Red Wine Marinated Grilled Chicken & Veggies

You and your family will love this healthier & flavorful Red Wine Marinated Grilled Chicken & Veggies...

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and NatureRaised Farms, but all my opinions are my own.

While I am not one to read every label in the grocery store aisles and I may not always buy organic, I do try to make a conscience effort to know what I am really feeding family and to make healthier choices for them and myself.  Some choices are not always so clear. But others definitely are. 

Like the fresh veggies and fruit I purchase from my local farmers market. The just laid eggs I try to pick up from my aunt's chicken coop a couple of times a month. And now with the frozen chicken that I buy for my family thanks to Sam's Club and NatureRaised Farms® Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Portions. :)

I can feel good about preparing and feeding my family NatureRaised Farms chicken because it is 100% natural*- meaning no added steroids or hormones** are used. The chickens are raised in large, open modern barns and are fed a 100% vegetarian diet.

Swapping the usual frozen chicken breasts that I buy for NatureRaised Farms chicken is an easy no-brainer for me.

With the warmer weather here and more and more fresh vegetables becoming available, my mind naturally turns to grilling season. We are a family that loves to grill.

Armed with my new favorite frozen chicken, some healthy fresh vegetables, and a simple & flavorful marinade recipe, I grilled up this Red Wine Marinated Grilled Chicken & Veggies for my family earlier this week. The marinade is light and healthy, but is full on rich flavor...

Beer & Ranch Chicken & Potato Kabobs

Juicy chunks of chicken and hearty potatoes are marinated in a simple 4 ingredient marinade, skewered, and then grilled to perfection in these Beer & Ranch Chicken & Potato Kabobs...

Is the 4th of July really just 3 days away??

I don't know about you all, but the Fourth always calls for a barbecue filled with good food and good times with friends & family.

And this year, that barbecue will be followed by sparklers, a fire pit with s'mores, and fireworks from the front yard... 

Yes, folks... from our front yard.

We discovered that little gem last summer after having already crowded into our little town the night before and waiting for well over an hour with a restful toddler to watch the big fireworks display.

The next night we heard some booming coming from outside our house & were greeted with a very lovely fireworks display from the lake community adjacent to us.

From the comfort of our own front yard.

Needless to say, we will not be making the trek into the city this week to sit in a crowded parking lot on the bumper of our car to see a fireworks show.

Foodie on a Budget- Basil Balsamic Marinated Chicken For Two

This is my gorgeous and overabundant basil plant...

With basil coming out of my ears, you know that I would have to post a basil-based recipe.  And I bet you thought it might be a pesto recipe, huh?  But nooooo....  I am going to give you a recipe for a super simple (and light!) basil marinade for your chicken! ;) This recipe is enough marinade for 2-4 servings.  I used it for a large split chicken breast for my husband and I for dinner this week.  There was still a decent amount of marinade left in the bag after I took the chicken out, so I could have marinated another breast with this same recipe.

What you will need:

A large handful of basil leaves (approx 20-25)

2 cloves of garlic

1/3 cup of balsamic vinegar

3-4 tablespoons of olive oil

Salt & pepper

One 1 1/2 lb split chicken breast

Quart sized food storage bag

(Pretty simple, right??)

First, do a rough chop on the basil leaves, and then the garlic.  Toss them into a blender or food processor.  Pour in the balsamic vinegar and olive oil.  Season with salt and pepper.

Blend until nice and smooth.  Pierce the chicken breast in several places on both sides and then place in the food storage bag.  Pour the marinade in the blender over the chicken, zip close the bag, and massage marinade into the meat for a few minutes.  Refrigerate for 2-4 hours.  When done marinating, take the chicken out of the bag and shake off the excess.  Then simply grill or bake.  Cooking time will depend on how thick your chicken breast is and whether your chicken is bone-in or boneless. 

This chicken breast was wonderfully flavorful and juicy.  My husband and I just cut this split chicken breast in half and shared it. You could also use this recipe for any other cuts of chicken- boneless breasts, a whole cut-up chicken, chicken thighs.  The marinade recipe could be easily doubled if needed.