It’s Summer in my Kitchen.

It’s a cool 54 degrees outside on this sunny April day but it’s summertime in my kitchen.  Gingery-Chicken with Peaches.  Think spicy ginger with sweet peaches smothering the most delicious baked chicken all served on a bed of steaming hot rice.

And the recipe couldn’t be easier.  Simply marinate the chicken in a mixture of brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, salt and pepper.  While that’s hanging out, slice up a red onion and put in a large bowl with one bag of frozen peaches.  Into the bowl you’ll add flavor with more ginger, a little brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame and canola oil and red pepper flakes.  Now mix it all up.

Pour the onion-peach mixture into a casserole dish and tuck the chicken on top.  Simply bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes.  Serve this delicious chicken dinner over hot rice.

p.s. The kitchen smelled insanely good.

So even if it isn’t summer outside – make it summer in your kitchen.

“Our Carolina Cakes”

Has anyone seen the most recent issue of Our State magazine?

In this issue there are cakes that you’ve never seen (or heard of or imagined) before.  And to be honest they’re ”cakes that only a North Carolinian can appreciate.”

The Krispy Kreme Cake - featuring 6-12 Krispy Kreme original glaze doughnuts

The Maple Syrup and Country Ham Cake – in the words of Big Guy, “Come on.”

The Nabs Cake -  I can’t lie, hoop cheese plus Lance Toastchee Crakers plus frosting is not appetizing to me.

The Pepsi ‘N Peanuts Cake  - combining sweet Pepsi with salty peanuts

Last, but certainly not least, as it’s the one Big Guy has requested…

The Pimento Cheese Cake – yes, they went there.

Despite Big Guy’s request, I have not whipped up the above cakes (yet).  But I did throw together Pimento Cheese Stuffed Chicken and I didn’t hear any more complaining.  Despite living in the South, I’ve never had pimento cheese with bacon as one of the mix-ins until this dinner.

The pimento cheese mixture included 1 slice bacon (crisped and crumbled), 3/4 cup white cheddar cheese (grated), green onions, pimentos (duh!), mayo (only 1 tablespoon!), lemon juice (I used the juice from half a Meyer) and hot sauce (1/2 teaspoon or to taste).

Holy moly!  If I’ve ever had a Southern chicken dinner, this is it!

I loved the addition of not only the bacon but the zip of the lemon and a little heat from the Texas Pete.  Served with a side of roasted brussels.

Which of the above cakes would you be willing to try?