Gift of Simplicity: Luau Chicken Sandwiches

Luau Chicken Sandwiches

It's summertime.

Sunny, warm, sleeping-in, lazing around type of days.

And my brain has went ka-put.

Went on vacation.

My get-up-and-go has got up and went.

If you find it, send it home.

I've really been struggling to come up with ideas of what to have for dinner.

I have all these ideas floating around up there.

I usually think of them about 11 pm, when I'm trying to get to sleep.

11 pm, when I'm trying to get to sleep, and I can solve all the world's problems with the snap of my fingers.

8 am in the morning, and I can't even remember what day of the week it is.

Please don't tell me I'm the only one with these issues.

So pardon me while I ramble along, dancing on those marbles that are rattling around in my head.

And no, I haven't lost any of those marbles.

I think.

Recently I've been waking up to unusual sounds outside my bedroom window.

A gentle "quack-quack" followed by at least a dozen or so "peep-peep-peeps" and then "plop. plop. plop." thirteen time in succession.

Molly and Mr. Mallard had taken up residence in our neighbor's shrubs and pool. This is their second clutch of eggs to hatch this summer. One dozen little ducklings. Aren't they adorable?

Father's Day weekend T took the boys backpacking. They left on Thursday and came back on Sunday--hot, stinky, and tired. They hiked 6.4 miles in to Ten Lakes and, of course, 6.4 miles back out. They had a fantastic time. They caught a grand total of 218 fish. For real.

The girls and I stayed home (of course!). We cleaned house, tried out the new self-serve Yogurt shop, had Taco Truck for dinner, relaxed, and had company--two of my friends from school were here for a funeral. Rachel and her family stayed with us for three nights (my girls had a fantastic time getting reacquainted with her children), and Kendra was able to pop in for a few hours. It was So Good to see both of them. I hadn't seen Kendra for thirteen years. You know it is a true friendship when you can literally pick up from where you last left off.

J has been having fun learning how to use my camera. It's a work in progress:

I found a wreath idea/inspiration on Pinterest (link here ).

Burlap around a styrofoam wreath, house numbers from Lowes, and dried moss around a letter initial from a craft store!

Mine didn't turn out quite exactly the same, but I'm happy with it:

Oh, yeah.

This post was supposed to be about Luau Chicken Sandwiches, wasn't it.

Well.

I guess I'd better stop rambling, then.

But first, my scripture verse:

"If My people,

who are called by My name,

shall humble themselves,

pray, seek, crave, and

require of necessity My face

and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven,

forgive their sin,

and heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14, Amplified

Luau Chicken Sandwiches

1 20-oz. Sliced Pineapple

1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

2 Garlic Cloves, crushed

8 thin-sliced Chicken Breast

1/2 Cup Mayonnaise

1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard

1 Tablespoon Dill Weed

Dash Chipotle Chili Powder

4 Slices Provolone Cheese, halved

8 Hamburger Buns

Butter

Sliced Tomatoes

Lettuce

Favorite BBQ Sauce--use one that has fruit in it for best results

Drain Pineapple, reserving juice; set aside Pineapple.

In a large resealable bag, combine the Pineapple Juice, Brown Sugar, 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard, and Garlic. Add Chicken and coat well. Refrigerate for a minimum of two hours.

In a small bowl, combine the Mayo, 1/4-Cup Dijon Mustard, Dill, and Chipotle Chili Powder. Set in refrigerator until time to assemble sandwiches.

For Grilling:

Preheat Grill. Butter Hamburger Buns and gently toast; set aside. Drain Chicken Marinade, grill until done, about 15 minutes. Top with BBQ Sauce the last 5 minutes or so. Top with Provolone Cheese, and allow to melt. Grill Pineapple Rings, about 1 minute per side.

Assemble Sandwiches:

Spread Buns with the Dill-Mayo sauce. Top with Chicken, Lettuce, Tomato, and Grilled Pineapple.

Serves 8. We enjoy this with Grilled Summer Squash.