesn't get any better that Alton Brown's baked rice recipe. See link.
  
• http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-brown-rice-recipe/index.html
• When the rice was done, I tossed it with scallions raisins and almonds.

A tossed salad and crunchy bread sticks completed this wonderful dinner on the deck.

Other kabob combinations:

Lamb

I often dissect a leg of lamb and freeze for grilling.

Marinade in olive oil, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice and fresh rosemary,

Combine with chunks of eggplant, onion and peppers.

Add toasted pine nuts to the rice. (you can toast vermicelli pieces and add to rice while cooking for a real Mediterranean feeling)

Shrimp and/or scallops, swordfish etc.

Marinade in olive oil, orange juice, fresh thyme,  orange zest and a bit of orange marmalade.

Skewer with pineapple, onions and peppers

Add scallions, orange segments, toasted almonds, cilantro, thyme and golden raisins to the rice.

You get the picture, use what you have and create flavors you like.