Mom's Teriyaki Chicken

From since I can remember My Mom has always made the most awesome Teriyaki Chicken.  So much better than buying the sauce in the grocery stores and it only takes a few minutes to whip up a batch with ingredients you probably already have in your cabinet.  

Ingredients 

1 bag of Chicken Thighs (I prefer with bones)  

1/2 cup soy sauce 

1/2 cup sugar~  brown or white 

spoonfull of minced garlic (fresh is best) 

One 'thumb knuckle' of ginger, grated 

(If I don't have it I don't use it but it's so much better with it and gives a great tang!)

After living in Korea for over 11 years I'm partial to Korean soy sauce but you can use Kikkoman or any brand.

Combine sugar and soy sauce in a small saucepan.  

Add the garlic and minced ginger if you have it.  Let it cool a bit.   

Prepare your chicken and lay skin side down in pan.  Pour sauce over top and cover.   Let marinate overnight or for 6 plus hours.  Midway through the marinating process turn over if possible to let the juices soak in to all areas of the chicken.   

I start with my chicken in the oven with skin sides down and turn it over mid way so the skin side is up and it looks all golden and brown when done. 

Bake 350 degrees for about 60-90 minutes, till chicken is cooked through and tender.  

I'd love to hear if you try my Mom's recipe and how you like it!  

Homemade Hummus

We've had a hot summer and it left me not wanting to do much of anything.  Cooking was minimal due to the heat and even home things went undone.  With cooler weather I'm quite happy on becoming more domesticated again and back on track!  Yayyy!!!!  

Oh how I love Homemade Hummus!  I can eat it for any meal and it's truly one of my favorite things to snack on!  It's good with sliced up veggies such as carrotts,  green, red or yellow peppers, pita bread and whole grain crackers or chips.  

You can buy it at the grocery store (usually in the deli section) but it is so much more cost efficient and tasty to make it yourself at home.  

If you can't find tahini at an ordinary grocery store try a health food store.  

Without furthur ado, here's my go to recipe.  You don't have to follow it to a T and it's a general guideline.  

1 can of garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas)  

1 lemon cut in half and juice set aside

1/4 cup tahini, or more or less to your taste

1 Tbsp minced garlic (I use the minced garlic in a jar)  

1 tsp of salt (add more if desired) 

Olive oil 

Paprika

Drain chickpeas of juice and set aside.  Put lemon juice,  tahini,  minced garlic, salt and chickpeas in food processor (you can also use a blender)  and give it a whir.  Add some olive oil and water and keep adding until you are able to blend hummus into a smooth paste.  Some like it very smooth and some like it more grainy.  Add more oil and salt until desired taste and consistency.  

Before serving, drizzle the top with olive oil and some paprika.