Bourbon Chicken

I found this recipe at the What's for Dinner blog but I changed mine up just a bit (go here for the original recipe). The name is a little misleading - there is not any Bourbon in the recipe - it tastes like Teriyaki chicken. I like to serve with the cheap long grain rice because it gets sticky like the rice I get with take out Teriyaki bowls. I also put raw carrots in the bowl - if your family will eat raw broccoli (mine won't) add that too. Really good and very easy to make. Enjoy.

3 or 4 boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 to 2 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup soy sauce

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces and cook until browned. Remove Chicken from skillet and set aside. Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium heat until well mixed and sugar has dissolved. Add chicken back to the skillet and bring to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 - 25 minutes. Serve over rice.

Popcorn Cake

3 Tbsp Butter
1 - 16 Ounce Bag of Marshmallows
3 Bags of Microwave Popcorn**
1 bag of M&Ms (1.69 Ounce)
1/2 Cup Cocktail Peanuts

Grease Bundt pan with butter or cooking spray (I use butter). Pop the popcorn - take out unpopped kernels. Melt the butter and add the marshmallows. Cook until melted - remove from heat. Mix popcorn, M&Ms and peanuts into marshmallows mixture. Put in Bundt pan & let it sit & cool off. (I usually butter my hands first before I press the mixture down in the Bundt pan.)Turn out onto a cake stand or plate.

**Used Orville Redenbacher's Natural Simply Salted

Circus McGurkus Pink Lemonade

Yet another recipe from the cookbook.

2 to 3 Tbsps sugar

2 Tbsps hot water

1 1/2 Cups cold water

Juice of one Lemon

2 Tbsp Black Cherry Juice

Combine the sugar and hot water in a tall glass - stir until dissolves. Add cold water, lemon juice, cherry juice and stir. Makes 1 Serving

Marshmallow & Cereal Christmas Wreaths

Another things made for Dr. Seuss Night from the Cookbook.

3 Tsps Butter

16 ounce Bag of Marshmallows

5 1/2 Cups Cornflakes

1/2 cup dried cranberries

With first three ingredients make just like you are making rice crispy treats. Spoon mixture on wax paper to cool about 10 minutes. Butter hands and get mixture some of the mixture- then shape like a wreath -place on another sheet of wax paper. Continue making until you have made all the wreaths (about 12). Once made, place cranberries on the wreath. Easy and good but my boys would not eat them with the cranberries so I had to take them off! :o)

Quick Gumbo

I made this instead of the recipe for Remarkable Foon's Sizzling Hot Pebbles from the Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook. It actually is not soupy at all like gumbo more like a rice dish you eat in a bowl. I have been making this for over 10 years and everyone always loves it.

2 Tbsp. Butter
1 Cup Chopped Celery
1 Cup Chopped Onion
2 Cloves Garlic - Finely Chopped
1 Can Rotel
5 Cups Water
1 Box ZATARAIN'S Black Beans & Rice
1 1/2 Cups Converted Rice (like Uncle Ben's)
1 Can Black Beans
14 Ounce Smoked Sausage chopped in bite size pieces (like Hillshire Farms)
2 Tsps. Creole Seasoning

In a large saucepan melt butter. Saute onions, celery and garlic for 3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, stir occasionally and cook until rice is done. Serve with corn bread and slices of sharp cheddar.

Easy Breakfast Casserole

I found this recipe at the Pioneer Woman Cooks. I made it for breakfast on father's day and my whole family really liked it. I have made a few changes in the recipe below.

8 onion roll tops (saved the bottoms to feed the ducks)
1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 stick butter
1/2 cup whipped cream cheese
10 eggs
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
5 to 8 shakes of Louisiana hot sauce

Generously butter 9 x 13 baking dish. Place baking dish on foil lined jelly roll pan, as my casserole bubbled over a bit. Tear onion rolls into chunks. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese, then tear cream cheese into small piece and place over the top. Cut 1 stick butter into thin pats and place over the top. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over the top of the dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight. The next morning, bake at 325 degrees, covered, for 45 minutes. Then remove foil and continue baking at 350 for 10-15 minutes.

Baked Beans

This is my dad's recipe, I like it because unlike most baked beans this dish is not too sweet. Give them a try.

6 strips of bacon
1/2 onion
1 tbsp butter
2 Cans Pork 'n Beans
2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
2 Tbsp Light Karo Syrup
1 Tbsp Mustard
1 Tbsp Ketchup
1/2 Cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Cook the bacon as you usually prepare it (crisp). While cooking chop up onion as finely as possible (I usually use my mini chopper so I can pulverize them, as my clan does not enjoy chucks of onion). Add butter to a small saute pan, once melted saute onions until soft. Chop bacon finely (again I use my chopper). In a large bowl add all ingredients and mix well. Once mixed place bean mixture in a 9 x 13 pan. Can be made earlier in the day. Once ready to cook, preheat oven to 350*. Cook bean until the sides are bubbling (usually 20 to 25 minutes).