Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken with Ancho Honey

Word on the street is way back when I started talking whenever a family member would ask what I wanted to eat I did a little chicken dance and declared "I want chicken tonight!"

Apparently that was KFC's thing back then.

My grandma likes to tell me this story, about my love of KFC. I think the dancing/clucking thing is a figment of her imagination...

A family rumor if you will.

I do remember really loving the spicy chicken strips they used to have. I believe I became a bit anti-social when they got rid of it...WHY?! It was soooo good! I could live off of that spicy chicken, potato wedges and biscuits with honey and butter.

If you never experienced this spicy chicken from KFC I speak of then bless your heart...sucks for you. There was a spicy sauce underneath the breading and it was awesome. I know they've played around with some other recipes like that but nothing has quite been the same.

Even this here recipe isn't the same...but it's a satisfying "at-home" version...and it's healthy at that. Semi-win!

This is a baked version of "fried" chicken. It's still crunchy but not covered in grease and oil and guilt. The one thing to keep in mind is that if you are reheating this, do it in the oven...please. Any other way will make it soggy.

Ew.

Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken with Ancho Honey
Adapted from foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:

1/2 sleeve (about 20) whole-grain salted crackers, pulsed in a food processor until fine (about 1/2 cup)
2 1/2 cups corn cereal flakes, pulsed in a food processor to fine crumbs (about 1/2 cup)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 egg whites
1 cup lowfat, plain yogurt
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 tablespoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
Olive oil cooking spray
4 medium sized skinless chicken breasts and 4 skinless chicken thighs, rinsed and patted dry (about 3 1/2 pounds chicken)
1 cup honey
2 tablespoons ancho chili powder
pinch of salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with olive oil.

Combine the crackers and corn cereal crumbs, sesame seeds, cayenne, paprika and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Reserve.

In a large bowl, combine egg whites, yogurt, Dijon mustard,hot sauce and salt. Add the chicken pieces and coat thoroughly with the yogurt mixture.

One at a time, dip the chicken pieces in the cracker mixture, packing crumbs onto chicken. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet and spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife.

Combine honey, chili powder and salt in a small bowl. Serve with chicken as a sauce.

Lighter Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Last weekend was my cousin's wedding reception. Most of the family was there and we had a blast...

My family doesn't get together too often but when we do...it gets rather crazy. Like, my family is the kinda crazy that if they had a tv show, people watching would think it's scripted...because there is no way people can be like that...

Way!

You can't make this stuff up people. Though they are some crazy folk, I love them. Between the "Rocky Top" the "Chicken Dance" and them even pulling out "Wild Thing" (which apparently I had stripped down into my diaper dancing to that song at the tender age of 2 (under the influence of my grandpa))

Yes, they are the people who have corrupted me.

And I wouldn't change them for anything.

Oh, and the food? Sooo good! Wedding food can be so hit or miss...but this was a "hit". They had super tender roast beef, chicken cordon bleu, green beans and creamy mashed potatoes.

These mashed potatoes rocked...but I could feel them cling to the thighs the minute they touched my mouth (don't worry I danced it off)...but special occasions call for fatter thighs.

If you are terrified of mashed potatoes because of the carbs (GASP!) and the butter (DOUBLE GASP!) then have no fear my friends...I have found a pretty darn good alternative.

I found this recipe and tweaked it a bit...and let me just say, these don't taste too healthy....and they pair perfectly with my lighter salisbury steaks...add some corn and you have a tv dinner with flavor and minus the burnt brownie with paper-like sprinkles.

Lighter Mashed Potatoes
Adapted from Foodnetwork.com

Ingredients:

1 1/4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
4 large cloves garlic, peeled and quartered
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Directions:

Place the potatoes and garlic in a steamer basket fitted over a large pot of boiling water. Cover and steam until the potatoes are knife-tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Warm the chicken broth in a small pot on the stove or in a glass container in the microwave.


Remove the steamer basket and drain the water from the large pot. Transfer the potatoes and garlic to the pot, add the oil, salt, pepper,onion powder, sour cream and broth and mash until smooth.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Jalapeno poppers might be my favorite food.

Cheese+peppers+fried crunchy goodness=my idea of a good time.

I think I have come clean about my love affair with poppers before...probably when I was talking about my other love affair with cheesecake.

Don't worry, they're both okay with it.

Seriously though...many of my not-so-sober college nights ended with a box of freshly fried jalapeno poppers and ranch from the restaurant that would put chicken fingers, french fries, mozzarella sticks and sour cream all on one sandwhich...

Yes, more like freshman 15,000.

Even now I always have the biggest box of poppers that I can find in my freezer at all times. I know there is this debate...cream cheese or cheddar?

I am personally one who loves the cheddar, but if you could combine both?! Oh my gosh I would be in heaven...

