Coconut Chicken with Pina Colada dipping sauce

 Got this recipe from Our Best Bites. My friend Jules tried it first (I usually let her try things first, she is just more on top of things then I am). Plus she found this recipe for Red Lobsters Pina Colada dipping sauce. You can do this with either chicken or shrimp. I'm not a big fan of shrimp so I prefer chicken.

Coconut Chicken
12 chicken tenders (ya know, more or less...)
1-2 eggs (start with one and crack another if it runs out)
1/2 C flour
1 C sweetened coconut flakes
1 C panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp table salt
3/4 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (you can leave this out if you want to skip the spice for the kiddos)

preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Chop the coconut into smaller pieces. Mix with Panko Bread crumbs and also add the garlic powder, salt, curry powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. (I used chiplote chile pepper instead).

 Put everything into there dishes, Bread crumb mixture, egg (beated a little), and flour. Dip the chicken first in the flour, egg, then bread crumb mixture. Repeat this with all your pieces of chicken. I would do atleast 3 pieces at a time, just so you don't have to keep washing your hands, or use one hand for flour and egg and the other for the bread crumbs. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 20 min. You could dip them in Ranch, Sweet and Sour sauce, or in the Pina Colada Sauce. Enjoy!

Red Lobster Pina Colada Dipping Sauce
1 cup Pina Colada Mix  or Coconut Milk
1/4 cup Water
2 tablespoons Crushed Pineapple (drained)
1 tablespoon Sweetened Coconut Flakes plus
1 teaspoon Sweetened Coconut Flakes
3 tablespoons Powdered Sugar plus
1 teaspoon Powdered Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon Corn Starch
3 teaspoons Cold Water
Mix Pina Colada Mix, water,crushed pineapple, coconut, and powdered sugar in a sauce pan. Heat on medium low temperature until sauce begins to simmer, stirring frequently. Let mixture simmer slowly 10 - 12 minutes. Mix corn starch and water together, add to sauce and blend well. Let mixture simmer for 3 - 5 minutes longer while stirring during and after adding cornstarch. Remove from heat and bring to room temperature. Sauce is served at room temperature. Enjoy!

Vadalia Onion Salad

I got this recipe from my friend Jenny Lewis. She made it for us for lunch one day, and every since, I have loved it. I know is sounds kinda weird with the rice and lettuce combo, but you will love it. By the way this is a great meal for BIG groups, like if you are having the family over.

Vadalia Onion Salad

2 Chicken breast cooked (cubed or shredded)
Lettuce
2 cups cooked rice
Pineapple or Mandrin Oranges
Vadalia Onion Dressing (you can find this at Costco, obviously you will have a lot of it, but it last a long time and you can use it for other recipes).
Crispy lo mien noodles (these are in the Asia section of the grocery store)
Cheese

Just start layering everything. Rice, Salad, chicken, pineapple, cheese, dressing, crispy noodles.

Caramel Popcorn

I made this the other night while watching GLEE ( just had to throw it out there that I am a  GLEEK and proud) It's just good to eat while watching something, especially GLEE!


Caramel Popcorn
1/2 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 can sweeten condensed milk
3 bags of buttered popcorn (popped)

Over high heat bring brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil (make sure sugar is dissolved). Let it boil with out touching it until it gets to soft ball stage about 240' or for about 7 min. Once it hits that stage take it off  the heat and add in the sweetened condensed milk. Pour over popcorn once it's all combined and mix it up. Let cool for about 5 mins. Enjoy!

This is what it should look like once after you add the sweetened condensed milk.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (triple C)

I got this recipe from Allrecipes.com, and love it. Everyone I make it for loves it and always asks for the recipe. I do a couple things different though, I bake mine at 325, for 13-15min and I use my cookie scoop for the size (I think it’s like 2 T.) One more thing, use a good brand of flour, don’t use the cheap off brand, it will make everything you use it in taste like flour. I didn’t realize this until I switched. You will be able to tell a big difference. If you live in Utah, use Lehi Roller Mills flour. You can get a 25 Ib bag of it at Costco for 6 dollars. Totally worth it.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

3 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
2 sticks butter
2 C brown sugar
6 T sugar
2 eggs
4 t. vanilla
Bag of chocolate chips

Cream the butter and sugars together.  Add eggs and vanilla mix together, then all the dry ingredients, and last the Chocolate Chips. Scoop into about 2 inch balls and push down with the palm of your hand until about 1/4 inch thick.  Bake at 325 for 13-15 min until the edges start to get dark. Enjoy!

Fruit Smoothie

We make this every morning for breakfast during the week. It's easy, healthy, and taste great.

Fruit Smoothie

9-10 frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
1-2 bananas
1 cup silk milk
1/2 cup any dark berry juice (we use Xango, but you can use Acai berry, rasberry, or some healthy juice)

Mix all together until liquified, then keep blending for 30 sec. Enjoy!

I layer the blueberries first, banana second, and strawberries last. You also might want to microwave the strawberries for about 1 min. just to soften them.

Chicken Avocado BLT

I totally forgot to take pictures of this one, still kinda new at taking pictures of everything I make. Sorry I will try and get some up.

