Honey Mustard Chicken and Pineapple Kebabs

The ability of food to transport us through time and space is undeniable. Whenever I cook with pineapple I am taken back to our trips to Hawaii. To the many roadside fruit-stands, to the sweet cold frosties on Kauai (at Banana Joe's) made simply of pureed frozen pineapple slices, to the sounds of the waves on Kaanapali beach, the striking orange shades of Maui's breathtaking sunsets, the clean fresh morning breeze coming off the Pacific ocean towards the Big Island, to swimming with sea turtles back on Maui. Hawaii is truly synonymous with pineapples (among other things) but my relationship with this fruit goes way back to my early years (way, way back.)

When I was a child, my father planted a pineapple garden at the back of our house in the Trinidad "countryside." The neat rows of pineapple crowns made for a pretty sight and an exciting obstacle track for my sister and me until they grew to full size and playing in there was just asking for trouble. (Trust me, being poked and scratched by the long spiny leaves is not fun.) It was a short hobby of his but it seemed as though we ate pineapple for a long time. The variety he planted was one of the sweet and tangy varieties. But the Maui Gold variety is the best I have ever tasted: ultra sweet with a low acid content ( so no tangyness.) And did you know that it even has more vitamin C than other varieties? Yes, more than three times! All the more reason to add some pineapple to your summer meals.

Honey Mustard Chicken and Pineapple Kebabs

Serves 4 to 5

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup dijon mustard

2 tbsp yellow mustard

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

2 cups large pineapple chunks

wooden skewers

1. Cut chicken into 1" chunks and combine with honey, dijon mustard, yellow mustard, and cilantro. Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. (Of course, better if refrigerated over night.)

2. Skewer the chicken and pineapple chunks on wooden skewers and cook on a hot grill for about eight to ten minutes, turning once, until chicken is cooked thoroughly. (Alternatively this can be done in a 400 degree F oven for 15 minutes until chicken is cooked through. )