Crispy Oven Fried Chicken Recipe

Ok y'all (in my Paula Deen voice), whoever doesn't love southern fried chicken doesn't know what they are missing!  If you are looking for a healthy and grease popping free alternative to traditional fried chicken then try this recipe.  I love this oven baked version because it leaves out the greasiness without sacrificing the flavor.  And you don't have to worry about closing all the bedroom and closet doors in the house to keep the fried smell out (anybody know what I'm talking about).  I remember going to Wednesday night bible class and all my friends knew what we had for dinner; "y'all had fried chicken?"  I'm not saying it smells bad, but it penetrates!  Additionally, if the grease is too hot, you end up smelling like burnt oil instead of fried bird.

I found this recipe from DivasCanCook.com.  I followed this recipe to the T and it turned out perfectly crispy and juicy just like she says.  Her chicken got done in only 40 minutes.  But as massive as chicken legs are nowadays, I had to bake mine longer; 375 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.  (Please don't get me started.  The environmentalist inside me is just itching to write another paragraph on sustainable farming methods.  But, I digress.  Just know what you are eating, don't get hung up on the labels, and buy organic when you can.)

I'm amazed at how the chicken gets so moist on the inside with out compromising the crunchiness on the outside... while baking in an oven... brilliant!  I recommend doubling the spice recipe if you are cooking a family pack like I did.  And I highly recommend using a grill pan rack.  That's the only way to cook it with out getting soggy.  I served mine with collard greens, stuffing, beans and rice, and cranberry sauce.  (Thanksgiving preview right? lol)

prep work

critical step: don't forget to sprinkle on that butter and evoo

Continue reading for the recipe:

Amazing Chocolate Mug Cake Recipe

photo: www.parentpretty.com

In the late hours of the afternoon it always seems that the roaring sweet tooth lion inside of me starts to awaken, searching and longing for something to satisfy its desire for dessert.  And so the hunt begins.  After rummaging around my kitchen, opening every cabinet door and staring into the refrigerator for about 10 minutes; I came up empty handed and disenchanted.  I just wanted a little bit of something sweet.  Didn't want to bake a whole cake or a whole batch of brownies.  I didn't have any cookies laying around and I certainly wasn't about to make a run to the grocery this late just for something sweet.  I started to think back to my single days and how I would rant on and on about how nothing in the world is made for a single person.  If I just wanted a few slices of bread I had to buy a whole loaf.  A pint of milk wasn't enough and a half a gallon was a little too much.  This that and the other, so forth and so on...

So I went to Pinterest because somehow this is where all the brilliant ideas seem to land.  It wasn't hard to find a cake in a mug recipe.  There are dozens of them on the web.  Admittedly, the first recipe I tried was a little flat, gooey and dry.  It reminded me of something that would come out of an Easy-Bake Oven, like the one I had when I was a girl.  I was almost convinced that this single serve cake experiment was going to prove unfruitful.  But, the lion continued to roar and the hunt continued.  I went on to search for another recipe, and I'm glad, because this time I hit the jackpot.  This recipe not only satisfied that roaring lion inside of me, but it whipped it back into the den from wince it came where it promptly drifted off peacefully to sleep.  Yes, it's seriously that good!  

I made the recipe with caramel bits, but chocolate chips will do the same justice.  Even a few mini marshmallows, the possibilities are endless!  And the small salty crunch of the peanut butter had me melting on my sofa... Trust me you will LOVE it.

Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Mug Cake Recipe - Adapted from ParentPretty Blog

yield: 1 MUG CAKE prep time: 5 MINUTES cook time: 1 MINUTE, 20 SEC (on a 1000 watt microwave)

INGREDIENTS:

3 tablespoons all purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 pinch of salt

1 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon crunchy peanut butter
1 teaspoon caramel bits

DIRECTIONS:

1. Add flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt to a mug, mix well.
2. Add milk and vegetable oil, stir until smooth. Drop peanut butter on top of mixture and gently push into center leaving some exposed on the top.
3. Cook in microwave on high for approx. 1 minute, 20 seconds in 1000 watt microwave, add sprinkling of caramel bits immediately after cooking.
4. Cooking time varies depending on the power of your microwave.

all dry ingredients, mixed well

added wet ingredients, mix well

zapped in micro 80 seconds

I put the caramel bits inside the batter
the second time I made it. Much better.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe

So it's that time of the year again. The season is changing and so are the temperatures.  As much I love Autumn, I'm clinging onto the last few days of that summertime sunshine for as long as I can.  But if you are itching for cooler weather then this Chicken Noodle Soup recipe is right up your alley.  And if not, then this soup is sure to help you transition with minimal hesitation.  It's just in time for you seasonal allergy sufferers (raising my hand) and a perfect pic-me-up for a cold/flu/sore throat/runny nose.  It's actually scientifically proven that chicken noodle soup contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent a cold’s miserable side effects.  Whether you chose to believe it or not, there is always something magical that happens in a hearty hot bowl of slow cooked juicy chicken, tender vegetables, and savory broth and herbs.  (and it's low calories to boot!) Mmmm mm good!

