I think I got all my grilling excitement out with this last meal lol.
Okay, okay, listen—I know we had a lot of grill-friendly recipes recently.
But come with me for just one more recipe!
Naturally, with the summer solstice coming around this month, I had to get outside and get to grilling. I may be a little over-grilled now, what with my excitement to use the thing, but come on: on the most sun-charged day of the year, there was no other option. (Though damn, it was hot out there. I was quite sweaty. At least it was hot outside the house and not inside, though.)
With the sun being at peak power on the summer solstice, I wanted a meal that likewise invoked all those sunny flavors—and that immediately made me think of orange marinade for some juicy chicken drumsticks. So I took a classic route, combining honey, orange juice and zest, garlic, and few other things like Chinese five spice (which has ginger, cinnamon, star anise, fennel, and clove), to make something a little savory, a little sweet, and very magical. Pair that with a delicious salad also full of orange and balsamic vinegar and the like, and it's all the better (though you can do whatever you'd like for sides, of course).
Let's talk about it!
Magic in Solstice Sun Chicken
So that Chinese five spice is important, you know, because one of the recipes I was looking at for inspiration originally had only ginger, and when I thought more about it, I thought... if I'm already here with ginger and soy sauce and orange, why not throw the whole spice blend in here? Namely, I was looking for the cinnamon in that spice blend, because orange and cinnamon together are a powerhouse of sunny, fiery, lucky energy. More than that, the spice factor (if you're the kind of person that likes to add a little spice like cayenne or even carolina reaper) makes it also a bit of an ass kicker, in that not only do you get the fire, the energy—you also get the zest that'll really push you out of the planning phase and into the acting phase of anything you're a little intimidated by the goals you want to achieve.
In terms of energy, since we're looking at orange, cinnamon, cayenne, honey, and garlic, the element is easy: fire. Pure fire! Fire all the way! And the planetary influences are the Sun and Mars: planets of luck and optimism, drive and ambition. Trust that you don't have to only make this for the summer solstice. If you're in a waxing moon period and need to light a fire under your ass to grow, expand, and gain like hell, this is the energy blend that'll keep you moving, dreaming, creating, and pushing ahead for all your wishes to come true. Let it inspire and invigorate you this summer season!
Solstice Sun Chicken
Prep time: Up to 8hrs minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Makes 2-3 servings
Ingredients:
2lbs bone-in, skin on chicken drumsticks (about 10-12 drumsticks)
1 whole orange for zest & juice
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 Tbsp lime juice
1 Tbsp soy sauce
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Chinese five spice
(Optional) 1/2 tsp cayenne or carolina reaper
Pinch of salt & pepper
I really suggest pairing this with a good salad: toss torn up slices of oranges, crushed pecans, chopped onion and tomato, and feta on a bed of lettuce and mix it up with balsamic vinegar and olive oil! Laying the chicken on top makes for beautiful presentation and flavor!
Directions:
Place your chicken in a plastic bag for marinade.
Zest and juice your orange into a bowl, then add all your other ingredients in, stir well, and add it to the bag, reserving 1/4 a cup of marinade for brushing later.
Seal the bag and squish the chicken around so the marinade covers everything, then set in the fridge for at least 3 hours, but up to 8.
Flip the bag every couple hours so each side of the chicken can soak up the marinade.
Preheat your grill to grilling temperature (350 - 400 degrees Fahrenheit)
Grill chicken, turning every couple minutes to avoid burning the skin. Brush with marinade each time you turn it.
Remove the chicken when the thickest parts hit minimum 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Serve with whatever you'd like: pasta salad, regular salad, potatoes, veggies, anything!
Chicken thighs and drumsticks are so forgiving when it comes to cooking them, but you really do want to make sure they're fully cooked. Still, these were juicy, citrusy, a little sweet, a little spicy, and so very delicious on a bed of vegetables. The perfect summer food: not too heavy, still super satisfying. Enjoy! ♥
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Sara Raztresen is a Slovene-American writer, screenwriter, and Christian witch. Her fantasy works draw heavily on the wisdom she gathers from her own personal and spiritual experience, and her spiritual practice borrows much of the whimsy and wonder that modern society has relegated to fairy-and-folktale. Her goal is to help people regain their spiritual footing and discover God through a new (yet old) lens of mysticism.
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