Chicken Nuggets

This is a recipe off a show on Chi's favorite channel, Sprout. Let me just say Chi loves her some chicken nuggets, and she's not a fan of veggies so this recipe is perfect.

Chicken Nuggets

Ingredients:
2 cups roughly chopped chicken (boneless)
1 small sweet potato, peeled and cooked
1 1/2 tbs mayonnaise
1 tsp powdered chicken stock (I use the seasoning from a things of chicken top ramen)
1/4 cup chives, chopped
1 egg, beaten
breadcrumbs

Directions:

• Line a large oven tray with parchment paper.
• Put chicken, sweet potato, mayonnaise, powdered chicken stock, egg, and chives in a food processor.
• Pulse until combined.
• Put breadcrumbs in a bowl. Drop heaped tablespoon of mixture into breadcrumbs and roll into balls or small patties.
• Place on a prepared oven tray
• Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until cooked through

Marinated Asparagus

I have only recently discovered that I like asparagus. Maybe it's the way I prepare it, or maybe I'm turning into some kind of adult, who knows. But this is a delicious way to make them. Even Chi ate one!

 

Marinated Asparagus

 

Ingredients:
1 bunch asparagus
1 shallot chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1/4c olive oil
1/4c balsamic vinegar
1tsp pepper
1tsp salt

 

Directions:

• Place all ingredients in a large Ziploc baggie and marinate in the fridge for at least an hour
• Pour all contents onto a roasting dish, arranging the asparagus in one layer(something with sides)
• Roast in the oven at 450f for 10-15 minutes, turning half way through
• They're done when a forks pierces them easily, and are bright green

Gma's Casserole

This isn't actually called Gma's casserole, but the name of it's kida racist so I renamed it. My great Gma originally found this recipe in a magezine, way back in the day, and she then gave it to my Gma.When I moved to California I went through her cookbook and copied down all the recipes I liked. This recipe was a hit with Chase the first time I made it, and I now at least once every 2 weeks. It may sound a little strange, but it's actually quite delicious, and is better the second day making GREAT leftovers. It's also arecipe hat can be made with leftovers. It's pretty cheap, I always have the ingredients on hand.

Gma's Casserole



Feeds 4+

Ingredients:
1/2-1# gr beef
1 onion, chopped
3/4# chopped bacon
1 package prepared mac n cheese
2c spaghetti sauce (I usually use leftovers)
2c cold, cooked rice (I usually use leftovers)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325F
Cook bacon until crispy in a large skillet
Add beef and cook; drain
Add onion, saute until soft
Add rest of ingredients, and combine
Bake in a large baking dish for 30 minutes

Jambalaya

This recipe is a delicious recipe I discovered on another food blog and is actually the reason I bought my cast iron Dutch oven. I got a carving for Jambalaya after listening to The Princess and the Frog a million times. This recipe is delicious. I know it doesn't have shrimp in it like a lot of people like, I'm not a big seafood eater, but it's good all the same.

Jambalaya

Feeds 4+

Ingredients:
1/4c veggie oil
1 1/2c onion, large dice
1/4c green bell pepper, large dice
1/4c red bell pepper, large dice
5/8 tsp cayenne, divided
1/2# andouille, cut into 1/4" slices
3/4# chicken, cut into 1" cubes
2 bay leaves
1 1/2c uncooked white rice
14oz can diced tomatoes with juice
2c water or stock
1/2c green onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced

Directions:

• Heat oil in large cast iron DO over medium
• Add onions, bell peppers, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 t cayenne
• Stirring often, brown veggies for about 20 mins, or until well caramelized
• Scrape bottom and sides to loosen any browned bits
• Add sausage and cook, stirring often for 10-15 minutes, scraping bottom and sides
• Season chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp cayenne, add chicken and bay to pot
• Brown chicken for 8-10 minutes, scrapping bottom and sides
• Add rice and garlic cook, stirring frequently, 2-3 minutes
• Add water/stock and tomatoes, stir to combine and cover
• Cook over medium 30-35 minutes, without stirring, or until rice is cooked and liquid is absorbed
• Remove from heat, let stand covered 2-3 mins
• Remove bay, stir in green onion and serve

Pink Vegas

As most of you know, we just recently went to Vegas for the first time. This drink is inspired by a delicious drink I had in one of those huge plastic tube type things. Chase actually stumbled upon this mixture by accident, and when we realized it tasted exactly like the pink concoction I had in Vegas we dubbed it:

Pink Vegas

Ingredients:
1 oz coconut rum

1 oz tequila (use .5 oz of each silver and gold if available)

.5 oz spiced rum

.5 oz triple sec

.5 melon liqueur

.5 oz vodka

1 oz pina colada mix

1 oz strawberry daiquiri mix

3-4 oz pomegranate margarita mix

What can I say? We've established a quit extensive liquor cabinet

Directions:

• Tall glass full of ice
• Combine ingredients in shaker with ice
• Shake and strain into glass
• Garnish with a strawberry if desired

Delicious!