Cherry Chicken Salad

Alrighty, today's recipe is cherry chicken salad. It's. so. good! It's by another one of my Group Recipes friends, Adzell. When I saw this recipe I had to make it. I'm really into the sweet with savory type of stuff lately. I used to think that fruit in salad was gross, but I was an idiot because it's awesome. Anyway, I did make a couple minor changes to the original recipe due to lack of ingredients, and also because I used my awesome leftover roast chicken instead of cooking some up as the recipe states. So I will post the original recipe and just note the changes I made. Ok, here's what you'll need...

3 chicken breasts (I used leftover roast chicken)
2 stalks of celery (chopped)
3/4 cup dried cherries
2 tbs buttermilk (I used plain yogurt)
1/2 tbs lemon juice (I used some red wine vinegar)
1 1/2 tbs honey
1-1 1/2 cups mayo
1/2 cup slivered, blanched almonds
salt & pepper to taste (no pepper for me)
2 tbs onion powder

Boil chicken in water seasoned with salt and onion powder until cooked through.
Transfer chicken to large bowl and shred.
Add mayo and stir until evenly distributed and chicken is thoroughly coated.
Add in lemon juice, honey and buttermilk and stir well.
Add salt, pepper, celery, cherries and almonds.
Let chill for at least 30 minutes prior to serving.

You can make a sandwich or some lettuce wraps like this...

Or just eat it with some crackers...

Yum yum yum...this was seriously so good. And I do recommend letting it chill for the 30 minutes. I ate some right after I made it, because I was starving, and then I ate some later after it had chilled a while. It was even better later.

So try it out...it's awesome. You believe me when I say something's awesome by now, don't you??

The Best Roast Chicken Ever!!!

Ok, what I have for you today is the best roast chicken recipe of all time!!!! I got this recipe off of Allrecipes, although I do make my usual tweaks to the recipe, mainly, omitting the pepper and such because I despise it. But that's a story for another post. Anyway, I'm going to go ahead and post the recipe in it's entirety and, if you're like me and hate pepper, you can omit it too. Ok, here's what you'll need...

2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 onion, quartered
1 (4 pound) whole chicken

In a small bowl, mix together salt, paprika, onion powder, thyme, white pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and garlic powder. Remove and discard giblets from chicken. Rinse chicken cavity, and pat dry with paper towel. Rub chicken inside and out with spice mixture. Place onion into the cavity of the chicken. Place the chicken in a resealable bag or double wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 to 6 hours.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
Place chicken in a roasting pan. Bake uncovered for 3 hours, to a minimum internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Let the chickens stand for 10 minutes before carving.

Here's what mine looked like...

Now, I've been making this recipe for a while now so I don't really follow the measurements anymore, I just sprinkle on the seasonings as I go and rub them in. By the looks of this picture, I probably could've used more seasoning. Still tasty though!!

So anyway, you have to try this chicken. It is seriously the best. And I'm one of those people that loves grocery store rotisserie chickens. I don't get them anymore though, because this ones better. Seriously. Try it. Tomorrow I'll be posting a recipe using the leftovers from this very chicken. Enjoy!

Caramel Apple on a Stick

So...I bring to you today another simple, yet brilliant, snack by another one of my Group Recipes friends, Geranium. I'm just loving all these simple little Fall snacks! Anyway, here's what you'll need...

apple (I used Fuji...they're my favorite)

caramels

fun size Snickers

skewers or toothpicks

Ok, her recipe used skewers, but I only had toothpicks so I made some mini one, which were cute. All you need to do is cut your apple up into chunks, and cut the fun size Snickers in half. Now, just put them onto your toothpicks or skewers. If you're using skewers, do apple, caramel, apple, Snickers, apple. For the toothpicks I just did a piece of apple and a caramel on one toothpick, and a piece of apple with a Snickers on another. Like this...

Super cute, right??? Yes...yes they are.

For Geranium's complete recipe go here.

Oh So Simple Halloween Snack Mix

Alright, I know I haven't been posting much and I really am very, very sorry. But...I went to the store yesterday and I am going to be making a TON of new recipes over the next couple of weeks so that means I WILL be posting more often.

Ok, today I'm just posting a really simple recipe that is from one of my Group Recipes friend Keni! It's her Oh So Simple Halloween Snack Mix...super easy, yet genius idea!

Ok, all you need is...

nuts (I used mixed nuts, she just used peanuts...either way = awesome)

candy corn (I used the Autumn Mix)

Now, I pretty much did half and half. Keni prefers more nuts in her mix. Haha...sorry, typing that just made me laugh...I know...I'm an immature dork...Anyway! Here's what mine looked like...

So good! Why didn't I think of that!

For Keni's complete recipe go here. Thanks Keni!!

Cinnamon and Nutmeg Pancakes with Pear Sauce

So. It's Fall now. I'm very happy about that. And this morning I made an awesome Fall breakfast. First, we'll start with the pear sauce. I made this sauce up just for these pancakes, but we'll get to those later...

Anyway, here's what you need for the pear sauce...

1 can of pears (in juice, not heavy syrup)

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

Pour entire can of pears, juice and all, in saucepan over high heat. Add corn syrup, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Bring to a hard boil and boil for 5 minutes. Mash pears and then boil again for about 5 more minutes, or until thickened. Add butter. Set aside. This is what it'll look like...

Now for the pancakes. I got this recipes off of Group Recipes and it is by Mommyluvs2cook! Ok, here's what you need...

1 cup milk (might need a little more if you like a thinner pancake)
1 egg
2 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 1/4 cup flour
3 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

In a bowl combine milk, egg, and oil. Stir in the rest of the ingredients.
Heat a lightly buttered pan over med to med high heat (may want to turn down on second batch so you don't burn them). Pour about 1/4 cup of the batter for each pancake and brown on both sides. Serve with pear sauce.

Yum, yum, and yum. Make these now...you won't be sorry.

I'm an Auntie!!!

Isabella Jeanne, 6 lbs 13 oz (same as I was!) and 20 in. long

A Baby Shower for My Brother

So, as you know, my brother has a baby on the way. She should be arriving in about a week or so and I am so excited! Well, tonight we had a little get together and threw a little baby shower just for my brother. It was a lot of fun and I made some yummy food and he got some super cute stuff!

Ok, first, lets talk about the food...

I made mini ham and cheese rolls, cucumber sandwiches, cocktail meatballs, party pinwheels, and some Martha Stewart cookies and cream cheesecake cupcakes. All were awesome. I love party food.

Anyway, back to my brother...he has a very distinct style and will not be dressing his new little princess in anything princessy. So here's a couple of things he got...

Very nice...

And here's the daddy-to-be and myself...

So there's my brother for you...what am I going to do with him?

Hopefully I'll be posting some pictures of my new little niece very soon!!