Bourbon Chicken

This is definitly one of our favorite recipes. I saw it on Heather Drive and had to try it and have been making it ever since. It has a little spice to it but not too much, Erik doesn't complain. You could definitly make it more or less spicy by changing the amount of red pepper. The only difference I made to the recipe was to add toasted sesame seeds, and cut down the amount of chicken (shown in recipe). I usually have everything on hand for this recipe, except the apple juice, so I bought a package of apple juice juice boxes so they will stay good for a long time instead of buying a whole bottle everytime that we dont drink!





Bourbon Chicken(Source:Adapted from Heather Drive)

Ingredients:

-1lb lbs. boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
-1-2 tablespoon olive oil
-1 garlic clove, crushed
-1/4 teaspoon ginger
-3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
-1/4 cup apple juice
-1/3 cup light brown sugar
-2 tablespoons ketchup
-1 tablespoon cider vinegar
-1/2 cup water
-1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (my addition)
-3-4 cups cooked broccoli florets
- Cooked rice (we like brown rice)


Directions:

1. Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned. Remove Chicken.

2. Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium heat until well mixed and dissolved.

3. Add chicken and bring to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer, about 20 minutes. Add cooked broccoli during last 5 minutes of simmering time to coat evenly with sauce and to reheat the broccoli. Serve over hot rice and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, or mix right into the sauce.



(NOTE: Like Heather, I use a slurry (cornstarch and water) to thicken the sauce.)

Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps

It's been awhile but found some pictures to add some recipes. This recipe I found on "Proceed with Caution" and made a long time ago. They were pretty good! I have a bunch of lettuce wrap recipes and this one looked the easiest so I decided to start with it, and it was VERY easy!

Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps

Source : Proceed with Caution

boneless skinless chicken breast
thinly sliced lengthwise to total about 1 pound

2 teaspoons sesame oil

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 cloves garlic,

grated salt and pepper

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

For the sauce:1/4 cup (natural) peanut butter

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

For the wraps:Leaves of romaine lettuce

carrot, peeled and cut into matchsticks

cucumber, cut into matchsticks

Directions:

1. In a bowl, toss chicken with sesame oil, soy sauce, cilantro, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes. Season with salt and pepper. Thread each chicken strip lengthwise onto a skewer.

2. Make dipping sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes, and 2 to 3 tablespoons water.

3. Heat grill pan over high. Working in batches, brush pan with oil, and cook chicken until opaque throughout, 1 to 2 minutes per side

.4. Spread sauce in leaf of lettuce, add carrots and cucumber, then chicken. Enjoy!

Pineapple Rice

I made this to go with the kabobs, I found the recipe on macaroniandcheesecake but I modified it a little bit. It was okay, but not our favorite. Here is my version.

Pineapple Rice

2 cups cooked brown rice
1 cup canned pineapple

2 tbsp. soy sauce

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper

3 tbsp. barbeque sauce

Mix all ingredients in a pan, and cook for 5 minutes on medium.

Chicken Kabobs

Another summertime favorite, kabobs. This is how we like them..

Chicken Kabobs

Ingredients:

Chicken

Green pepper

Red Pepper

Onion

Pineapple

Cut everything into small pieces and onto the stick. We like to marinate in Caribbean Jerk marinade, or speedie sauce. Cook on the grill until chicken is done.

Like my salt shaker apron??? =)

Grilled Tomato Chicken and Roasted Potatoes

These potatoes are our favorite! The chicken is another one of our regular summer meals, and of course I love corn on the cob!!

Grilled Tomato Chicken

Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts marinated in italian dressing
1 small tomato
1/4 cup shredded mozzerella cheese
1 tsp. basil
1 tbsp. italian dressing

Marinate chicken in dressing. Prepare topping by chopping tomatoes into small pieces, and mix with cheese, bazil, and dressing.
Before starting grill, put foil down. Place chicken on foil and cook for about 10 minutes. Flip chicken and top with tomato mixture. Contine cooking until chicken is done.

Roasted Potatoes
I can't take any credit for these potatoes, the recipe is on the onion soup box, but they are really good!!

Ingredients:
4-5 red potatoes (or any kind you like)
1 package onion soup mix
1-2 Tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cut potatoes into small pieces. Mix potatoes, soup mix, and olive oil. Place on baking sheet and bake for 30-40 min. Flip potatoes every 10 minutes.

Corn on the Cob
I eat this once or twice a week during the summer! I learned this way to cook the corn from cousin-in-laws Sarah and Christian!

Remove corn husks. Spray corn with butter spray, and wrap in foil. Cook on grill about 15-20 minutes, until done.

Summertime Pasta Salad

This pasta salad reminds me of summer! It is not your typical pasta salad...but it is so yummy!

Orange Pasta Salad

1 box bow tie pasta
2 bell peppers (any colors-green, red, orange, yellow)
1 can mandarin oranges
1/2 cup Newman's Own Light Lime Vinigarette Dressing
1/2 cup balsamic vinigarette dressing
1/8 cup orange juice
1 tsp. basil

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, run under cold water to cool

2. Chop bell peppers into small pieces

3. Add peppers and whole can (juice included) of oranges to the pasta

4. Add dressings and orange juice (add more/less as desired)

5. Add basil for coloing

6. Mix and chill before serving

Easter Cake Pops

Easter Cake Pops

I got this recipe and design ideas from Bakerella. Hers are definitly cuter than mine, but they came out okay...and they were yummy (According to everyone else, I haven't eaten one yet!)
Find the recipe and directions to make them from Bakerella.