Oven "Fried" Chicken Tenders

Everyone loves a good chicken tender. Whether they are dunked in ketchup or ranch, tossed on top of a salad, or placed inside of a sandwich, no one can deny the crunchy, goodness of chicken tenders. 

I like to lighten my chicken tenders up by marinating them in Greek yogurt and then coating them with Corn Flakes. This helps take away the fat from the traditional dreading processes of flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs. Marinating the chicken tenders in Greek yogurt also helps keep the chicken moist while baking. The Corn Flakes add the crunchy and crisp texture that everyone is looking for in a chicken tenders. I promise once you make these oven "fried" chicken tenders you will never go back to the greasy ones from fast food joints. 

Panko-Crusted Salmon

I love fish...my husband does not, so I am always trying to find new recipes for fish that he likes and will eat again. I have made this salmon dish three times now, and each time he tells me, "I would eat this again." I think I have a winner on my hands! Panko-Crusted Salmon! 

Berry Compote

One thing I love about summer is all the fresh berries that are in season, sweet and tart all at the same time. My son loves to eat any kind of berry, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, you name it he eats it. Since we have a growing boy on our hands, I tend to buy fruit and veggies in bulk at Costco. We generally always eat them before they go bad, but occasionally we cannot get through all the fruit fast enough and this is when I make berry compote. 

You can put the compote on anything you like-waffles, pancakes, ice cream, yogurt, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Oven-Dried Blueberries

My son loves, loves, loves blueberries! He eats anything and everything that contains blueberries, and without fail always ask for more. Seeing as fresh blueberries can tend to get a little messy, I started to give him dried blueberries for a snack.

After reading the nutritional facts one day, and seeing how much added sugar is in a 1/4 cup serving, I was shocked! Not to mention, dried blueberries are super expensive to buy in the store, considering my son could eat the entire bag in one day. So I set out on a mission to make dried blueberries at home, and they turned out perfect!

Cinnamon Apple Chips

My son loves cinnamon apple straws, so he will go into our pantry, find the bag, sit on the floor and eat the apple straws until I find him sneaking a snack. My son is 14 months old, so I am pretty impressed he can find the bag of apple straws, since I tend to hide it deep within the pantry for this very reason. So, I set out on a mission to try and find a healthier and cheaper version of apple straws that I could make at home. These Cinnamon Apple Chips hit the spot! They are slightly sweet, have the warming flavor of cinnamon, and are super crunchy. Everything my little boy likes!

Baked Chicken Flautas

Love ordering chicken flautas at your favorite Mexican restaurant? Well now you can make them at home without the greasy mess and guilty feeling after eating them. These chicken flautas are packed with tons of vegetables and delicious flavors. What makes them even better is they are baked in the oven, not fried! Great for a quick, healthy lunch or busy school night dinner. 

Polenta Cakes with Mushroom Ragu

I have never had much luck making polenta, it never turns out as creamy or silky smooth as it should. But now I can buy pre-made polenta in the grocery store and enjoy the creamy texture I am always trying to achieve. I originally saw this recipe on The Chew, and have adapted it to my families liking. Pan-searing these polenta cakes makes the outside crispy while maintaining its creamy texture. Pair with a hearty mushroom ragu and you have a satisfying dinner on the table in no time.

Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

Craving a hearty bowl of soup in the blistering heat of summer? Well this soup allows you to do just that without standing over a hot pot and heating up your entire kitchen. This hearty soup is great for dinner but also light enough for lunch. Sweet corn, salty bacon, and creamy potatoes make this soup dance on your taste buds!

Place all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours.

DIY Mason Jar Tumblers

DIY Mason Jar Tumblers

Ok this isn't food, but at the request of Stephanie I'm posting on how I made these adorable mason jar tumblers. I made them for 29 people, we hosted the family for dinner this past Easter. I realized that I didn't have glassware for 29 so this was my solution. Plus everyone got to take theirs home as a gift from me!

Made stencils of everyone's name using contact paper (yeah the fancy green and white stuff was left over from the kitchen cabinets) on the Silhouette Cameo. Clean the jars with rubbing alcohol before applying to get any dirt and oil off the jar. Wear latex gloves to make sure you aren't redepositing oils from your skin on the glass! Make sure that there are NO bubbles around the name or the etching cream with bleed under. 

I used Armour Etch. You can find it in craft stores for about $12.00. I used half of a clothes pin to spread the cream on the stencil. (I couldn't find my stash of craft sticks!)

Here I am spreading it on the name.

Let the etching cream sit on the jar for about 5 minutes. The directions say 1 minute, but more time doesn't hurt. I left these sitting in the sink far away from the granite counter tops. FYI the etching cream will etch granite! (Don't worry, my counter tops were NOT harmed in the process.) 

Now comes the"hard part" putting grommets in the lids. Why do you need a grommet in the lid? For your straw of course!

I used a grommet kit from the hardware store. You can use the fabric grommet kits, but you'll need to drill a hole in your lid to fit the pieces first. The kit I used has a punch for this.

 

The punch is the tube thingy on the left.

After you've got the hole punched place the "male" side of the grommet on the base.

Place your lid on top wrong side up. Then place the "female" side. Insert the tool to pound down the grommet and hit it with your hammer until snug. Don't get overzealous though or you'll warp the lid!

Ta da! You're done! Enjoy your mason jar tumbler with your name! 

By the way if you love these but don't have the time or the desire to DIY, check out my shop on Etsy. You can just order them from me instead! https://www.etsy.com/shop/OliveandOscar?ref=shop_sugg

Carbonara!

Carbonara, yum!

Here's the recipe for carbonara that  I use at home. It's quick, it's easy, it's DELICIOUS!

1 LB fettuccine noodles
1 LB bacon
1/2 C dry white wine (vodka works too!) 
1 tsp crushed red pepper
3-4 minced garlic cloves
1 tub of romano cheese
2 egg yolks
dried parsely

Cook fettuccine noodles according to package directions. While fettuccine is cooking, cube bacon, cook until crisp in a large pot. Drain fat. Deglaze the pot with wine. Add red pepper and garlic.

In a separate bowl whisk 2 egg yolks with a ladle full of pasta water. This is to temper your eggs and not wind up with scrambled egg in your pasta.

Toss noodles with bacon, pour egg mixture over. Toss well. Throw in a palmful of dried parsley.

That's it! Enjoy!

Quick Vegetable Chow Mein

I am always looking for new Chinese and Asian inspired dishes to create at home. Chinese take-out can be very expensive so I am always trying to find a cheaper way to satisfy my craving. This quick and easy vegetable chow mein hits the spot every time!