Oh, Rob! Shish Kabob

Chicken kabobs, beef kabobs, shrimp kabobs, veggie kabobs - you really can't go wrong threading marinated meat or fresh produce on a metal skewer and grilling over high heat. Truly simple to make, although I will admit when I was younger buying them already assembled from the grocery store ( I mean, who can resist Kabob Jamboree Day?) but I learned that that was for suckers. I could build them, faster, better, cheaper. Your choice of meat, a marinade (and the sky is the limit here), some veg, and a metal stick (you can use wood or bamboo, but be sure to soak them in water first, trust me).  A summer rerun that is always welcome, especially with toasted pita. The best part is that there is truly no wrong answer for how and what you use. So try it, you'll like it.

The Dick Van Dyke Show, hands down the finest television comedy show ever - and I mean ever. Think about it, you know you love Bob Newhart, Mary Tyler Moore and The Carol Burnett Show, but they all came later, Dick Van Dyke paved the way. And, I contend, that if you could only watch reruns of one show for the rest of your life, you would choose Dick van Dyke (I know, this seems odd coming from such a huge Brady Bunch fan), but this show is comedy at it's highest level. From 1961 to 1966, Dick (Rob Petrie), Mary (as in Tyler Moore) as Laura Petrie his suburban New Rochelle housewife and office side kicks Sally Rogers (played by hair bow queen Rose Marie) and Buddy Sorrell (the great Morey Amsterdam) gave us 158 episodes of pure comedy gold. From the catchy opening theme and ottoman stumble, to the closing credits, this show delivered, and usually with Laura uttering her famous "Oh, Rob" warble along the way. Picking a favorite episode is a challenge, but for me it is the time Laura and Rob inherit an old roll top desk that they are sure has fortune hidden inside. Hilarity ensues when Laura, making a discovery she is sure is the treasure they've been looking for says "Oh, Rob, it's the biggest diamond I've ever seen" - but in reality it turns out to be a glass door nob. Perfect writing, perfect casting, perfect timing. A true masterpiece.

The Recipe:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into chunks

italian or soy ginger dressing or marinade

1 green pepper, cut into chunks

cherry tomatoes

Marinade the chicken in dressing for at least an hour. Skewer pepper, meat, tomato in that order under skewer is full. Grill over high heat, turning once for 15-20 minutes. Serve with warmed pita bread and rice pilaf, not Edith Piaf.

Special Equipment: Metal skewers