12.4.10 Mc's Asian Chix & a new porch

a pic while the porch was in progress, with Tex standing watch.

Last night we were invited to eat with some of our favorite people...a favorite couple...from a favorite family.  Sammy & Judy Mc...and sweet Tex-a-poo. 
Sammy has been hard at work the last month putting on a gorgeous deck and other remodeling upgrades to the ranch.  We were greeted in the drive by our favorite PitBull...our favorite dog period (since our precious ones have gone to heaven).  Tex doesn't wag his tail...he wags his whole entire body and actually smiles...I'll have to take a picture of his smile.  It would scare you to death if you didn't know he was smiling (and if he doesn't know you, he won't be smiling).  He is a most precious and special dog...somehow more than just a dog...but the embodiment of "man's best friend".
Judy had yummy bits ready for picking...green olives (my fav), crackers, cheese, deli meat & spicy mustard...with some red wine.  Mine was the glass with the little snowflake charm..so Christmasy.
For dinner it was grilled Asian chix with pineapple, fluffy baked taters, and we brought sweet corn for the grill.  Scott rubbed the husked cobs with butter and salt & pepper and wrapped em in foil for the grill..about 30-40 min?
Judy shared the recipe for the chix, which was perfectly seasoned and tender.
Hawaiian Chicken
6 boneless chix breast halves, no skin
2 cups pineapple juice (Judy said she only had about 1/4 of this, so added white wine to make up for the rest)
2 TBS Worcestershire sauce
1/4 C soy sauce
2 TBS brown sugar
-In a bowl combine pineapple juice, Worcestershire, soy & sugar; blend well.  Using a fork, poke chix all over, about 6-7 times.  Add chix to marinate, makes sure it's covered.  Add more juice if needed.  Cover and marinate in fridge 12-24 hrs.  Grill, broil or bake chix, disgarding marinade.
There were tender and crispy warm bread slices (I think halved mini croissants!)  And refreshing spiced iced tea for sipping....in Texas, even when it's cold outside you need some iced tea :)
I also picked up some whole onions and a garlic head to roast in the oven...the garlic was great, and the onions just fine and tender...but I would have liked them done a little longer to carmelize.  I cut the garlic in half down the fat middle (hemisphere) and salt/peppered and olive oiled, wrapped in foil.  The onions were peeled and I left the stem end on, but cut them like you would for an onion mum.  S&P, butter and olive oil, wrapped in foil...I think they were in about 30-40 minutes, and were tender but al dente...I would have preferred carmelized.
Judy had brownies for dessert which the boys served up with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream...we were stuffed!
Time with friends like these, cooking, eating, watching a little football (while I read a book)...with Tex at our feet.  My kind of heaven on earth.