Spicy Honey Chicken

Last week, we were driving back to Denver from Vail.  A trip that usually takes us about 2 hours literally took us over 3 hours: construction, summer traffic, etc.  The trip home is usually the worst thing about heading up the hill, so to pass time, I started looking at the recipe index from Our Best Bites.  They have the best recipes! 

As I've blogged in the past, our trips to Vail usually include a lot of golfing, eating out & drinking.  After a few days up there, we were ready to come home, unpack & cook a healthy meal.   I flagged a few recipes to try & this is the first one.  We loved the rub/glaze on the chicken (we actually used it to glaze some porkchops later in the week.)  The salad was really good- the dressing was so light & the mangoes were awesome with the red onion.

{Spicy Glazed Chicken}
recipe compliments of Our Best Bites

8 boneless chicken thighs; about 2 lbs
2 tsp vegetable oil

RUB:
2 tsp granulated garlic
2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp coriander

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder

GLAZE:
1/2 cup honey
1 TBSP cider vinegar

Combine all the rub spices in a bowl & mix well.

Use kitchen shears to trim off any excess fat from the chicken pieces.  Pat dry.  Drizzle oil over chicken & rub in with your hands to lightly coat all the pieces.  Then toss chicken with the spice rub to coat all sides well.  Use your hands and get it in there!  Grill chicken.

While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it's not so thick.  Add the vinegar & combine well.  Reserve 2 TBSP honey glaze for later.  Take the rest & brush on chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling. 

Right before eating, drizzle with reserved honey mixture.

{Spicy Honey Chicken Salad}
recipe compliments of Our Best Bites
serves 4 large salad

1-2 heads romaine lettuce; shredded
2 ripe mangoes; thinly sliced into strips & chilled*
2-3 ripe avocado; thinly sliced into strips
red onion; thinly sliced

{Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette}

1 garlic clove; minced
1/2 TBSP grated onion
1/3 cup fresh OJ
3 TBSP fresh lime juice
2 TBSP honey
3/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 ground black pepper
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Combine all & shake well

Combine all salad ingredients & drizzle with salad dressing.  Serve with chicken.  Enjoy!

* this is a good time to talk about my most favorite kitchen tool of late.  My mango pitter that I purchased from Crate & Barrel.  You can purchase one here.