Jim's Welcome Home Party

When Jim came home after a 40 day trip to Asia I wanted to do something special for him, so I decided to throw a welcome home party. We mainly had frozen apps, but I made a few snacks as well.

One of those things was chicken fingers. I've never found a homemade chicken finger recipe that I actually like better than fast food chicken nuggets until now. The cheese added into this makes them so good. And they're really quick and easy too!

Parmesean Crusted Chicken Tenders

serves 4

1/4c all-purpose flour

2 large eggs

1/2c finely shredded parmesean cheese

1c coarse dry breadcrumbs

1lb chicken tenders

1T Italian seasoning

1t garlic powder

1/4t salt

1c marinara sauce, heated

Preheat oven to 450.

Place flour in one dish. Lightly beat eggs in another dish. Combine parmesean cheese and breadcrumbs in a third dish.

Toss chicken tenders with Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt in a medium bowl. Coat in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumb mixture.

Place on baking sheet and coat top with cooking spray. Bake 10 minutes. Turn and coat other side with cooking spray. Bake about 10 more minutes.

Serve with warm marinara sauce.

And the even tastier dessert from that party is coming soon...

It's been a while...

I just realized it's been over 3 months since I last posted to here. I've still been baking and cooking, but every time I've sat down to post, I really haven't felt like it. But now with Christmas coming up, I'm finally motivated again... not that today's post will have anything to do with Christmas but those will be coming soon!

Over Labor Day weekend I was home and my parents decided to have a little party with some family and friends, and I couldn't have been more excited to try baking. Especially with my mom's big kitchen (and her help of course). We made lemon bars (see this post), and mini cupcakes.

Mini Vanilla Cupcakes

(from Magnolia Bakery)

1 1/2c self-rising flour

1 1/4c all-purpose flour

1c unsalted butter, softened

2c sugar

4 large eggs, at room temperature

1c milk

1t vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Line mini cupcake pan with liners.

In a smal bowl, combine the flours, then set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the butter until smooth. Add sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla.

Fill cupcake liners about 3/4 full. Bake 12-15 minutes.

French Silk Frosting

2 2/3c confectioners' sugar

2/3c butter, softened

2 1oz squares unsweetened chocolate, melted

3/4t vanilla extract

2T milk

In a medium bowl, blend confectioners' sugar, butter, melted chocolate and vanilla.

Gradually add milk and beat until smooth and fluffy.

Blackberry Lemonade

Blackberry Lemonade

2c blackberries

1 1/2c sugar

2c fresh lemon juice

Make simple syrup:

Bring 1 1/2c sugar and 1 1/2c water to a boil, stirring until dissolved. Let cool.

Make lemonade:

Muddle 2c blackberries with 2c simple syrup in a pitcher. Stir in 2c lemon juice and 2c water. Add ice and lemon slices before serving.