BROCCOLI SALAD and more...

Tonight's menu: smoked chicken, B's grandmother's broccoli salad, and corn on the cob on the grill. I couldn't be more excited. B loves his new grill, and so far every night since we've had it, we've made dinner using it. And I am not complaining. That thing has gotten me out of most cooking duties, and on to my first love: baking. I'm glad B enjoys his cooking, because it's certainly making me happy. I even do the dishes without complaining because he's done mot of the cooking!

Grilled, smoked chicken is on right now, and I can't wait to try it. B had some elaborate steps, including brining the pieces and setting up the grill to be a smoker, but I didn't really pay attention. But he really isn't putting much of a rub or a marinade or anything else on it. This is why I'm excited to try it.

My contribution to tonight's dinner is B's grandmother's broccoli salad, as I mentioned before. We had it when I first met her, last Thanksgiving when we flew down to Florida so I could meet most of the extended family. It was really good, and I remember liking it, but B remembers loving it. So I got her recipe and here we are, trying it out for ourselves. All the parts are in the fridge now, just waiting for the chicken to be done. I'll post an update when we've actually eaten some of this stuff. Because I think it's going to be amazing.


Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds of broccoli, florets
1 cup chopped red onion
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup raisins
7 strips bacon, crispy and crumbled
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons white vinegar

Mix first five ingredients in a large bowl. Put it in the fridge until ready to serve.
Mix the last 3 ingredients in a smaller bowl. Put this (separate bowl) into the fridge as well, until ready to serve.
Just before serving, add the wet ingredients to the dry. Serve.


Ridiculously easy, huh? I was pretty psyched when I read the recipe and knew how much B loves it. We'll see if he still likes my version.

Note: This recipe says that it came form the Park City cookbook. Fun coincidence that we just came from there! Also, it says that it is excellent with barbecued chicken and corn on the cob. Which is exactly what we decided to have as well! Somehow, the universe is coming all together.



UPDATE:
Dinner was fabulous. The chicken was moist and flavorful and to die for. The salad was so good we had trouble not eating all of it (but we would have been sick). The corn was wonderful, though not the best part of the meal. And, I forgot to mention, I made french fries! Yes, from scratch. (Are you getting the hint that B and I make WAY too much food for us to eat? And yet we eat it anyway?) Apparently, the trick is to fry the potatoes twice, so that the air inside of them makes it nice and crisp.

So now, as Baby W (yes, we've named him!) pushes up on my ribcage, causing some major pain, my husband is generous enough to do the dishes. And I'm telling you, there are a lot. I can also tell you that both of us will be getting a good night's sleep.

Leftover pumpkin cookies and pumpkin pie for dessert, if we don't explode before then.