Grilled Chicken with Lemon, Oregano & Cumin

Happy Friday, everyone! Summer is officially here in Chicago (it’s about time…) and we are soakin’ up the sunshine here and taking FULL advantage of our little deck, firepit, and grill in our new home. It’s been so wonderful hosting friends & family for a change, and this grilled chicken recipe has been on our rotation for BBQ dinners. It’s been a hit so far–it’s garlicky, lemony, and packed with delicious goodness thanks to the fresh oregano and cumin powder. We love it, and our taste testers have given me the thumbs up to share it with my readers! 🙂

Enjoy, and drop me a comment to let me know what you’re grilling this summer!

Ingredients (serves 4) 

4 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp fresh oregano, chopped
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp cumin powder
1 tbsp (at least) kosher salt – can add more depending on taste
Black pepper, to taste

8 chicken drumsticks
Vegetable oil, for brushing the drumsticks
Lemon wedges for serving

Mix together the marinade ingredients in a large bowl or platter. Add the chicken drumsticks and mix well, so that the drumsticks are well-coated in the marinade. Pop in the fridge if you’re prepping beforehand (overnight or the morning of is recommended) and leave out in room temperature at least 30 minutes prior to grilling.

Fire up the grill to high, then reduce to medium-high heat. Brush vegetable oil on each side of the chicken. Grill the drumsticks over medium-high heat with the lid closed, 5-10 minutes per side (time may vary depending on your grill). Once they’re done, we love to sprinkle then with some Maldon sea salt flakes and serve with lemon wedges and grilled veggies!

County Barbeque: Cool Vibes & Good Grub

My husband and I have recently been hooked onto anything and everything Anthony Bourdain. We LOVE his show The Mind of a Chef, and ever since we saw the barbeque episode, we’ve had some hangry cravings for brisket. And I’m not even a huge fan of BBQ!

So tonight, we found ourselves wandering around Chicago’s Little Italy and ended up at County Barbeque, a super cute-slash-hipster joint on Taylor St. I don’t hang out in Little Italy or Greektown nearly enough – everything about the neighborhood is just so freaking charming. That’s what I love about Chicago – all the wonderful different neighorhoods with their own unique character. So much to experience in one city, you just never get bored.

Our meal was great – awesome drinks (get the Whisky Splash cocktail), amazing customer service, and decent food. The brisket sandwich (far right) wasn’t as tender as I had hoped, but all in all, a solid experience. I’d definitely come back with a crew for the ambience. Bonus points for the incredible blues music playing the entire time.

COUNTY BARBEQUE

Also, side note – how cute is the outdoor Patio at Three Aces?! Definitely need to check it out…when it’s warm again (ugh).

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