Dan's for Dinner

This is our first back to school weekend.  On the plate is a serving of studying, reading and writing papers.  I personally did not have as much work to do as my husband Brian, who loves math so much that he took two classes this semester, in addition to his two English and the theology class.  If I ever want to complain about my homework load all I have to do is look into my husband’s study and realize how easy the semester really is with two British literature, a non-fiction writing class and my journalism class. 

Today, while we were settling into our new school weekend study time, the phone rang.  Brian answered the call and accepted the first diversion from homework this year, dinner at his brother Dan’s house.  We knew that the meal would consist of some form of BBQ meat and beer, so we could not refuse.  We were not disappointed, as we met Dan in his driveway with his gas grill.  Dan quickly got out one of his special beer he picks out especially for me:  Key lime.  Often the beer that he selects for me at the store has something to do with fruit. Once he got me a blueberry beer from Colorado.  Since then I have tried every blueberry beer in Michigan, but none can compare.  Once for Christmas he bought me a peanut butter and jelly beer.  My son Ted and his buddies drank it.  Ted said that it was truly awful.  Today’s selection was actually pretty good.

Over the usual family chat, Dan brought the mystery meat in from the grill.  We had glazed teriyaki chicken breasts, fresh green beans, frozen peas with butter, blueberries, cucumber slices, and rice pilaf.  The glazed chicken was especially good.  Dan’s special ingredient is a garlic oil that he added directly to the little bottle of teriyaki sauce he bought.  Dan pours olive oil into his container of ground garlic.  He cooks a lot like me, winging it after skimming a recipe.  I had expected something outlandish, but in the end, this simple sauce worked perfectly with on the grill.  The caramelized pieces were a nice extra.