Chicken Kiev

This is a delicious chicken dish that is great to make if you are entertaining. It is guaranteed to wow your guests and leave them with very full bellies!

Ingredients:

8 chicken breasts flattened (you can always cut the recipe in half)

1 stick of butter

1 package of cream cheese

2 tsp of lemon pepper

Bread Crumbs

Eggwash

Directions:

Mix butter, cream cheese and lemon pepper in a bowl. Roll 8 equal portions of the mixture into balls and put in the freezer for at least half an hour.

Take flattened chicken breast and place ball in the middle. Wrap chicken around the ball and use toothpicks to hold it together.

Dip chicken into eggwash and then cover with bread crumbs. 

Place chicken in a well greased glass baking dish. Bake for about an hour on 375 or until chicken reaches 170 degrees.

**Make sure you aren't measuring the temperature of the cream cheese mixture in the middle and you are getting the temp of the chicken.

Breakfast Casserole

This is a great dish to make for a brunch or a holiday breakfast. It has a good bit of steps but it is delicious and filling!

Ingredients:

5 cups rice krispies

2 lbs sausage (use turkey sausage to cut fat)

1 finely chopped onion

2 cups cooked rice

1/2 cup milk

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

6 eggs- beaten

16oz shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Spray a 13x9 baking dish with Pam. Cover bottom with cereal. Fry sausage with onions. Drain and crumble over top of cereal.

Layer with cooked rice, then cheese.

Combine soup and milk and heat in a medium sauce pan.

Cool and add beaten eggs. Mix well.

Pour over casserole. (Make sure it goes to the bottom by pushing cereal around with a knife)

Bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees.

*For 1/2 of the recipe, use 4 eggs.

Beer Can Chicken

As summer approaches it's time to get those grills fired up and get to cookin' outdoors! This beer chicken guarantees stress free cooking and delicious moist flavor.

For this particular "beer bird" I used the Piri Piri marinade and marinaded it for about 6 hours (overnight would be best).

Then I, um, drank half of a can of beer and poked some holes around the top. The next part is somewhat violating to the bird but you have to basically shove the beer can up the butt of the bird.

Once you do that, put the chicken on the grill on the opposite side of the heat, this will keep you from having a flaming chicken ass.

Cook on medium heat and slowly turn it every 15 minutes or so for about 2 hours, or until it reaches 170 degrees.

The Best Rum Cake Ever

Ingredients:

1 or 2 quarts of Rum

1 C butter

1 tsp. sugar

2 large eggs

1 c. dried fruit

baking powder

1 tsp. soda

lemon juice

brown sugar

nuts

Directions:

Before you start, sample the Rum to check for quality. Good isn't it?

Now go ahead. Select a large mixing bowl, measuring cup, etc. Check the rum again. It must be just right.

To be sure Rum is of the highest quality, pour one level cup of Rum into a glass and drink it as fast as you can. Repeat.

With an electric mixer beat 1 cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 seaspoon of thugar and beat again. Meanwhile, make sure that the Rum is of the finest quality. Try another cup. 

Open second quart if necessary. Add 3 arge leggs, 2 cups fried druit and beat til high. If druit gets stuck in the beaters, just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the Rum again, checking for tonscisticity.

Next, sift 3 cups of pepper or salt (it really doesn't matter). Sample the Rum again.

Sift 1/2 pint of lemon juice. Fold in chopped butter and strained nuts. Add 1 babblespoon of brown sugar, or whatever color you can find. Wix mel.

Grease oven and turn cake pan to 350 gredees.

Now pour the whole mess into the boven and ake.

Check the Rum again and bo to ged.

Double-Chocolate Mousse

Absolute Heaven for your mouth. This dessert is both rich and creamy and tastes a lot worse for you than it really is! You can whip this up in no time if you need a quick dessert to serve drop-in guests, or an impromptu dinner invite! Oh, and it comes from Kraft so it's gotta be good, right?

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups cold fat-free milk, divided 
2 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate 
1 pkg. (2.1 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding 
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP FREE Whipped Topping, divided 
1/2 cup fresh raspberries (or any in-season berry)

Directions:

MICROWAVE 1 cup milk and chocolate squares in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min.; whisk until chocolate is melted. Add remaining milk and dry pudding mix; beat 2 min. Refrigerate 20 min. 

WHISK in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP; spoon into 6 dessert dishes. 

TOP with remaining COOL WHIP and berries.

Calories: 140, Fat: 4.5g

Spicy Honey Chicken Breasts

This has a delicious combination of spicy and sweet and a little twist of mexican flavor from the chili powder. Super quick and easy to make too!

