Chipotle Marinade

Who doesn't like a nice smoky, spicy piece of meat?!  I'm tired of buying marinades that aren't worth the price (even though I love the flavors).  So here comes the chipotle marinade that's easy to play with and you can use on any cut of meat!

Chipotle Marinade

** served with Smash-ed Tatoes**

*Makes enough for 2 pieces of meat

3 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 Cloves of Garlic (chopped)
1 tsp.-1 Tbsp. Honey (depending on if you like a subtle sweet with your spice)
1/4 tsp. Cumin
2-5 Chipotle peppers (from a can in adobo sauce) ((2 is a touch of spicy, 5 is a good kick in the mouth))
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Pepper

1. Put all the ingredients in a food processor or a blender and mix until it's no longer chunky.
2. Here is where you can play with the flavor a bit.  You can add green onions, regular yellow onions, herbs, or other spices.
3. Pour over the meat and marinate.  Cook how you like it.  I love to grill it.

*marinating times*
Chicken- 24 hours
Steak- 12-24 hours
Fish- Who knows... I don't eat the stuff :)

Subtle BBQ Marinade

I tend to be pretty picky about my flavors on chicken.  I've tried store bought marinades and I like one or two but I decided to try my hand in making my own to play with.  This is tough for me as we don't actually own a grill at the moment.  (we live in a STUPID apartment complex and can't have one)  So, we deal with a mini George Foreman grill.  All of my grilling recipes are usually made for either one.  I was looking for a spicy, sweet, and subtle taste and I stumbled across it while just dumping things in a bowl!  I can only encourage people to be creative.  That's where half of my recipes come from, me just making stuff up.

Subtle BBQ Marinade

*enough for 2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Allergen Tips:
Double check your bbq label to ensure you have a gluten free dish!
Balsalmic vinegar is also safely on the g-free list :)

1/4 C. Olive Oil
1/2 C. Spicy BBQ Sauce (we use Bill Johnson's and swear by it!)
2 tsp. Balsalmic Vinegar
1 Tbsp Garlic (minced)
2 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 tsp. Pepper
1 tsp. Chili Powder
1/8 C. Water
1/3 C Onion (chopped)

*If ACTUALLY grilling, you may want to set aside just a bit of the marinade to brush on while grilling!*

1. I like to cut my chicken breasts in half so they are thinner and easier to grill to perfection.  Put them (in whatever state you like) in a ziploc bag.
2. Chop up your onion and put in the bag with the chicken.
3. In a bowl, mix all other ingredients.  Mix well with a whisk.
4. Pour the sauce over the chicken in the bag.
5. Marinade for at least 5 hours or freeze for a later date.
6. Grill Chicken to your liking and enjoy!

Carne Asada with a Citrus Twist

I don't like to settle on one marinade when it comes to meat.  I like to play around with them here and there until I tweak it just enough to make it perfect.  This marinade for carne asada has a tangy lime flavor with a hint of heat in the spices!

Carne Asada Marinade
*for about 3lbs

3lbs Thinly Sliced Flank Steak (You can usually buy it pre-sliced from the store)
4 Cloves of Garlic (minced)
1/2 C. Cilantro
1 Bell Pepper
1 Small Onion
2 Limes (juiced)
1/3 C. Orange Juice
1/4 C. Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Cumin
1 Tbsp. Pepper
1/2 C. Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1 Tbsp. Chili Powder (use 2 Tbsp. for more of a kick)

1. Put all ingredients into a blender or food processor.  Mix until close to smooth.
2. Pour over carne asada meat, in a bowl or ziploc bag.
3. Marinade for 48 hours (or you can freeze for later) *I usually make it in two half batches one for now and one for later.
4. Grill (or pan sear) to a medium well.  Keep in mind that this meat is SUPER thin and you don't want to over cook it.

 (Sorry it's blurry! This is after I've grilled them.  I'm keeping them in the skillet with a lid to keep them warm.)

5. Once cooked, cut up into small 1/4" squares and serve in burritos, tacos, or put it on nachos!