A different way to do grilled chicken

By Mike Thayer

Try this recipe at your next backyard BBQ!  I call it "Bird Bites"

4 chicken breasts – cut into bite size pieces
1 lb. turkey bacon – half slices
1 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon red pepper flake (optional) 

Before you start putting together the recipe, get out some bamboo skewers and soak them in water for about 30 minutes (do this and the skewers won’t burn on the grill).  Combine olive oil, salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder and optional red pepper flake, stir, set aside.  Wrap the bite size chicken breast pieces with a half slice of turkey bacon.  Put your ‘bird bites’ on the bamboo skewers – don’t pack them too tightly – you want the flames to crisp up that turkey bacon on all sides.  Place your skewered bites in a container to marinade in and pour on the olive oil mixture.  Since these are bite size pieces, they really don’t need to marinate all that long, go ahead and fire up that grill!  Sear the bird bites on high heat and then let them cook through at a lower temp.  Pull them off the skewer and serve as appetizers (great for tailgating), or make a kid happy with meat on a stick! 

Related recipe:  http://coralvillecourier.typepad.com/community/2012/05/chicken-its-whats-for-dinner.html

And here's a change-of-pace.....  Fix them Buffalo style!  Instead of the olive oil marinade, use the following:

• 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter (melted)
• 10 tablespoons of Louisiana Hot Sauce
• 1-1/2 tablespoons of white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon of Cookies seasoning or your favorite pepper seasoning mix
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• Pinch of salt

Buffalo Bird Bites!  You just might like this variation better than the original.