The notion of comfort food has changed for me over the years. As a child, it was my mom’s hummus and tabbouleh, in college it was all about the school’s mac and cheese, and now it’s a nice blend of healthy yet decadent food.  Alan and I love cooking dinner together and even shop the weekly farmers’ market for our produce and most foods.  It’s a ritual we started back when we first began dating and it continues now (after Harlee is down for the night).  We enjoy catching up on our day while we cook, sip on some wine, and then make plans for the rest of the week. It’s a routine that we look forward to and it’s one that works for us.

We love food but we are also into wellness and making healthy choices.  We want our food to be indulgent and filled with yummy nutrients but always simple and something we can create on a whim. I never thought grilled chicken would be a top contender but it is.  As you know, when I was pregnant with Harlee, I went from pescatarian to meat eater after 20 years. It’s what the baby craved so I went ahead with it. I still eat mostly clean, but I find comfort in some meals with meat.

This past weekend, Alan and I were in the mood to grill something and he really wanted a flavorful chicken.  We used Foster Farms Simply Raised Chicken and added our favorite marinade (see below) to give it the perfect kick.  Foster Farms Simply Raised Chicken is Antibiotic-free so I can feel good knowing about the food we’re eating – especially since it’s our comfort food!

I’ve always grown up eating foods with plenty of spices (hello Mediterranean and Armenian cuisine!). When it comes to grilled chicken, the trick is in the marinade.  I opt for coconut oil as it makes the meat tender and juicy (essentially making it impossible to make dry) and the spices bring out so much flavor you’ll literally want to eat your fingers along with the meat #justsayin.

Go charcoal or go home! Alan and I are charcoal grillers and will never go back. Grilled dishes just taste better on a charcoal grill so we’re hooked.  We grill 1-2 times a week almost every week so I’ve learned to taste the difference.

As side dishes, we grilled artichoke hearts and asparagus drizzled with olive oil and pepper, plus tossed together a fresh watermelon and feta cheese salad.  The flavors come together nicely and given our beautiful weather in Los Angeles, this is a year round dish.

Best Grilled Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

3-4 Foster Farms Simply Raised Chicken Breasts

1/4 cup Coconut Oil

1 tbsp Moroccan Spice mix

1 tsp Sumac spice

1 tsp Sea Salt

Directions

Cover chicken breasts with coconut oil and drizzle Moroccan spice mix, Sumac spice, and sea salt on both sides of the chicken. Cover and allow to marinate for 3 hours.  Place on hot grill and cook on each side for 5 minutes. Serve immediately with fresh watermelon salad, grilled asparagus, and grilled artichokes.

Learn more about the New Comfort Food movement at Foster Farms.

This post is sponsored by Foster Farms and Collectively.