Eatables

One of my favourite choices at fast food restaurants is chicken nuggets! They are a tasty, easy-to-eat finger food. What with this summer’s soaring prices, I took it upon myself to test out some recipes to make my own. While not quite as yummy as deep fried, this baked alternative proves to be bit a healthier (and cheaper!). Enjoy!

Prep: 10 minutes
Bake: 15-20 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 cup butter, melted
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes

Steps

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings.
3. Place butter in another shallow bowl. Dip chicken in butter then roll in bread crumb mixture.
4. Place in a greased 15×10 baking pan. Bake uncovered for 15-20 minutes or until juices run clear (internal temperature should be around 160 degrees).

Looking for a pretty and quick dessert for a party? Dessert bark is always a great treat for a group of people or to give as a gift in a Christmasty tin. You can also serve it along with a scoop of ice cream or You can try a variety of different flavours. Have fun and enjoy :D

Prep: 10 minutes
Freeze: 5-7 minutes
Serves: approximately 15 pieces

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. of semi-sweet (or dark) chocolate squares or 12 oz. bag of baking chips
• 1 pkg. of white chocolate squares or 12 oz. bag of baking chips
• 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
• 10 Oreo cookies, crumbled and divided

Steps

1. Microwave each type of chocolate separately until melted.
2. Add peanut butter to white chocolate and mix. Make sure not to over mix the chocolate or it will start to become runny.
3. Add half of Oreo crumble mix (five cookies each) to each chocolate mix.
4. Place a sheet of wax paper on a baking sheet.
5. Add a spoon drop of each chocolate alternately. Use a knife to swirl the chocolate around to create a marble effect.
6. Place in your freezer for five minutes or until completely hardened. Then brake into pieces and store in airtight container in your fridge until ready to serve.

Credit! Thanks to Kraft Foods for inspiration for this recipe.

These delicious little delights are a cinch to make in only a few minutes. When I am baking something in the oven, it’s hard to make dessert unless it requires the same oven temp. I like making these since you only use the stove (or even the microwave), and don’t disturb the rest of the food in the oven. Great little dessert to serve a large group too, just make sure you let people know there’s peanuts in it.

Prep: >5 minutes
Cool: 15 minutes
Makes: 15-17 cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butterscotch chips
• 1/2 cup peanuts
• 2 cups chow mein noddles

Steps

1. Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper.
2. Melt butterscotch chips in a double boiler, saucepan or in the microwave. Stir until smooth (makes sure not to burn). Remove from heat and stir in nuts and noodles until coated.
3. Drop by spoonfuls of the mixture onto the waxed paper to make a tiny haystack. Let stand for ten minutes.

Change it up! You can substitute the butterscotch chips for chocolate chips. Also, you can use pecans or walnuts instead of peanuts (or use 3/4 cup peanut butter). You can even add a cup of marshmallows for a lighter taste.

This chicken dish is very easy and fast to make, and it is definitely kid approved! You can also tweak the spices to your taste. I just added a side of mac ‘n’ cheese and some sugar snaps (sweet snow peas). This meal takes about 30 minutes total to make and contains everyday ingredients, which is great for busy cooks! Enjoy :)

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 17-20 minutes
Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons of butter
• Dash of garlic powder or one minced clove of fresh garlic
• 1 package of Extra Crispy Shake ‘N’ Bake breading
• 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese
• Pepper to taste

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Microwave butter in small microwave-safe bowl until melted. Add a dash of garlic powder to butter.
2. In separate bowl, combine breading, parmesan, and black pepper.
3. Grease a 8 x 10 inch pan with cooking spray.
4. Cut chicken into strips (about six pieces per breast). Dip each strip in garlic butter and then coat with breading.
5. Place in pan and bake for 17-20 minutes or until chicken juices run clear.