Copy-Cat Wingers Sticky Chicken Fingers

One last Super Bowl food inspiration for you all before the big day tomorrow.  Who doesn't love Wingers?  And for those of you who have never been there, you're missing out so you need this recipe!  The sauce is gooey and sticky and amazing.

What you need:

chicken-

6-10 thawed chicken tenderloins (1/2 inch thick)

1 cup flour

2 eggs mixed with 2 Tbs of water

1 cup planko bread crumbs

sauce-

1 1/2 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup Franks Hot Sauce- original or buffalo

1/2 tsp garlic powder

2 Tbs water

- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a large cooking sheet with non stick spray.

- Beat eggs and water in a bowl and set aside.  Pour bread crumbs into another bowl and set aside.

- Place flour into a large plastic bag and add the chicken.  Shake around until each chicken is covered completely with flour.

- Dip the flour covered chicken into the eggs, then in the bread crumbs, covering each chicken tender.

- Place on the cooking sheet and cook for 25 minutes.

- For the sauce- in a sauce pan, add brown sugar and hot sauce.  Stir and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, remove sauce pan from heat and add garlic powder and water.  Stir until well combined.

- Dip chicken into the sauce and serve with ranch (optional).

Enjoy!

Inspired from http://lecremedelacrumb.com

Muffin Tin Tacos

These Muffin Tin Tacos are such a fun variation to normal, boring tacos.  They are super easy to put together and delicious.  Serve them up at your super bowl party for your friends and family!

What you need:

5" corn tortillas

2 chicken breasts covered in taco seasoning- shredded

1 can of black beans- drained and rinsed

1 4 ounce can sliced black olives- drained

1 4 ounce can sliced jalapeño peppers- drained

cumin

1 ripe tomato diced

shredded cheese

salsa

avocado

sour cream

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 12 cup regular muffin tin with non  stick spray.

- Place the tortillas to fit into each tin.

- Add a spoonful of chicken, beans, olives, jalapeños, a 1/2 tsp cumin, tomato and a handful of shredded cheese into each tortilla.

- Bake 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are golden brown.  

- Top with optional salsa, sour cream and avocados.

3 Ingredient Parmesan Crusted Pesto Potato Bites

Who else is getting ready for the Super Bowl this Sunday?!  All week I'll be posting recipes that will surely make your Super Bowl party a hit!  These pesto potato bites are so delicious and ridiculously easy.  With only 3 ingredients, how can you not try these bad boys out?!

What you need:

2-4 russet potatoes

a jar of basil pesto

parmesan cheese- shredded or grated

- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

- Wash and scrub the potatoes leaving the skin on.  Cut into large cubes.

- Put the potatoes in a large ziploc bag and add pesto (I used about a 1/2 cup for each potato). Shake the bag until all the potatoes are covered well and pour onto a large cooking sheet, spreading the potatoes out evenly.

- Sprinkle desired amount of parmesan cheese over the potatoes.

- Cook for 25-30 minutes, flipping potatoes over halfway through.

Serves 4-6 people

Enjoy! 

Airplanes & Toddlers

Call us crazy, but we love taking our crazy year and half little boy on our vacations with us.  I can't bring myself to leave Kayden while Parker and I go on a tropical vacation, although I'm sure someday we'll leave him with Grandma just once.  I love having the memories of Kayden playing in the sand in Florida and Mexico, seeing his eyes grow huge as he sees the Kansas Jayhawk mascot run around during a game, and watching him play with cousins in Atlanta.  To me, Kayden needs these opportunities.  Plus he's free until he turns two so why not have him tag along with us?!
There have been great times with him flying and there have been times where I want to pull my hair out, but I've learned some tricks along the way.  So if you're like us and travel with a toddler, then you might want some helpful tips on how to survive.

The Diaper Bag:

- Diapers

- Wipes, lots and lots of wipes.

- Anti-bacterial wipes- the things kids touch on a plane or in the airport is disgusting.

- An extra outfit- because you never know.

- Hand sanitizer

- You'll want a binkey, bottle or something to chew on while the plane is going up or down so their ears won't hurt as bad.

- *Go to the Dollar Store*  - The best advice I've ever gotten was from my sister.  Go to the dollar store and buy lots of dumb little things that don't matter if they get lost or broken.  I've also heard that you can wrap them up and bring them out one at a time to make the kids more excited.

- Coloring book and crayons- the Dollar Store has the best coloring books for only $1!  I'm also a big fan of Twistable's.

- IPad- seriously a life saver.  My favorite free apps: PBS Kids (every cartoon and lots of full episodes for free!), KidsDoodle, Animal Zoo, Puzzingo, My Tom or any of those talking animals ones, and throw in a candy crush or something with lots of colors.

- Snacks, so so many snacks.  Veggie straws are the greatest thing ever for kids, pretzel sticks, goldfish, cheez its, a tube of mini m&m's, dum dum suckers, and whatever else makes your child happy.

Everything Else:

- Bring an umbrella stroller to the airport.  It's easy to stick your kid in there and stroll to the gate.  They will check it at the gate for free.

- Let your kid RUN before the flight.  Find the little airport playground or just let them run like crazy all over because you'd rather have them do that in the airport than the plane.

- Try to book your flights during nap time.

- Try not to bring a carseat, it's a hassle.  You can rent one at the rental car place, or most private car services will have one.

- Ask the hotel for a pack n play or a crib.  Bring your own crib sheet though. 

