Sticky Chicken

My little sister Krista introduced this to us. It's delicious. It's pretty much a souped-up version of sweet-and-sour chicken. Make it. Enjoy it. And if there are more than four of you double the recipe. Even if there are only two of you, you might want to double it. It makes delicious leftovers! The sauce is also delicious over rice, with eggrolls, or with won-tons. Enjoy!

Sticky Chicken

Sauce:
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 Tb. soy sauce
dash salt
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 small can pineapple tidbits, drained (optional)
1 medium green pepper, chopped (optional)
1/2 medium onion, chopped (optional)

Chicken:
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken tenders
2 eggs
1/4 cup cornstarch or flour
1/4 tsp. paprika
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. onion powder

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Combine sauce ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Set aside.
3. Beat eggs in a shallow dish. Combine cornstarch or flour, paprika, salt, and onion powder in another shallow dish.
4. Dip each chicken tender in cornstarch mixture, then in eggs. Fry each piece in oil until brown. Put into prepared pan. Repeat with remaining chicken.
5. Pour sauce over the chicken, making sure they are all well coated. Bake for 45 minutes. If using pineapple, green pepper and/or onions steam in microwave for 3 minutes, then stir into chicken/sauce mixture. Serve over rice with stir fried vegetables.

Chocolate Wonder

My little sister made this over the Thanksgiving weekend, and ever since I tasted it I have been craving it. I got the recipe from her (a recipe from her husband's family, one of his favorite desserts) and made it yesterday. It's already half gone. Oops :)

Chocolate Wonder

First Layer:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts)
1 cup flour

Combine until crumbly, pat into bottom of 9x13 pan. Bake at 300 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool completely.

Second Layer:
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 large pkg. (16 oz.) Cool Whip

Combine powdered sugar and cream cheese. Add Cool Whip and spread over crust.

Third Layer:
2 pkg. instant pudding (1 large, 1 regular)
3 cups milk

Mix. When set, pour over the second layer.

Fourth Layer:
1/2 large package Cool Whip
Chocolate shavings and/or additional chopped nuts for garnish

Spread over pudding layer. Sprinkle with additional chopped nuts and/or chocolate shavings.

One Pan Taco Dinner

Sorry, no picture today. I'm currently on bed rest (have been for the past week and a half) so I haven't been able to do much cooking lately. This is one of our favorite quick and easy meals. It's fast, flavorful, and we always have the ingredients on hand. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

One Pan Taco Dinner

1 lb. ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

1 pkg. taco seasoning mix

1 cup salsa

2 cups minute white rice, uncooked

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded lettuce

1 large tomato, chopped

Optional Toppings

sour cream

avocado

tortilla chips

cilantro

olives

1. Brown meat and onion in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain.

2. Add 2 cups water, seasoning mix, and salsa. Bring to a boil.

3. Stir in rice. Sprinkle with cheese; cover. Cook on low heat 5 minutes, until rice is completely cooked and soft. Top with lettuce, tomato, and desired optional toppings just before serving.

Baked Beans

Hello friends! I've missed you! Sorry that it's been so long since I've written. Here's the thing: I'm 13 weeks pregnant and food is just not appealing to me right now. But, today I had a hankering for some baked beans so I whipped these up for dinner. This recipe comes from my mother-in-law Sandy. The first time she made these baked beans, I begged for the recipe, and I've never gone back. I know there are some kind of strange ingredients in this recipe, but trust me, these are delicious. Enjoy!

Baked Beans

4 small (or 2 large) cans Pork & Beans
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1/2 pound bacon, diced
1/3 cup molasses
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 Tb yellow mustard
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp. parsley flakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook bacon & onion in large skilled. Drain.
3. In large casserole dish or 9 x 13 pan combine all ingredients. Mix well. Cover with tinfoil.
4. Bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and bake for another 30 minutes.

Lemon Fruit Salad

Let's just say this. This is my very favorite part of Thanksgiving dinner. I love it. Can't get enough of it. And look forward to it all year long. It's a classic from my Aunt Mary. Make it. Enjoy it. Love it. Come back for more. Sorry about the horrible pictures...just know it's amazing.

Lemon Fruit Salad

1 can lemon pie filling
1 8 oz. package cool whip
1 lb. strawberries, sliced
3 bananas, sliced
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve, not more than 12 hours. Enjoy!

Philly Steak Sandwiches

It's rare that I make steak, so if I'm going to take the time to make it I want it to be good. Juicy. Delicious. And worth my time. I was craving Philly steak sandwiches the other day and decided to whip these up. They turned out fantastic. I topped mine with some homemade pickled peppers that my sister brought me and in my own humble opinion it made them even better. Yum.


Philly Steak Sandwiches
makes 4 sandwiches

1 lb. good quality steak
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. onion powder

1 Tb. vegetable oil
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
2 Tb. soy sauce
1 Tb. Worcestershire sauce
1 red or green bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 Anaheim pepper, seeds removed and thinly sliced (optional, if you want it spicier)

4 hoagie rolls
1 cup sliced sharp white cheddar cheese

1. Combine spices. Rub evenly into steak. Grill over medium-high heat until medium (140 degrees F on thermometer), about 8-10 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. Remove steak from grill, set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and peppers. Saute for 5 minutes. Slice steak thinly on the bias. Add to skillet, along with barbecue sauce, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook 2-3 more minutes, until heated through.
3. Fill hoagie rolls with steak/pepper mixture. Top with cheese. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

My husband hates zucchini. I love zucchini. Just not enough to eat the 2 foot long zucchini that my parents sent home with me all by myself. In trying to figure out just how to make that big zucchini disappear, I stumbled upon a delicious sounding recipe on Our Best Bites. Below is the recipe, with a few adaptations. I have to say, it was wonderful! Corey devoured it, and that is saying something considering it has zucchini in it! It is perfectly moist and has a nice balance between the chocolate and cinnamon. If you don't like chocolate and cinnamon together, feel free to leave the cinnamon out.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Bread:
2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
6 Tb. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 Tb. vanilla
1/2 c. sour cream
2 c. very finely shredded zucchini
1/2 cup applesauce
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup toasted walnuts or pecans (optional)

Topping:
2 Tb. brown sugar
2 Tb. white sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 large (8-9") loaf pans or 5 miniature (4") loaf pans with cooking spray.
2. Beat oil, sugars, and eggs for 1 - 2 minutes or until well combined and slightly fluffy. Add sour cream and vanilla and mix.
3. Stir in zucchini, making sure that it is well incorporated throughout the batter.
4. Add flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and cocoa powder. Mix until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts, if desired.
5. Divide batter evenly among pans. Combine topping ingredients in a separate bowl and sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter.
6. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes (miniature pans) or 50 - 60 minutes (large pans). Cool 2 minutes, then invert onto cooling rack to cool completely. Serve warm with a glass of cold milk!