Want a fast dinner that doesn’t involve delivery or going through the drive-through window? These two recipes are meals kids and “big kids” love and something you can feel good about. Chicken nuggets are something that even adults admit to secretly loving. This recipe is only 5 ingredients and makes 30 nuggets so you can have enough for several meals. Feel free to be creative with the recipe, if you have Goldfish crackers or Multigrain crackers, sub those in (use 1 ¾ cups of crumbs for the mixture and then 1 ¾ cups of crumbs for the dredging). The nuggets can be frozen and then reheated. The Buffalo Chicken Pizza recipe is a version of a pizza you could order or even get from a Take and Bake shop. Really if you are willing to do Take and Bake, you’re half way there, why not just make it yourself? Pizza making is a great way to get your kids in the kitchen with you.
If you’d like to learn more ways to transform fast food favorites, join me for my cooking class, “Fast Suppers without Fast Food” on Nov. 7, 2011 through St. Paul community education (description on page 22 of their Fall book). You’ll learn creative and healthy recipes that will keep you from ordering that next pizza. We’ll transform Pad Thai into lasagna and even make dinner while you sleep! Meal planning can be fun, healthy and save you money!
The class is $38. To register call: 651-744-3072 or go to http://commed.spps.org/
Chicken Bites
Ingredients:
2 sleeves of Club Crackers
3 No Name Chicken Breasts (1.2 ounces) Defrosted
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
½ tsp Garlic Salt
4 Eggs, divided
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.
In a food processor, blend 1 sleeve of Club Crackers until fine. Set aside on a plate. Blend the second sleeve and set aside.
In the food processor, add chicken, italian seasoning, garlic salt until finely chopped. Add 2 eggs one at a time and then add one of the sets of cracker crumbs. Mix until combined.
Set up one plate with cracker crumbs and a bowl with 2 eggs (blended). By 1 TB spoonfuls, dredge in egg and then cracker crumbs and then place on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Makes 30 Chicken Bites
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Ingredients:
3 No Name Chicken Breasts (1.2 ounces) Defrosted
4 TB Butter (melted)
½ cup Buffalo Sauce
1 Tube of Classic Crust Pizza (13.8 ounce)
½ cup Alfredo Sauce
2 cups Finely Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
¼ cup Blue Cheese
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.
Dice chicken into bite size pieces. In a Ziploc bag, combine chicken, melted butter and buffalo sauce. Set aside.
Spread dough in a greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes.
On the prebaked crust, spread alfredo sauce then top with mozzarella cheese, buffalo chicken and blue cheese. Bake for 15 minutes.
Makes 16 slices
