Menu 5/15-21

Tues- Cilantro Chicken with cilantro lime rice
Wed- Home made corn dogs & tator tots
Thurs-Navajo taco's & salad
FRI/SAT- camping
Sun- Mashed Potato Bowls
Mon- Zucchini Casserole & salad

Bourbon Chicken

www.jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com Time: 15 min. prep + 30-40 min. cooking time Yield: 5 servings Recipe from Big Oven via Pinterest 5 chicken breasts 2 T oil 1 t garlic 1/4 C apple or pineapple juice 1/3 C brown sugar 2 T ketchup 1 T apple cider vinegar 1/2 C water 1/3 C soy sauce pinch red pepper flakes 1 T cornstarch 1. Cut your chicken into small 1-2 inch pieces with some kitchen scissors. 2. Heat up a large skillet over medium high heat. Once it is hot, pour 2 T Olive Oil into it. 3. Add your chicken pieces to the pan and let them cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 4. The chicken will start to get a bit juicy and bubbly. Put the lid on the pan, slightly tilted and drain the juices out into the sink. Return the pan to the stove top and continue cooking over medium high heat. 5. Into a medium sized mixing bowl combine 1 t garlic, 1/4 C apple or pineapple juice, 1/3 C brown sugar, 2 T ketchup, 1 T apple cider vinegar, 1/2 C water, 1/3 C soy sauce, a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1 T cornstarch. Whisk it all together until the cornstarch is dissolved and all ingredients are well combined. 6. When your chicken has a nice brown sear on some of the pieces... pour the sauce into the pan. Stir it around to cover all the chicken pieces. 7. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover the pan with the lid at an angle to allow some of the steam to escape. Let this baby simmer away for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times during the cooking period. 8. Serve over white or brown rice. Enjoy! Comments _displayNameOrEmail_ - _time_ - Remove _text_

Raspberry Crumb Breakfast Bars

Adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking


For the crust and crumb:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces

For the raspberry filling:
1/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pound raspberries, fresh or frozen
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Make the crust and crumb: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch glass or light-colored metal baking pan. Put a long piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the pan, letting the parchment extend up the two short sides of the pan and overhang slightly on both ends. (This will make it easy to remove the bars from the pan after they have baked.) Butter the parchment.

Put the flour, brown sugar, oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon in a food processor. Pulse in short bursts until combined. Add the butter and pulse until loose crumbs form.
Reserve 1 1/2 cup of the mixture and set aside. (Note: The book suggests you reserve one cup only. My gut told me that was too little, and I upped it. I wanted to make sure the top of the raspberries were mostly covered, at least for packing purposes, and was glad I had changed it.) Pour the rest of the mixture into the prepared pan and use your hans or the back of a large wooden spoon to push the crust into an even layer at the bottom of the pan. The crust should touch the sides of the pan. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let the crust cool. Keep the oven on while you make the raspberry filling.

Make the raspberry filling: In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon and flour together. Add the raspberries, lemon juice and butter and use your hands to toss gently until the raspberries are evenly coated.

Assemble and bake the bars: Spread the raspberry filling evenly on top of the cooled crust. Sprinkle the reserved crust mixture evenly on top of the filling.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, rotating the pan every 15 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the filling starts to bubble around the edges.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, then cut into squares and serve. The bars can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to two days.

Hot Ham and Cheese Pinwheels

www.jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com
Time: 45 minutes start to finish
Yield: 24 pinwheels
Recipe from Jamie Cooks It Up!

1 1/2 C warm water
2 T sugar
1 T yeast
1/2 t salt
4-4 1/2 C flour
1 pound deli ham, sliced thin
2 C cheddar cheese, shredded

1. Pour 1 1/2 C warm water into your stand mixer and preheat your oven to 170 degrees. (You read it right...170 degrees is all you need.)
2.  Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon yeast. Turn the mixer on low for about 30 seconds allowing the ingredients to combine. Let it rest for 5 minutes, or until it gets all bubbly.
3. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 cups flour. Turn the mixer on to low and let the flour mix in. Add the rest of the flour (2 1/2 cups worth) one cup at a time. When the dough pulls itself away from the side of the bowl, you have enough flour.
4. Turn the mixer to medium speed and allow it to mix for 5 minutes.
5. Spray your counter with cooking spray, divide the dough into two equal parts and allow them to rest on the counter for 5 minutes. Don't skip this step, ok? If you don't let the dough rest it won't roll out nicely and then you might start to cry and then your kids would think you have lost you mind. Thanks for your cooperation.
6. After the dough has rested roll the old girl out into a large rectangle.
7. Cover it with half of the ham and sprinkle it with 1 cup of cheddar cheese.
8. Roll the dough up starting at the longer end.
9. Spray a large knife with cooking spray and slice the roll into 12 rounds.
10. Place each pinwheel onto a large cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
11. Repeat steps 6-10 with the other half of the dough.
12. Place both pans into your warm 170 degree oven for about 10 minutes, or until they start to rise just a bit. You don't want them to get super puffy, you just want the dough to have the chance to expand a little, like you see in the picture above.
13. Turn the oven up to 350 degrees (don't take the pans out of the oven) and let the pinwheels bake for about 15 minutes or until golden brown along the top and bottom. 
14. Take the pans out of the oven and let the pinwheels rest for about 5 minutes...then gobble them up.
Enjoy!

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

From Jamie Cooks It Up!

It's not very often that I please everyone at dinner, but this one did!  I didn't serve it with the pasta, just a salad.


4-5 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 C Kraft Light Zesty Italian Salad Dressing
1 pint grape tomatoes
3 cloves of garlic
1 T olive oil
2 t balsamic vinegar
freshly cracked salt and pepper
1 1/2 T fresh basil
2 C mozzarella cheese, grated
1/2 C Parmesan cheese, grated
 
8  oz. spaghetti noodles
2 T butter
salt and pepper
 

1. Throw your chicken breasts and 1 C of the salad dressing into a gallon sized zip loc freezer bag. Carefully seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 3 and up to 24 hours. Then pat yourself on the back for getting your act together and having a plan for dinner....right in the middle of the summer. Good for you. I'm so proud to know ya.
2. Just before you are ready to grill your chicken, make the Bruschetta. Chop all the tomatoes in half and toss them into a medium sized mixing bowl.
3. Peel your garlic and chop it into rough pieces.  
Then chop up your basil. If you have some growing fresh in your garden....bless your beautiful hide. You are a better woman (or man) than I am. If you live within 25 miles of here, I sure hope you like to share.
4. Pour in your balsamic vinegar and drizzle the olive oil over the top.
5. Sprinkle some freshly cracked salt and pepper, stir it all up and then taste it. Yes...dig right in. If your tomatoes are lacking in sweetness then add just a bit of sugar. You don't want to kill it over with sweetness now. Just give it a bit of help if your tomatoes are lacking. Adjust the salt and pepper as well, if needed. 
6. Get your mozzarella cheese grated. 
7. Head out to the grill and cook your chicken up over medium high heat. While it's cooking boil some water and cook your spaghetti noodles.
8. When the chicken is cooked through, turn the grills temperature down to low. Place a disposable 9x13 pan onto the grill. Put your cooked chicken into the pan. Cover the chicken with the Bruschetta. 
9. Sprinkle it with the Mozzarella cheese and then cover the grill. 
Let it cook for 7-10 more minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese in nicely melted.
10. Toss your cooked pasta with 2 T butter and sprinkle it with salt and pepper to taste. Cover the pasta with this beautiful chicken and bruschetta. Be sure to get all of the yummy juices from the pan as well. Sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.