Garlic Broiled Chicken

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
3 tablespoons minced garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dried parsley
6 boneless chicken thighs, with skin
dried parsley, to taste

Directions:
Preheat the oven broiler. Lightly grease a baking pan.
In a microwave safe bowl, mix the butter, garlic, soy sauce, pepper, and parsley. Cook 2 minutes on High in the microwave, or until butter is melted.
Arrange chicken on the baking pan, and coat with the butter mixture, reserving some of the mixture for basting.
Broil chicken 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until juices run clear, turning occasionally and basting with remaining butter mixture. Sprinkle with parsley to serve.

Comments:
Alternative to broiling is baking at 375 for about 45minutes, stir about every 15 minutes and turn chicken over about half way through. Broiling will cause smoke due to the juices. To get the broiled look just broil at the end for about 5 minutes.

Buckeyes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 cups confectioners' sugar
4 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, butter, vanilla and confectioners' sugar. The dough will look dry. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on a waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.

Press a toothpick into the top of each ball (to be used later as the handle for dipping) and chill in freezer until firm, about 30 minutes.

While peanutbutter is in freezer melt chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir frequently until smooth.

Dip frozen peanut butter balls in chocolate holding onto the toothpick. Leave a small portion of peanut butter showing at the top to make them look like Buckeyes. Put back on the cookie sheet and refrigerate until serving.

Comments:
These are a very common holiday treat. Some tips, put the peanutbutter mixture in the fridge before rolling into balls to firm up the mixture a bit. Also, I used about 2 cups of peanut butter. 1/2 cup of that was regular crunch as I ran out of creamy. It still turned out fine. I wouldn't suggest extra crunchy unles you really wants the peanuts in it. Also, I used 4 cups of confectioners sugar and then added a little at a time after that until I got the consistency I needed for rolling the balls. It was probably just over 5 cups.

90 Minute Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup margarine, softened
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package instant yeast
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 egg
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup margarine, softened
1/2 cup raisins (optional)

Directions:

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in margarine; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.
In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt; mix well. Add water, egg and the milk mixture; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has just pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.
Cover the dough with a damp cloth and let rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, softened margarine.
Roll out dough into a 12x9 inch rectangle. Spread dough with margarine/sugar mixture. Sprinkle with raisins if desired. Roll up dough and pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal size rolls and place cut side up in 12 lightly greased 9x13 pan. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until browned. Serve warm

Comments:
For smooth cutting use dental floss. Put thread under roll then cross at top and pull. It will cut through the dough keeping the round shape. Also, Mine made about 24 rolls on this recipe as I cut them a little thinner and then let rise for double the time so they would be light and fluffy. Serve as is or drizzle a cream cheese frosting on top. These are definitely a hit for us. We'll probably never buy canned ones again.

Golden Fish Sticks

Ingredients:
For tartar sauce (optional):
2 1/2 tablespoons regular or low-fat mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

For fish:
2 1/2 cups cornflakes
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted
3/4 pound white fish fillets (such as orange roughy), cut crosswise into 3/4-inch-wide strips (about 1 filet per person)

Directions:
Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 450° F. Mix mayonnaise, relish and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice in small bowl. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

Grind cornflakes in processor until coarse crumbs form (or just squish in bag with your hands...). Transfer to bowl; mix in lemon peel. Mix butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice in small bowl. Season fish with salt and pepper. Brush with lemon butter, then dip into cornflake mixture, coating completely. Arrange fish on baking sheet. Sprinkle with any remaining cornflake mixture. Bake fish until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Serve with sauce.

Creme Brulee French Toast

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons corn syrup
1 loaf challah bread (egg bread)
5 large eggs
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon Grand Marnier (optional)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
In a small heavy saucepan melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat, stirring, until smooth. Pour into a 13x9x2-inch baking dish. Cut 6-8 (1-inch thick) slices from center portion of bread and trim crusts. Arrange bread slices in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla, Grand Marnier and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to one day. Preheat oven to 350-degrees and bring bread to room temperature. Bake bread mixture, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

Comments:
This is great to have for breakfast on holidays because you have to make it the night before. Then in the morning all you have to do is bake it!

Anniversary Chicken

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup teriyaki basting sauce
1/2 cup Ranch-style salad dressing
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 green onions, chopped
1/2 (3 ounce) can bacon bits
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts, and saute 4 to 5 minutes each side, until lightly browned.
Place browned chicken breasts in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Brush with teriyaki sauce, then spoon on salad dressing. Sprinkle with cheese, green onions and bacon bits.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Diet Soda Cake

Ingredients:
1 package cake mix
10-12 oz diet soda

Directions:
Mix cake mix and soda and bake until toothpick comes clean when inserted in middle.

Topping:Low-fat topping:
Fat Free cool-whip LF topping for chocolate cake: FF cool whip mixed w/ cocoa.

Comments:
Use a dark drink w/ a dark cake (ie Diet Coke/Pepsi w/ chocolate cake) and a light drink w/ a light cake (ie Diet Sprite w/ yellow, lemon, pineapple cake) If making a pineapple cake, you can add crushed pineapple if desired. If making a lemon cake, you can add lemon juice if desired.
this is definitely a healthier option that traditional cake mix directions as you cut out the oil/eggs. When mixing add about 3/4 of the can, mix, and then add additional soda till you get the consistency you want.