Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken Strips

Good evening friends! Have you ever made homemade baked chicken strips or nuggets only to find them dry and lack luster in flavor? I like to cook healthy meals for my family but sometimes find the recipes lacking in appeal after trying them once. Tonight I decided to try a new recipe that I found on Pinterest for Weight Watchers baked chicken fingers. When I went to my Pinterest board the link for the recipe was incorrect. I wasn't able to find it. So...since I had the chicken all defrosted and ready to go I decided to create my own recipe. I will say I borrowed some ideas from different recipes I've found here and there for the same baked chicken idea. I just combined them and added a few other ingredients.

So here's the recipe. If you have time, give it a try. I'm sure it will be a family pleaser. :)

Crunchy Oven Baked Chicken Strips

1 1/2 lb of chicken breasts, trimmed and cut in strips
1 egg
1/2 cup of light sour cream
2 cups crushed corn flakes
1 cup seasoned or plain panko break crumbs
1 tsp onion powder
t tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
cooking spray

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. Cut the chicken into strips.
3. In a shallow bowl whisk the egg with the sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. (Tip: seasoning each layer is the best way to cook, in my opinion).
4. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the crushed corn flakes, panko bread crumbs, onion powder, salt, pepper, and garlic salt.
5. Beginning with the egg mixture, dip each piece of chicken in the egg and then cornflake mixture. Making sure to coat the chicken well. Place each piece on a rack that has been placed on top of a cookie sheet. Repeat until all the chicken is coated. Spray chicken with cooking spray to create a golden, crisp crust.
6. Bake at 425 for 20-25 minutes or until no longer pink.

Serve with your choice of light dipping sauce and enjoy!~

Days Like These

I'm so very grateful for days like today. A day where the sun is shining and it's not too cold out where my Addy girl and I can explore the world. I thank God every time it comes to mind, that I can be a stay-at-home Mommy.

Today we went to feed the ducks at a local pond. We love feeding ducks. I'm not exactly sure why but I guess it's quite peaceful and serene.

After that we went to the park. Boy do we love Charles Park! The swings totally ROCK! They're hung from longer chain-link so Addy can swing high. She laughs in excitement every time as if it was her first time swinging. I remember her first swing ride. She was about 10 or 11 months old. The look her her face was sheer delight. It's something I'll always remember.
I'm thankful I'm with her today and every day. Some days might be more trying than others but I wouldn't change a thing. I don't want to miss a moment!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Carrying Cupcakes in Style!

I love cupcakes and I'm such a sucker for cupcake shops! So, since I like cupcakes so much I decided I wanted to invest in a portable carrier to transport these beauties to parties and schools (someday). Complete side note: I can't wait to be a room mom when Addy goes to school (not like I'm rushing this though...)! So I figured, why not get one now and make it more convenient to travel with them and then I'll be prepared when Addy goes to school.

I shopped high and low for just the right carrier. I found ones that were pretty short, short as in there wouldn't be room for gourmet cupcakes or those decorated more luxuriously ;) Which, by the way, is the way to go!

I finished my search at Bed Bath and Beyond. I was thrilled to find this beautiful carrier. The top pops up to carry 24 gourmet cupcakes and then pops down to save storage space. It will also carry a round cake as well. I used it to transport cupcakes to church today. It worked perfectly.
I'm a happy girl.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Look Around, then Look Up!

This morning I woke up, looked out the window and saw this...
And the first thing I thought was this"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will" Romans 12:2

I love how the snow looks untouched, new, fresh and white. It reminds me of this new day God has given me, how it's a fresh start, a new beginning.

So many times I think we as Christians get caught up in all that's going wrong in our lives, what we don't have or what we are struggling with day in and day out. What we fail to see is what God IS doing around us. I need to work on transforming my mind to be more like His. As a people we need to stop conforming to this world (peers, society) and move towards more Christ-likeness!

I love how our new series at church (SoulShift) is teaching me this. To grow in Christ is a matter of the soul transformed. My prayer is that God will teach me at the soul level and my life will be forever changed to be more like his.

So I say, happy Thursday dear ones! Remember to focus on Him and the good, Abba Father that He is, only then will we grow deeper in love with our King.