Popcorn Chicken

recipe from Heavenly Homemakers

3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 t. sea salt
1/2 t. garlic powder
butter

In a medium sized bowl, stir together flour, salt and garlic powder. Using kitchen shears, cut chicken breasts into tiny bite sized pieces. Toss chicken in flour mixture to coat well.
Smear a thick layer of butter on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour coated chicken into dish, spreading so that they are in a single layer.
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Stir chicken and bake another 10 minutes.

Homemade Yummy Chocolate Sauce

Our family loves chocolate and we love dippin' in chocolate!

Since Valentines Day is just around the corner I thought that I would submit our family favorite as an appetiser. This is my dear sister in-laws recipe she calls it.

Leslie's Best Hot Fudge Sauce Ever....Period.

1-12oz. package of semi sweet chocolate chips

1-cube of butter

4 cups of powdered sugar

2 2/3 cup evaporated milk

Melt butter and chocolate in sauce pan. Gradually add powdered sugar and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 8 minutes

Cowboy Caviar

I do not like avocado at all but for some reason I just love this dip. Enjoy!

2 Tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 clove minced Garlic
1 to 2 tsp Hot Sauce
1/8 tsp Pepper

1 Medium sized avocado (peeled and diced) - you can add more if you like a lot of avocado
1 - 15oz can of black-eyed peas, drained
1 - 15oz can of corn, drained
2/3 cup cilantro, chopped fine
2/3 cup green onions, chopped
salt to taste

Mix red wine vinegar, olive oil, minced garlic, hot sauce, and pepper in a separate bowl.

Mix remaining ingredients, gently coat with oil mixture, and mix again. Dig in with tortilla chips, or add cabbage and eat as a salad or stuffed pitas or tortillas. (it might need some time in the fridge to allow the flavors to come out more)

Bread Dip

• 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack Cheese
• 2 cups shredded Parmesan Cheese
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 package frozen chopped spinach ( 10 oz), thawed, drained and patted dry
• 1-2 cans quartered artichoke hearts, drained and rinsed
• 5-6 cloves minced garlic

Mix together and bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes. It usually gets a little golden and slightly bubbly. Server with baguettes, french or sourdough bread or even tortilla chips.

I got this delicious dip recipe from someone I used to work with. It is one of my favorites and is always a hit!

* You can use light mayo and sour cream and it turns out fine. I also usually only use a bag of Parmesan cheese and it is 1 1/2 cups and it still turns out the same.

Easy Layered Taco Bake

Ok, I know this isn't a Christmas candy post, but I wanted to share this because its SOOO good. Then if I ever loose my copy, I'll know its on the blog.

What You Need!
1 pkg. (7-1/4 oz.) KRAFT Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
1 lb. ground beef
1 pkg. (1.25 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
1 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Mild Salsa

Make It!
HEAT oven to 400ºF.
PREPARE Dinner as directed on package. Cook meat with taco seasoning.
LAYER seasoned meat, Dinner and salsa in 8-inch square baking dish.
BAKE 20 min.

The Recipe came from Kraftfoods.com - Hope you like it! :)

Fruit Pizza

To make the crust mix together :

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup Crisco
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Cream butter, Crisco and sugar. Then add remaining ingredients. Press dough for crust into pizza pan and bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. Allow crust to cool completely.

For the topping mix together:

• 8 oz cream cheese
• 4 oz Cool Whip
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

When crust has completely cooled spread mixture on top. Then add fruits of your choice, some examples are :

• apples
• bananas
• kiwis
• strawberries
• blueberries
• raspberries
• peaches
• pears
• Mandarin oranges
• pineapple

Then brush glaze on top of fruit with a pastry brush

Glaze:

• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 Tbsp corn starch
• 1/2 cup sugar
• Dash of salt

Mix well, cook and bring to a boil. Cook for 2 minutes until thick. Let cool and spread on fruit.

Carmel Bars

My sister Jaime wanted me to post this yummy recipe.

Cream together:
1 cup softened butter
1/2 C plus 2 TBS Sugar
2 C Flour
Press into cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes or until light brown at 350 degrees.

Carmel layer:
1 C Butter
3/4 C Sugar
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
4 TBS Karo Syrup
Cook above ingredients on stove top until light brown - soft ball stage (240). Stir constantly or mixture will burn on the bottom of the pan.

Pour carmel over crust. Spread carefully. Sprinkle milk chocolate chips (about 1 Cup) over top of carmel. Let melt and then spread carefully over carmel. Let chocolate harden on the top before cutting. (I always stick mine outside or in the refrigerator to speed up the process.) Enjoy!