I found the original recipe on Pinterest, But here's my version:

Serves 5  |  Approx 186 calories/serving
Ingredients:

• Meat
• 2 Chicken Thighs (bone in, skin optional)
• Vegetables: 
• 1 Cup, Carrots, diced
• 1 Cup, Fresh Celery, diced
• 1 Cup, Yellow Onion, diced
• 1 clove, Garlic, finely chopped
• Seasonings: 
• 1 tsp, Parsley, dried
• 1 tsp, Basil, dried
• 1 tsp, Thyme, dried
• 1 tsp, Oregano, dried
• 1 Bay Leaf
• 1 tsp, Chicken Bouillon
• 1 tsp, Ground Black Pepper
• 1 tsp, Salt
• Liquids:
• 4 Cups, Chicken Broth
• 3 Cups, Water
• Other:
• 1.25 Cups, Egg Noodles
• 2 Tbsp, Extra Virgin Olive Oil (evoo)

Instructions: 

• Heat evoo in a 6 quart stock pot.  Saute vegetables in pot until translucent.  
• Meanwhile, in a separate hot pan, sear chicken thighs on both sides until sealed, but not cooked through.
• To the stock pot, add the seasonings and liquids and bring to a rolling boil.
• Add chicken and boil for another minute, then reduce to a simmering boil for 50 minutes, covered.  
• Remove the chicken and bay leaf. Check your broth flavor, add salt if needed. 
• Bring soup back to a rolling boil, add the noodles and cook for 7-8 minutes. (do not over cook noodles, or they will be a mushy mess)
• Meanwhile, pull apart the chicken thighs using 2 forks. (should be falling off the bone by now!)
• Add chicken back to the soup pot after noodles have cooked.  Simmer for 2 minutes more and serve while hot! As always, enjoy!

adapted from : Budget Bytes

I like to use a pestle and mortar to grind up my herbs

Served with an English Muffin, yes!

shredded chicken

now we're cookin!

chicken seared on both sides

Baked Chicken, Brown Rice & Veggies

Honestly, I can't even remember how I made this dish. I thought the photo looked appetizing and decided it would be a shame not to share it.

Simple baked brown rice, mushrooms, carrots, green and yellow onion, with seasoned chicken thighs on top. When baking casseroles similar to this one, be sure to partially saute your veggies first.

Meatball Lasagna Recipe

I know you are reading the title and thinking, meatball lasagna?  I've never heard of that before... Well, me neither, but trust me it's delish.  Lasagna can be a tedious meal to make especially if you are into the layers like me.  And, boiling 10 inch lasagna noodles in a 6 inch deep pot is nothing short of a joke, right?  So, kudos to whoever invented the oven ready version.  You get to take a shortcut on time and your family will still think you went to culinary school.  Brilliant.  If you are ready for a fast and easy way to make a lasagna tonight, then continue reading my friend. 

Fresh Blueberry Cobbler

I got this recipe from Divas Can Cook.com.  After watching the YouTube video of Monique making it, my mouth was watering.  So I cleaned up my slob and high tailed it to the kitchen.  She's right when she says that most of these ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.  I just so happened to

Brownies - Dark Chocolate Fudge

Just a lil som som for the dessert foodies. Dark Chocolate Fudge brownies, complements of Mr. Pillsbury, complete with powdered sugar. Big hit at the company potluck today! =)

Tomato Alfredo Pasta

Another simple pasta dish for you guys. I had a couple of tomatoes and some Alfredo sauce and wondered if they would taste good together. Guess what, they do! So I used some angel hair pasta, which I always seem to have on hand, and some dried basil and fresh garlic. Here's how to put it all together:

Italian Pasta Salad

I love pasta point blank period. If I could name my food vice, then there would be a struggle between pasta and raspberry sorbet for the number 1 spot. I love pasta because it's so easy to make and there are hundreds of pasta creations.  I made a pasta the other day using angel hair noodles (my favorite), a bottle of Zesty Italian Dressing, and some left over cilantro from the shrimp & grits recipe. Sounds easy right? Well it is! Here's the recipe:

