All-American Appetizers: Thanksgiving-Style

By D. Kubovy

Thanksgiving is a celebration of American pride, family, and great food. We've got a recipe that combines all three -- a family-friendly dish that's delicious and full of great American flavors. Cook these up either indoors or out (depending on the weather where you are), and they make a great appetizer to whet your family's appetite for the Thanksgiving meal ahead. These grilled chicken skewers with barbecue dipping sauce are easy to prepare, easy to eat, and they won't ruin your appetite for dinner!

ALL-AMERICAN CHICKEN SKEWERS

What You Need:

• 12 chicken breast tenders, or four chicken breasts, cut into strips
• 1/2 c. "catsup" (we call it ketchup)
• 3 tbsp. vinegar
• 2 tbsp. soy sauce
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• 2 tbsp. pineapple juice
• 12 bamboo skewers

What to Do:

• Wash your hands!
• Place chicken in food storage bag; add 1 cup barbecue sauce marinade.
• Refrigerate chicken at least 30 minutes.
• Soak skewers in water at least 30 minutes.
• Heat broiler. Remove chicken from barbecue sauce; discard sauce.
• Thread chicken onto skewers.
• Broil skewers 4 inches from heat for 7 to minutes, turning once, until internal juices of chicken run clear. (Or insert instant-read meat thermometer in thickest part of chicken. Temperature should read 170 degrees F.)
• Pepper to taste

Place 1 1/2 cups barbecue sauce in a small serving bowl. Place skewers and bowl of sauce on a platter to serve. If you find yourself with leftovers, refrigerate them immediately.

The families on our panel generally chose to try this recipe for a festive occasion -- an autumn barbecue or a party with friends. Generally, the parents did much of the preparation on their own, as, in the words of the Kayle family, "the kids didn't show much interest until we fired up the grill." The Susman family said, "We actually grilled the kabobs on an indoor grill on the stove, which worked great. We had a blast!" As for the sauce, Mary from St. Louis deemed it "oh-so-easy" to make.

When it came time to eat, everyone was a fan. "What can I say? Put any kind of food on a stick, and a kid will find it instantly more appetizing," noted Lynn, the New York-based mother of Sarah (5) and Nina (3). "Dipping the skewers into the sauce was a great source of enjoyment for the kids," noted the Weise family. "But I'd recommend giving each child his or her own small bowl -- they didn't like sharing!"

While the Susman family reports that "everyone enjoyed the meal," they confessed that their son Tommy (age 11) "said he would prefer a bucket of fried chicken next time!" Of course, the marinade and dipping sauce can be customized for your family's particular tastes. If barbecue dipping sauce is unpopular, ketchup or mustard might be a better option. However, the Van Voorens opted to go spicier: "The recipe is great. I favor tangy flavors, so added a couple extra teaspoons of vinegar." They pronounced the result "great."