Pepper Jelly-Glazed Chicken with Corn and Zucchini

One of my favorite, simple appetizers for parties -- and one of my favorite snacks to eat myself -- is crackers dipped in softened cream cheese topped with red pepper jelly. So when I saw this recipe combining pepper jelly and cream cheese with some of my other favorite things, I was immediately drawn to it.

The chicken was good, but not great. I think it would have been better if I'd used our outdoor grill, but we didn't feel like firing it up last night so I cooked this inside. The glaze wasn't quite as flavorful as I was hoping for. The vegetables, though -- they were incredible! I opted to use flat-leaf parsley instead of cilantro (cilantro, usually one of my favorite things, doesn't seem to like me too much lately), and it was delicious. I actually think the vegetables would have been just as good without the cream cheese.

I probably won't make the chicken again -- or I'll tweak the glaze to make it more flavorful -- but I already know that the vegetables are going to become one of my favorite summer sides.

Pepper Jelly-Glazed Chicken with Corn and Zucchini
source: adapted from Epicurious

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
1 large zucchini
1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Half of a red onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
2 tablespoons red pepper jelly
4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 pounds chicken cutlets
2 tablespoons cream cheese

1. Halve tomatoes and cut zucchini into 1/2-inch pieces. In a heavy skillet cook onion in oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened. Add tomatoes, zucchini, garlic, corn, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until zucchini is tender, 25 to 30 minutes.

2. While corn mixture is simmering, prepare chicken. In a small saucepan melt jelly over moderate heat, stirring, and remove pan from heat. Stir in lemon juice and chili powder and divide jelly mixture between 2 small bowls (to prevent the potential contamination caused by uncooked meat juices). Pat chicken dry and brush with jelly mixture from 1 bowl. Season chicken with salt and pepper and grill on an indoor or outdoor grill just until cooked through, about 4 minutes on each side. With a clean brush, coat chicken with jelly mixture from other bowl.

3. Stir cream cheese into corn mixture until melted. Stir in parsley and salt and pepper to taste. Serve corn mixture topped with chicken.