Chicken Avocado BLT

1- Medium tomatoe
Lettuce2- Cooked Chicken Breast
2- Avocados
1- Stalk of cerelry chopped
8- slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
Garlic salt
Salt
Pepper
1/4 c BBQ Sauce1/8 c your favorite ranch dressing
1/4 c sour cream
or
1/4 c Mayo

1 T Lemon juice
In a small bowl, combine the mayo or sour cream/ranch (for people that don't like mayo), barbecue sauce, lemon juice, pepper and salt. Add in chicken, celery, and bacon. Set aside
Mix the Avocados with some garlic salt and kosher salt/salt. Set aside
 Now put some of the chicken mixture on one slice of bread, the avocado mixture on the other and put some tomatoes and lettuce in the middle and enjoy!

Pavlova

Ok, so this is one of those desserts that as soon as you serve it, the room goes quite. You and your guests will be so into the dessert there will be nothing to talk about until your all done. It is so good, you will keep wanting more! Seriously

Pavlova
makes 8

4 eggs whites
1/8 t cream of tater
2 t cornstarch
1 cup of sugar

 Preheat oven to 275. Beat eggs whites until they become fluffy (on high) , meanwhile mix together next 3 ingredients. Once fluffy lower speed on mixer and slowly add in sugar mixture, just a little at a time. Once all in return mixer to high and beat until glossy and stiff. Line a cookie sheet with Parchment paper (you need to use parchment paper) and spoon 4 big globs onto it. Smooth it around so the center is lower then the sides, kinds like a shallow bowl. Bake for 1/2 hour then turn off oven and crack open oven door and let them sit for about 15-20 mins.

Top with whipping cream and any fresh fruit. Strawberries, banana, blueberries, blackberries, peach, kiwi. Whatever you like. Then either shave chocolate on top or drizzle with melted chocolate. Enjoy!

Before going in the Oven

After the Oven

Served with whipping cream, strawberries, and melted chocolate.

Pork Spare Ribs

Pork Spare Ribs

6 pork spare ribs
Smoked paprika
Chipotle Chile Pepper
Brown sugar
Coke
Salt
BBQ (there are some foods it doesn't matter if you buy the off brand or not, BBQ sauce is NOT one of them, it's worth the extra money)
Rub each rib top and bottom with the smoked paprika and chipotle chile pepper. Put in crock pot and cover with Coke and sprinkle in some brown sugar. Cook on high for about 3 hours, then add in some of your favorite BBQ sauce, cook for another hour and their done. We had ours with mashed potatoes and green beans I have some good recipes for those, but that is another post. Sorry

We are big fans of paper plates at our house.

Tuna Melt

I know this seem like something so easy to do (and it is), but who doesn't love a good tuna melt. I add some Lemon juice, just to get a little fresher taste out of it.

Tuna Melt
2 cans tuna
1/3 cup Mayo
1 T Lemon juice
1 t Smoked paprika
1 t salt
1 t chipotle chile pepper
6 pieces of bread
some cheese sliced

Mix Tuna, mayo,lemon juice,salt, smoked paprika, and chile pepper together. You can add more or less mayo, just depending on how you like it. But remember you are putting this on bread so you want it to not be dry.

Put tuna on bread with the cheese on top

 

Butter the outside of each slice of bread and cook on about a 4-5 or medium heat until gloden brown on each side. Remember low and slow will always make your sandwich turn out the best!

Best Homemade Pancakes and Maple Syrup

Since this is my first post, I decided to start with the first meal of the day, Breakfast! Honestly who wants to spend a couple hours in the morning making breakfast ? Not I. So here is a delicious and simple recipe for Pancakes and Syrup. I got this from my cousin and have been wanting it every morning since. I spiced it up a little with some homemade whipping cream and strawberries! Oh and if you haven't ever made your own whipping cream, can I just tell you, not only does it taste better than Cool Whip, but it also is so simple and you don't have to remember to take it out of the freezer to thaw.

 Andy likes his pancakes thick, so I did 2 1/2 cups flour.

Homemade Pancakes  
2 C Buttermilk (to make: mix ¼ tsp lemon juice per 1 C milk.)
2 Eggs
4 TBS. Oil
      Mix together then add:
2-2 1/2 C White Flour
2TBS Sugar
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 Tsp. Salt

If you like your pancakes thick then add 2 1/2 cups of flour but if you want them thin 2 cups. 
Using a whisk, only stir gently until all is moistened.

Homemade Maple Syrup  
Only Bring to full boil: do not over boil.If you want thicker syrup then let it boil for about 5 mins.
1 C water
2 C white sugar
Remove from heat and then add:
½ Tsp. Maple extract
½ Tsp. Vanilla extract

Whipping Cream:
1 pint Heavy whipping cream
3/4 cup powdered sugar or regular sugar
Whip on high until stiff. It sometimes takes a couple mins. I prefer to use powdered sugar because it seems to make it smoother.

 Sorry I don't know what got on my camera. I guess that is what happens when you cook and try to take pictures.

If you have any leftover batter, syrup, or whipping cream just keep it in the fridge for another day. Or make this all the night before for an easier morning. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!