Everything Seasoned CHICKEN TENDERS

Chicken tenders are pretty much a staple food when we go out to eat. With chicken tenders your can’t go wrong because they are always delicious! We often make chicken at home but when it comes to recreating those restaurant-style tenders it is not easy to do unless you want to use a lot of oil to cook them in.

Ingredients
24 oz boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
1¼ cup panko crumbs
⅓ cup flour
2 eggs
⅓ cup buttermilk
5 Tbs everything but the bagel seasoning (Trader Joe's)


Instructions

• Add cooking spray to the bottom of the frying pan and warm over medium heat, add the panko crumbs, stir occasionally for approximately 10-15 minutes or until the crumbs are a nice brown toasted color. Place crumbs on a flat plate.
• Preheat oven to 400F
• Cut the chicken into strips
• Mix the flour with 1 Tbs of the seasoning and put on a flat plate.
• Whisk the eggs with milk and place in a bowl big enough for dipping the chicken pieces in.
• Add remaining 4 Tbs of the seasoning to the toasted panko
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
• Dip each chicken piece into the flour, then the egg mixture and finish off with the panko mixture. Place on the baking tray, repeat with all cut chicken strips.
• Bake in the oven for 20-22 minutes. Makes approximately 5- 5oz servings
• Store any leftovers in the fridge, these chicken tenders will freeze well.

Tupps Tibits: When browning the bread crumbs, watch your temperate of the pan and make sure to stir "frequently" to avoid burning! We adjusted the recipe and used skim milk in place of buttermilk.

We were determined to try our best to make them crispy and tasty, these everything seasoned chicken tenders are good!  We enjoy adding Trader Joe's seasoning to dishes.  It consists of sesame seeds, sea salt flakes, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, black sesame seeds, poppy seeds. You can just add these simple spices yourself. As you see in the picture, we made homemade crinkle fries too! This made an awesome, quick week night meal. KEEPER RECIPE at our house!

Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno

We love Olive Garden Five Cheese Ziti al Forno. This is a copycat recipe using marinara, alfredo, mozzarella, fontina, romano & parmesan cheese and baked with a panko bread crumb topping.

There is little doubt that COVID-19 pandemic is affecting every aspect of your/our lives. Please observe public health measures and reduce exposure to the virus to slow the spread of the disease. 

Healthy eating is especially important for keeping your immune system in top condition. Our blog offers many easy meal ideas!

Pasta:
1 pound ziti pasta
4 cups marinara sauce
2 cups alfredo sauce
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 cup Fontina Cheese shredded

Topping:

2 cups mozzarella Cheese shredded

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/4 cup romano cheese grated

1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated

2 cloves garlic minced

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees
2. Cook the pasta one minute shy of the directions and drain.
3. In a large bowl add the pasta, marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, ricotta cheese and fontina cheese and mix.
4. Pour in to a 9x13 pan
5. Mix the mozzarella, panko, romano, parmesan and garlic together, add this over the pasta
6. Bake for 30-35 minutes uncovered until golden brown and bubbly.

Tupps Tidbits: you can use low fat cottage cheese in place of ricotta cheese

Just put a salad together & fresh garlic breadsticks and enjoy an Olive Garden meal at home, safe and healthier!  This recipe is definitely A KEEPER at our house.  It heated up great for lunch leftovers!

Cheesy Rosemary and Pecan Snack Mix

Need a new 2021 football snack this year? With the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications hanging over games, will there be a 2021 Super Bowl?  Either way, on game day, plan to try this!

3 cup pecan halves
2 cup oyster crackers
2 cup square white cheddar cheese crackers
1 ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
1 cup pumpkin seeds
2 tablespoon packed brown sugar
2 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
4 cloves minced garlic
½ cup melted butter

In a large bowl, combine pecan halves, oyster crackers, cheddar cheese crackers, Parmesan, pumpkin seeds, brown sugar, rosemary, crushed red pepper, and garlic. Drizzle in melted butter; stir gently to coat. Spread on a large, foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. 

Bake at 300° for 15 minutes; toss, then bake 15 minutes more. 

Let cool, then store in an airtight container. 

Tupps Tidbits:  Make sure to toss or stir frequently, the parmesan cheese will stick to the pan!

Don't discard your mom's original Chex/party mix for this one. It was OK - but probably would not make it again. If you are looking for something new, give it a try but this recipe is NOT A KEEPER at our house!