Pretzel Crusted Mustard Chicken

This is a variation of a recipe I received for a recipe swap. I decided and to simply it a little, and I opted not to make the cheese sauce since I didn’t have any milk around. Plus I am trying to eat better and cheese sauce is a huge weakness of mine, ha!

Adapted from Kate's Recipe Box

2 chicken breasts, cut into strips (6 strips total)
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 heaping tablespoon stone ground mustard
5 ounces pretzels, finely crushed
shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375. Mix butter and mustard in a shallow dish. Place crushed pretzels in a separate shallow dish.

Dip chicken strips into the butter mixture making sure the entire piece is coated. Then dip into pretzels. Place strips into a casserole dish.

Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes, turning once, until juice runs clear and chicken is no longer pink at the thickest part.

Sprinkle cheese on the strips as soon as they come out of the oven.

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Buffalo Chicken Bites

I am a sucker for anything "buffalo chicken". When I first saw this recipe I was dying to try it, but since I do not fry things at home, it never happened. So imagine my excitement when I saw a baked version. These were incredible and I didn't even miss the fact that they were not fried. Confession: There is a part of me that wants to make a big patty out of this mixture and eat it like a sandwich.

Adapted from Pennies on a Platter

INGREDIENTS

3 cups shredded cooked chicken
1/4 to 1/2 cup hot sauce (or more to your taste)
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 3/4 cups sharp or medium shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3 – 4 cups panko breadcrumbs

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix the chicken, cream cheese and hot sauce until combined. Stir in the cheddar cheese.

Using a small cookie or ice cream scoop, spoon out the chicken mixture and roll into about 1 1/2 inch balls. Place on a plate or separate baking sheet (not lined) until ready to dip.

In three separate bowls, set out the flour, eggs and panko. Dip each chicken ball first into the flour, then the egg and ending with the panko. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm with ranch or blue cheese dressing.

**If freezing for later, place the dipped and uncooked chicken balls onto the parchment lined baking sheet and flash freeze for 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a freezer bag and store in the freezer until ready. To bake, place the frozen chicken balls back on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350˚F for 25 to 30 minutes, until crispy and golden brown.

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Oven-Fried Pickles

I am a huge fan of fried pickles. When see them on a menu out some place I must have them. I've never tried to make them myself because I try to avoid frying things at home. (I have to draw the line somewhere, ha!) Imagine my excitement when I saw a baked version. Although you can't beat a true fried pickle, these were a great substitute.

From Prevention RD

INGREDIENTS

20 ounce jar dill burger slice pickles (I used a small jar of dill chips)
2 eggs
1/3 cup flour
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS

Turn oven broiler on to 450 F.

In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and flour together. Add worcestershire, hot sauce, garlic powder, cajun seasoning, and pepper to egg mixture. Mix well.

Place panko bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Dunk each pickle slice into the egg mixture, than dredge it in the panko bread crumbs.

Place coated pickles on a baking sheet that’s been coated with non-stick cooking spray. Place pan in middle rack of oven. Broil about 2-3 minutes on each side. Watch closely to be sure they don’t burn

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S'more Cups

When I received this swap recipe I was so excited because just hours prior was craving a S'more. These little treats are the perfect thing to fix that craving. My crust didn't set up but I think that was because I didn't press the mixture up the sides far enough. They were still tasty though!

From Taste & See

INGREDIENTS
1 cup finely crushed graham crackers (about 7 whole crackers)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
6 Tablespoons butter, melted
2 Hershey bars (24-rectangles)
about 72 mini marshmallows

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350-degrees. Lightly grease a mini muffin pan or spray with PAM.

Combine graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar, and melted butter in a small bowl.

Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 tablespoon), place a scant scoop of crumb mixture in each cup of mini-muffin pan.

Press crumbs to form shallow cups. Bake 4-5 minutes or until edges are bubbling. Meanwhile, break the candy bars into rectangles.

Remove pan from oven; place one Hershey rectangle into each cup.

Place about 3 mini marshmallows into each cup.

Return to the oven, and broil for 2-3 minutes to give the marshmallows a "toasted" flavor and appearance.

Remove pan from the oven and place on a cookie rack to cool. Cool for 15 minutes. Carefully remove cups from the pan. Cool completely.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

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Bean and Cheese Enchiladas

This recipe is courtesy of another swap I participated in. I had never made my own Enchilada sauce so I was excited to try this recipe....and it was wonderful. The original recipe called for zucchini in place of the beans and salsa, but I know you may find this shocking (joke) I do not like zucchini. I thought about using chicken but I figured I would keep it meat free as the recipe truly intended.

Adapted from: Kate's Recipe Box

INGREDIENTS

Cooking spray
1 can black refried beans
1 cup salsa or 1 can Rotel
salt and pepper
3/4 cup shredded cheddar
3/4 cup shredded Monterey jack
4 large flour tortillas

Enchilada sauce:

1 garlic clove, minced
1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1 cup tomato sauce
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 cup chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

For the enchilada sauce: in a medium saucepan, spray oil and sauté garlic. Add chipotle chile, cumin, broth, tomato sauce, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.

Spray a baking dish with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to 400F degrees.

In a medium nonstick skillet warm beans and salsa (or Rotel); salt and pepper to taste and cook about 4-5 minutes.

Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup cheddar and 1/4 cup of Monterey jack; mix well.

Divide bean mixture between in each tortilla, roll and place seam side down in baking dish. (I had leftover filling due my changes, but the leftovers make a great bean dip for tortilla chips).

Top with enchilada sauce and remaining cheese and bake until hot and the cheese is melted, about 20 minutes.

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Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

This is a fun (and cheap) twist on the Philly Cheesesteak. Of course the orginal recipe calls for onions, and some people add peppers and mushrooms...but you won't find any of that here. For a side dish I simply made some extra cheese sauce and served that with some cooked broccoli.

Adapted from: A Taste of Home Cooking, originally from Rachael Ray

INGREDIENTS

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1/4 cup steak sauce
1 cup beef consume
salt and ground black pepper
4 dinner rolls
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
1 cup milk
1 cup provolone, shredded
chopped sweet cherry peppers

DIRECTIONS

Preheat boiler.

In large skillet over medium-high heat with 1 turn of the pan of olive oil, brown the ground beef, about 5-6 minutes. Stir in the steak sauce and beef consume, season with salt and pepper, bring up to a bubble and cook about 2 minutes.

Split open rolls and toast under broiler, keep your eye on them so they don't burn!

While the meat is cooking, melt the butter in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the flour and cook about 1 minute. Whisk in milk, bring up to a bubble and let thicken, about 2 minutes. Turn off heat and stir the cheese in a figure-eight motion until it is all incorporated

To serve, place a scoopful of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the rolls, then top with the cheese sauce and cherry peppers; replace the top of the roll.

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