Well I decided to combine both and created this dip.

That's right, heaven awaits.

I frickin love this dip. I would make it everyday if I could but I don't feel that my waistline would appreciate it.

Stupid picky waistline...always wanting to object what my hearts desire.

Dumb.

Make.This.Dip.

Jalapeno Popper Dip
Dame Good

Ingredients:

16 ounces neaufchatel, softened
1.5 cups reduced-fat sharp sheddar
1.5 cups jarred chopped jalapenos
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1 large fresh jalapeno, chopped
cooking spray
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400F

In a medium-sized bowl combine cream cheese, jarred jalapenos, cheddar, a little bit of salt and pepper and stir until mixed.

Spread the mixture into a 9-in pie pan. Sprinkle the panko bread crumbs on top of the cream cheese mixture. Spray the bread crumbs lightly with cooking spray. Top the bread crumbs with fresh jalapenos.

Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes or until the bread crumbs are golden brown and the fresh peppers are roasted. Serve with crackers or chips.

Lighter Salisbury Steak

Some classmates and I were talking about an interesting topic. Now this may make some people roll their eyes and scoff at me but roll on people, roll on.

I think people hit an age where the number becomes irrelevant and unimportant. We know it's not 17...R-rated movies hello! Or 18...can we say legal? 19 and 20 are whatever...we all know what 21 means. But 22...23...24...meh...

I have reached the point of the mundane age. When people ask me how old I am I literally pause a moment and think. It's like sudden amnesia...

22...wait, no that was last year...right? Maybe not. What year is it? Oh, I'm 23...I think...yeah, 23. Crap I'm just getting this down and before I know it I will have to remember the number 24.

Hard work I tell you.

Ages ago I used to enjoy this dinner that came out of a blue box with a penguin on it. It was a flimsy black plastic "plate" with salisbury steak, corn, potatoes and something that looks like a burnt brownie with brightly colored sprinkles on it.

It was awesome.

I recently had a random craving for some salisbury steak. Weird I know. But that's how my cravings work. They just appear...out of thin air...and are very pushy.

I decided to search for a healthier salisbury steak and couldn't decide on one so I combined a couple (then added my own twist on it)...because that's how I roll...if I can't decide...it's both, plus some "Tarrah" craziness, end of story.

Cake or ice cream?

Both, duh! With sprinkles and a cherry please :)

Salisbury Steak
Adapted from tasteofhome.com and

Ingredients:

1 cup quick-cooking oats
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup each green pepper, chopped
1/2 cups celery, chopped
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pounds lean ground beef (ground sirloin)
1 lb ground turkey
1 can (10-3/4 ounces)98% fat-free condensed golden mushroom or cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 1-oz packet dry french onion soup mix
1 medium white onion, sliced into thin ribbons
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
3/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon pepper
salt to taste

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the oats, eggs, green pepper, celery, onion and salt. Crumble beef and turkey over mixture and mix well. Shape into eight oval patties. In a large skillet, brown patties on both sides; drain.

Put the onion ribbons in the same skillet and saute until golden brown, about 5-8 minutes.

Place patties in an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Combine the mushroom soup, dry onion soup, onion, ketchup, mustard powder, worcestershire, water, salt and pepper; pour over beef and turkey mixture. Cover and bake at 350° for 30-40 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal

Does anyone else unconsciously panic and reach for the remote whenever you hear Sarah Mclachlan come from the tv?

I can't handle the crying puppies and shaking kittens.

I'm the type of person who cried during the "Lion King" and was totally moved after I watched "Homeward Bound". I can handle when people get shot in movies (though I wouldn't say I find it pleasant) but if a puppy even so much as looks sad, I lose it.

Those animal rights commercials are torture.

That was my side note for the day.

I hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend. The 4th of July always reminds me of the summers I would spend in Minnesota with my family lighting off fireworks and having water balloon fights. There was always a cook-out going on with endless amounts of barbeque goodness.

Good times...

This recipe has no relation to the 4th of July whatsoever. I don't really have a good recipe that I've made recently that really fits so this will have to do.

Whenever I am out of bananas, and I want my peanut butter oatmeal, I throw some jelly in the mix. Strawberry jelly to be exact. Yep, that's how I roll...strawberry jelly all the way my friends.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal
Dame Good

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rolled oats (quick-cooking)
1/4 teaspoon splenda with fiber
1 teaspoon wheat germ
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar-free jelly
2 tablespoons chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Combine the oats, splenda, wheat germ, milk, water, peanut butter and nuts (optional) in a microwave-safe bowl.

Stir and microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove and stir again. Microwave again for an additional 30 seconds-1 minute (until it reaches desired consistency). Remove and stir in jelly. Enjoy!