Ingredients:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (or if you like thighs you can use those)

Rub: 2tsp garlic powder

2tsp chili powder

2tsp kosher salt

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp (or more if you like it hot) crushed red pepper flakes

Combine above ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Wash chicken and toss in bowl with the seasonings. This should go on like a rub and can be done in advance to 'marinate' the meat.

Glaze: 6 Tbsp of honey

2 Tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Directions:

Place chicken on a broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Broil chicken 5 minutes on each side or a little longer depending on thickness of chicken.

Combine honey and vinegar in a small bowl, stirring well. Remove chicken from oven; brush 1/4 cup honey mixture on chicken. Broil 1 minute. Remove chicken from oven and turn over. Brush chicken with remaining honey mixture. Broil 1 additional minute or until chicken is done.

Frosted Banana Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 c butter or margerin, softened

2 c sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 c mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)

1 tsp vanilla

2 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

Frosting:

1/2 c butter or margarine, softened

1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened

4 c powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Pour into greased 15x10x1 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool.

For Frosting: Cream butter and cream cheese in mixing bowl. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat well. Spread over bars.

Kahlua Mudslide Brownies

A different spin on the ordinary brownie.

Ingredients:

Brownie Mix:

2 c flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 c butter

4 squares unsweetened choc chopped

3 eggs

1 1/2 c sugar

*** Don't feel like making homemade brownies? Just grab a box version and add the alcohol below!***

4 tbsp khlua

2 tbsp irish cream

1 tbsp vodka

Kahlua Glaze

1 1/4 c powdered sugar

3 tbsp kahlua

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 

Combine all brownie ingredients and blend well. Pour into a well greased 8x8 glass pan. Bake until toothpick comes out clean (about 28 min)

Combine glaze ingredients and pour over cool brownies.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

Another summer side dish!

Ingredients:

1 lg cucumber

1 medium sliced onion

1/2 tbsp salt

pinch of dry mustard

1/3 cup of sour cream

1 tbsp vinegar and a splash of water to dilute

2/3 tbsp lemon juice

1/3 or more (to taste) tbsp of sugar

Directions:

Peel and slice cucumber as thin as you like. Put in bowl with enough water to cover, add salt and blend well. Let soak in refrigerator for an hour.

Drain in colander and rinse once. 

Dry cucumber with towels. Combine rest of ingredients. Pour over cucumbers. Mix well and cover. Let stand for at least 1 hour in refrigerator.

Piri Piri Marinade

Thanks to my brother-in-law, Chris, for this amazing marinade. This is a delicious marinade for summer cook-outs. It works great with kabobs or just on it's own. Chicken seems to be the best medium for the marinade but it can be used with pork as well.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups olive oil
4 fresh jalapeno peppers (finely chopped)
1 tbsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp cilantro (optional, I usually omit)
1 tbsp kosher salt
Directions:
Combine olive oil, peppers, red pepper, salt and pepper in medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in garlic and puree until smooth.
Refrigerate until cool. Stir in kosher salt and marinate meat.

Broccoli Salad

With warm weather approaching it's time to think of those cook-out side dishes!This one is so easy and delicious and definitely a crowd pleaser.  

Ingredients:

1 head of broc, chopped (I like to get those bags of pre-cut broc)

1 sm red onion, chopped

1/2 lb bacon, cooked & crumbled (turkey bacon works great)

1/2 lb mozarella cheese, shredded (go with part skim to save some calories)

1 cup mayo (you can use miracle whip but watch the sugar)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tbsp vinegar

Directions:

Combine mayo, sugar & vinegar to make dressing. Toss with salad ingredients.

**This is best to make the day before, the broc will soften and the dressing will get thinned out.

***Special thanks to Holly's mother-in-law for the recipe

Creamy Banana Pudding

This is a popular one and there are NEVER leftovers at parties.

Ingredients:

1(14oz) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 1/2 cups cold water

1 (4 serving size) package of instant vanilla pudding

2 cups (1 pint) Cool Whip

1 box vanilla wafers (the mini's are good for this)

3 medium bananas dipped in lemon juice

Directions:

In a large bowl combine sweetened condensed milk and water. Add pudding mix, beat well. Chill 5 minutes. Fold in cool whip. Spoon 1 cup pudding mixture into glass bowl. Top with wafers, banana and then pudding. Repeat layering ending in pudding. Chill and garnish as desired!

Banana Crumb Muffins

Oh yum! If you are looking for an easy breakfast muffin, look no further. These were so easy and most of the ingredients should already be in your pantry.The recipe says it makes 10 but you can easily get 12 out of it. They freeze really well too!

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten (I substituted 2 tbsp of apple sauce)
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter



DIRECTIONS 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers. 

In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. 

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins. 
Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.