Pasta & Sausage

"Take me out the the Ball Game," or is it more likely, "Take my kids to the Ball Field" for games and practice everyday. Now, you still have to feed them before they go and you have to think of something to cook. Also, your husband or wife comes right from work to the field and is hungry. You need something that is easy and quick to cook and can be portable. You can't go wrong with this dish, because who doesn't like pasta and sausage and it can be put in plastic-ware to be eaten at the fields.

Start with oil, crushed garlic, one sliced onion, two sliced green peppers and about 1 pound of sausage in one inch pieces and fry up in a large saute pan. You know the one that I got at Acme. While that is cooking, boil off a pound of pasta, any brand will do, I used the ziti type this time. When the sausage and the vegetables are done, just add a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, the pasta and season with basil, Italian seasonings, and salt. Cook for a couple of minute to ensure everything is hot and serve or pack it up to go. Don't forget the grated cheese!

Lemon Basil Chicken

This is a quick and easy dish that tastes phenomenal with the combination of lemon and basil. Prepping this ahead of time and then grilling it properly outside will have them coming back for more. They key to this is simple, marinating the chicken for over an hour in enough lemon and basil so that during the grilling the whole neighborhood smells it.

Start by taking skin on or skinless chicken breasts and trim off the excess fat and tenderize by beating the living daylights out of them with the bottom of a frying pan on a cutting board, like they do on Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution." Next, drown the chicken breast in lemon juice in a clear oblong Pyrex pan. Generously sprinkle basil over both sides of the chicken, cover and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least a hour or longer.

Fire up your grill and adjust the burners so you barely see the flames under the baffles. Yes, I have a Weber Spirit Grill and in future posts I will write about the art of grilling. Place and grill the chicken to seal and grill mark both sides. If you are using chicken with the skin left on, grill that side first. Then, turn off the burners , except one and set the chicken on the unlit burners. This is what the Weber people mean when they talk about indirect heat. Close the lid and try to maintain the internal temperature of the grill to about 350 degrees by adjusting the single burner. Continue to cook till the chicken is totally done.

Max just can't control himself around the Lemon Basil Chicken. STAY MAX! EASY BOY!