- If you're staying near a store like Walmart or Target, don't pack wipes and diapers in your suitcase.  They take up so much room.  Just go to the store when you get to your destination and pick up those things.

Try not to get too stressed about a trip with your littles.  No matter how bad the airplane ride is, I always remember the good parts of the trip over the screams on the airplane.  I think it's 100% worth it to take your kids with you on a trip to have the amazing memories.  

Feel free to comment with any tips and tricks you have for traveling with small children! 

Valentine's Day Banner

I found the cutest Valentine's Day banner online the other day but it was $20!  I was not going to pay that much for a banner and shipping on top of that.  I decided to venture to Hobby Lobby and find some cute scrapbook paper, ribbon, mini clothes pins, twine, and little Valentine's knick knacks.   I made this in about 20 minutes and it was under $10 to make.  Such a fun, easy and festive craft to put you in the spirit of love for this holiday coming up! 

Cosmic Brownies

Who else killed for Cosmic Brownies to be in their lunch box growing up??  Or who still buys them at the store when their 24 years old like me..?  These brownies are so good and addicting so beware.  They are also very rich so beware even more!  You can eat them when they're gooey or wait a little while like me and eat them once they've been in the fridge and have hardened a bit.

What you need:

for brownies:

10 Tbs butter

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup + 2 Tbs cocoa powder

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 egg yolk

1 Tbs corn syrup

2/3 cup flour

1 Tbs cornstarch

a pinch of salt

for frosting:

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

mini m&ms, rainbow chips, sprinkles or any other little candies

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line an 8x8 pan with tin foil and spray with non-stick spray.

- In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt butter for a minute and a half.  Add sugars and cocoa powder. Stir with a wooden spoon.  Once well combined, add eggs, vanilla and corn syrup.  Stir.  Add in flour, cornstarch and salt and stir well.

- Pour into the pan and bake for 25 minutes.

- Cool completely in pan.

- For the frosting- In a microwave safe bowl, pour the cream and heat for 1 minute.  Pour chocolate chips into bowl and let sit for 3-4 minutes.  Stir until it's smooth.  Pour over cooled brownies.  Add candies on top and put in the fridge for at least an hour.

(my bottom 3 pictures were taken after being in the fridge 2 hours and they are still very gooey.  The top picture is after I let them sit overnight).  

Recipe inspired by: http://www.handletheheat.com

Honey Garlic Chicken

This Honey Garlic Chicken is delicious.  So many flavors and is perfect shredded and served over rice!

What you need:

2-4 boneless chicken breasts

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/3 cup white distilled vinegar

1/4 cup sprite

1 Tbs garlic- minced

2 Tbs soy sauce

black pepper

1 Tbs corn starch

- Place chicken in the crock pot.  Combine all ingredients except the corn starch in a bowl.  Pour over chicken and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

- Shred chicken and return to crock pot.  Stir in corn starch to thicken sauce.

Bajio Chicken Salad

Do I dare say this is just as good as a Cafe Rio Salad?  I love this Bajio Chicken Salad.  It's sweet, juicy and delicious!  I found this recipe a couple of years ago at Two Peas & a Pot and my family loves to use this for big get togethers.  I just made this for our friends at our annual New Years Eve party and everyone seemed to like it, or they were just being nice..  Either way, this is such an easy fun dinner to throw together and you'll keep going back for more.

What you need:

4-6 chicken breast

1/2 cup salsa

1 Tbs cumin

1/2 cup brown sugar (more to taste)

1 4oz can diced green chilies

3/4 cup sprite

Place chicken in the crock pot.  In a bowl mix remaining ingredients together and pour over chicken.  Cook on low for 6 hours.  Shred.  Serve with the following below:

warm flour tortillas

lettuce

cheese

black beans

spanish rice

cilantro lime dressing

(I get the Litehouse cilantro dressing found by the bagged salads at Harmons)

tortilla strips

any other desired toppings

Crock Pot BBQ Pork Chops

This one is for all my friends who "don't know" how to cook or hate to cook.  I'm sorry but you guys just don't have an excuse anymore.  I really don't think there is an easier recipe out there and the prep time is under a minute.

What you need:

2-4 pork chops

BBQ sauce

1/2 cup water

Put a layer of BBQ sauce on the bottom of the crock pot.  Add the pork chops.  Put a layer of BBQ sauce over the pork chops.  Pour a 1/2 cup water over it all.  Cook on high for 3 hours.

Creamy Chicken with Asparagus & Mushrooms

Let us start the new year with this high calorie, delicious chicken shall we?  This creamy chicken with asparagus & mushrooms is a great chilly night, comfort dinner.  It's just one of those meals that hits the spot after a long day.

What you need:

Chicken:

2-4 boneless chicken breast

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

1/2 shredded parmesan cheese

salt & pepper to taste

Asparagus:

1 bunch of asparagus

1 cup of sliced mushrooms

parmesan cheese (grated or shredded or both)

lemon juice (optional)

- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

- Place chicken in a glass baking dish and sprinkle with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.  In a bowl, combine cream of chicken and sour cream.  Pour evenly over chicken.

- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes.

- Fill a large skillet with enough water to cover just the bottom of the pan.  Place the asparagus evenly in the pan without overlapping.  Add mushrooms.  Cover and cook on high for 5-8 minutes or until tender.  Drain remaining water.  Return to stove and add parmesan cheese.  You can also had a little lemon juice for extra taste if you'd like.  Simmer until ready to eat.

Recipe inspired by www.sixsistersstuff.com