My Shrimp & Grits

Ummm, shrimp and grits! Who doesn't love this combo? After eating this dish a few years ago for the first time, I simply fell in love. I have been tweaking my own recipe for shrimp and grits for some time now. I think I finally have it down to the point where I can share my recipe with other moderate skilled level cooks. The great thing about this meal is that it's very versatile, so you can make it any way you want to make it and eat it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you feel impelled to try this recipe, let me know what you think! So here's my rendition:

Crock Pot: Turkey Neck Bones

We use to call these naked bones when I was small because by the time you finished sucking the meat off, there was nothing left! You wouldn't believe how easy it is to cook these in the crock pot. And it doesn't even take long.  You can also try beef neck bones, which may have a little more meat on them.  Check out this simple recipe I came up with:

Chicken or Shrimp Broccoli Alfredo

This is one of my favorite weekday meals. I just love an all in one pasta dish. This has your meat, starch, and vegetables. Perfect! It's remarkably simple and super easy. You can even switch up the noodle type if you'd like. Penne pasta is nice because all the sauce goodness gets inside the noodle, yumm. I make enough to last a few days so I won't have to cook every single night. I'm still learning to cook for one, so this recipe will definitely yield leftovers unless you eat like a bear =).

You Will Need:

Caramel Apple Cake

I originally got this recipe from a blog called a A Whisk and A Prayer. I was in the baking mood and went browsing through some cooking blogs and saw this wonderfully easy recipe. The blog author put it best when she said "When you bite through the cake's caramelized crust, you get a mouthful of plump, juicy apples and creamy gooey caramel melted together in a heavenly whirl of cinnamon and brown sugar."   Wow! Doesn't that sound heavenly?!

Let's get to it. Below is my adapted ingredient list and the cooking instructions. Everyone who I had try it, loved it.

Ingredients:

Make Dough & $ave Dough

all done and so delicious!

I recently tried my hand at a homemade pizza with a wheat crust. I've been trying my hand at a lot lately... lol. Needless to say, it was the BOMB dot com! It turned out fabulously and I was amazed at how simple it was to make. It will take a lot for me to buy another pizza from the local pizza chain. It was just that good! This is a must try for anyone who loves being in the kitchen. You just got to have "make a pizza from scratch" checked off your list. Check out these process photos

Herbaceous Herb Garden

 (from left to right: Basil, oregano, dill, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, and parsley)
I love cooking with fresh herbs! Whenever a recipe calls for fresh herbs, I imagine myself walking over to my patio garden and picking the herbs I need. However, this dream hasn't been a reality until recently. I've been thinking about planting an herb garden for a while.  Growing your own herbs is more sustainable than buying from your local grocery, and not to mention more affordable.

Fun, Fast, & Frugal: 4 Ingredient Pasta

Looking for a fast and frugal entrée for tonight? Try this super easy pasta that takes the same amount of time it takes to read this blog! This started out as a "I'm so hungry and I don't have money to get groceries" meal. But it ended up being one of my favorite weekday staples. It's made from items you should normally have in your pantry:

Somewhere Over the Rainbow... Cake

I first wanted to make a rainbow cake when a coworker showed me a picture of one on this blog post: Whisk Kid. Ever since I saw it, I became infatuated with the idea of making one. It looked challenging, interesting, and cool and I wanted one for myself. Plus, it ended up being a great finale to Easter Sunday's dinner. Baker beware, if you are not accustomed to making multiple layer cakes, then be prepared for some sweat equity on this one. Baking a 6 layer cake ain't no tomfoolery. This cake wore me out! I need to exercise more... lol.

crock POT roast

I'm slow cooking a pot roast in my new crock pot today! I'm looking forward to a succulent roast and veggies when I return home after work today. I will update with the results soon! So excited :)
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Let It Snow Cream!

Raleigh, North Carolina saw it's first snow on Christmas Day in over 70 years! Wow! And boy did it snow! I got about 6 inches at my house, and as much as a foot was reported in some places. I'm so glad I had some time off work to relax and be lazy... Which also calls for some bad cabin fever! I've been snowed in for a couple days now, and as much as I don't like driving on ice and snow, I'm ready to get out the house and return to work. I love being snowed in, but all good things must come to an end.

With all this snow cover, I couldn't resist making some good old fashioned SNOW CREAM!! I don't really have a recipe for it, and I ate it up so fast that I forgot to take a photo!  But all it takes is...

Pumpkin Pie Anyone?

Perhaps one of my most favorite Holiday icons would be a pumpkin. I really do think pumpkins are under-appreciated. We buy them cheap and chop them up, scoop their guts out, then carve em up for Halloween decorations. Then, after Thanksgiving, they seem to fade away against the press of Christmas chaos. I never see another pumpkin until the Fall of the following year. Sadly, pumpkins are predestined for disposal, preferably compost :) However! There are a few that are harvested for a higher calling...