Fruited Curry Chicken Salad

Fruited Curry Chicken Salad

I love grapes with chicken salads... salty,spicy, sweet, delish!

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cooked and diced
• 1 stalk celery, chopped
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 small apple - peeled, cored and chopped
• 1/3 cup golden raisins
• 1/3 cup seedless green grapes, halved
• 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 3/4 cup mayonnaise

Directions

1. In a large salad bowl combine the chicken, celery, onion, apple, raisins, grapes, pecans, pepper, curry powder and mayonnaise. Mix all together, tossing to coat. Salad is ready to serve!

Sesame Chicken strips

Sesame Chicken strips
I don't make these very often, but when I do they disappear...
Terribly good.

Ingredients

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1 cup crushed buttery round cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
• SAUCE:
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons honey

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. In a shallow plate or bowl combine 1 cup mayonnaise, onion and mustard. Mix together and set aside. In a separate shallow plate or bowl combine the cracker crumbs and sesame seeds. Cut chicken lengthwise into 1/4 inch strips.
3. Dip chicken strips in mayonnaise mixture, then in sesame mixture to coat. Place coated strips in a single layer on a lightly greased cookie sheet.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until juices run clear. Mix 1 cup mayonnaise and honey together in a small bowl and serve with chicken strips.

Buttermilk pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes

These are my all time favorites... I could eat them all day....

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, beat together buttermilk, milk, eggs and melted butter. Keep the two mixtures separate until you are ready to cook.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. You can flick water across the surface and if it beads up and sizzles, it's ready!
3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture, using a wooden spoon or fork to blend. Stir until it's just blended together. Do not over stir! Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/2 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

peanut butter cookie

Double-Delight Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe created by Carolyn Gurtz, winner of the 2008 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest

It's a twist on the classic peanut butter cookie! Crunchy outside, creamy inside, with just a hint of cinnamon. A real winner.

Ingredients:

Makes 24 cookies

• 1/4 cup Fisher dry-roasted peanuts , finely chopped
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup JIF creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 roll (16.5 ounces) Pillsbury refrigerated peanut butter cookies , well chilled
• Crisco original no-stick cooking spray

Heat oven to 375°. In small bowl, mix chopped peanuts, granulated sugar and cinnamon; set aside.

In another small bowl, stir peanut butter and powdered sugar until completely blended. Shape mixture into 24 balls, about 1 inch each.

Cut roll of cookie dough into 12 slices. Cut each slice in half crosswise to make 24 pieces; flatten slightly. Shape 1 cookie dough piece around 1 peanut butter ball, covering completely. Repeat with remaining dough and balls.

Roll each covered ball in peanut mixture; gently pat mixture completely onto balls. On ungreased large cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart. Spray bottom of drinking glass with Crisco original no-stick cooking spray; press into remaining peanut mixture. Flatten each ball to 1/2-inch thickness with bottom of glass. Sprinkle any remaining peanut mixture evenly on tops of cookies; gently press into dough.

Bake 7 to 12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. Store tightly covered.

Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

We loved spiced nuts,seeds and popcorn around here...

Here's two favorites to use on the seeds from all those Pumpkins...

2 pumpkins worth of pumpkin seeds
Wash and rain in a strainer

Mix one egg white, and whisk it.
Pour it over the seeds and mix it up. Let the extra egg white drip off...

Divide in half if you like two kinds:

First Favorite:
Spicy sweet and salty Seeds

Sprinkle a dash of cayenne pepper over seeds. Tiny amount will do...
Sprinkle generously with raw cane sugar and Sea salt.

Spray cookie sheets with olive oil
Lay out in a single layer and

Bake 25 minutes in oven at 325.
It helps it you turn them over half way through....

Second favorite:

Garlic and salt Pumpkin Seeds

(using you egg white seeds) Sprinkle second half of seeds with Garlic powder and Sea salt

Spray cookie sheets with olive oil
Lay out seeds on a single layer across the cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 325.
Turn seeds over once during baking time...

Enjoy!

Hummus

Quick Easy & Delicious Hummus

1 can Drained chick peas
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1 garlic clove
1/4 tsp cumin
salt & pepper to taste
about 1/4 cup of olive oil (or more to preference)
optional: A little squeeze of lemon

I put all ingredients into my mini processor, add enough olive oil to make it a nice medium consistency... I prefer the yogurt(instead of tahini) in hummus, as it makes it a bit more creamy. This is a big hit in this house...

Cut some pita into wedges, spray with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, and broil for a few minutes, watch do they don't burn...

** When buying canned commercial beans. I buy "Eden Oragnics" brand...
found in most organic food stores...
It's one of the only companies that does not line their cans with BPA cancer causing chemicals... see article, and check your brands for BPA... BUY organic & FRESH when possible.

****


Black Bean Hummus

1 clove garlic

1 (15 ounce) can black beans; drain and

reserve liquid

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 1/2 tablespoons tahini

3/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/4 teaspoon paprika

10 Greek olives

Mince garlic in the bowl of a food processor. Add black beans, 2 tablespoons reserved liquid, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, tahini, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper; process until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add additional seasoning and liquid to taste. Garnish with paprika and Greek olives.

Spicy Lentil soup

Once fall hits, It's all about yummy soups and chowders in our house... This is a favorite...
Garam masala is a spicey Indian mixture, Very tasty!

Garam Masala

2 tablespoons cumin seeds
2 tablespoons coriander seeds
2 tablespoons cardamom seeds
2 tablespoons black peppercorns
1 (3-inch) stick cinnamon, broken up
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon saffron (optional)

Spicy Lentil Soup

2 onions, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 6 cups water 1 cup red lentils 1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained 1 (19 ounce) can cannellini beans 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup diced carrots 1/2 cup chopped celery 1 teaspoon garam masala 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 1 tablespoon olive oil

	In large pot saute; the onions, garlic, and ginger in a little olive oil for about 5 minutes.
	Add the water, lentils, chick peas, white kidney beans, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, garam masala, cardamom, cayenne pepper and cumin. Bring to a boil for a few minutes then simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or longer, until the lentils are soft.
	Puree half the soup in a food processor or blender. Return the pureed soup to the pot, stir.