A Million and one posts today...

I feel like I've posted a ton today, and done lots of planning, BUT this is the most important one of the day! Its a HUGE thank you to my mom! She sent me the best package today filled with all the spices and mixes that I can't find in this town! Smoked hot paprika, garam masala, fresh cinnamon sticks that will be awesome simmering in hot apple cider, onion flakes that will be perfect on top of a fresh loaf of bread, coriander, curry powder, red curry powder (which is not at any store here...I checked), and Naan bread mixes, and spice jars that will look awesome in my spice rack. So thank you mom! You've taught me how to cook, and now you are helping inspire and guide me along in my quest for real cooking! I love you!

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

3.4 t. salt

1/4 t. black pepper

1/4 t. cayenne pepper

1/8 t. paprika

1/4 t. garlic powder

1/8 t. onion powder

1.4 t. dried thyme

1/4 t. dried parsley

4 chicken breasts

2 T. butter

1 T. olive oil

2 t. garlic powder

3 T. lime juice

Mix spices together. Sprinkle on chicken . Heat oil and butter on medium heat. Cook chicken till brown, about 6 minutes per side. Sprinkle with 2 t. garlic powder and lime juice. Cook 5 minutes stirring frequently to coat evenly with sauce.

Tips/Adjustments: All the dried ingredients can be exchanged for fresh. I use fresh garlic in the spice mixture and also I use half fresh garlic and garlic powder at the end when making the lime sauce.

Then after browning chicken in the pan, but when it isn't quite cooked through I like to throw it on the BBQ and get a little more flavor from that, but I've done it both ways and its delicious either way.  After I BBQ I put it back in the pan and finish the rest of the instructions. A little lime zest makes it even better when adding in the lime juice. Don't worry if the "sauce" your making at the end isn't much, just makes sure to pour it over the chicken while cooking. And cilantro gives a it a fresh taste if you want to use some to garnish at the end. Your choice. I suggest making it the way the recipe says the first time and then build off it.

I'll post a picture tonight after I'm done making this.

Freebies Galore!!

This site has tons of freebies! Anything from cookbooks to beauty products, perfume, food samples! I just spent half an hour requesting products..now we'll see how many I actually get. But I definitely recommend having an extra email account where you can have all this junk sent to, so it doesn't flood your normal email.

http://dealseekingmom.com/freebies/

Upcoming Recipes...

I have a large stack of recipes that just keeps growing. I wanted to let you all know what's coming since this past week has been lacking posts (mostly due to a camera that only works when IT wants to). So here's a rundown of what will be coming-

*Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

*Dulce de Leche Bat Cookies (for Halloween)

*Pumpkin-Swirl Brownies (perfect for fall)

*Grilled Pizza Breads (made with a panini press)

*Best Beef Dip Ever (a French dip made in the crockpot)

*Big Apple Pancake for two (I have to get the cast iron skillet first)

*Apple Pie Bars (Oh my gosh these look amazing!)

*Butter Chicken (an Indian dish)

*Microwave Potato Chips (these are supposed to be amazing and you can make your own seasonings)

I seem to have a lot of desserts, so I'm going to focus on making more dinner, and side dishes. Apples are coming into season too, so I'll be starting to can applesauce and pears. I can't wait! I'd like to start incorporating a vegeterian dinner other than just great big salad or a meatless soup, although more meatless soup recipes are welcome, but if anyone has an super yummy recipes PLEASE share! Thanks!

Tasty Treat Friday!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies

3 cups old-fashioned oats

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup peanut butter (chunky or creamy)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

9 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped into chunks

In a medium bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter, peanut butter, sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minutes after each addition, then beat in the vanilla. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add dry ingredients, mixing just until blended. Stir in chocolate.

If you have time, chill dough for 2 hours, or overnight. (chilling the dough gives more evenly shaped cookies)

If the dough is not chilled, drop rounded tablespoons 2 inches apart on baking sheets. If the dough IS chilled, scoop up round tablespoons, roll the balls between your palms and place them 2 inches apart on the sheets. Press the chilled balls gently until they are about 1/2 inch think.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 13-15 minutes.

Yields: 5 dozen

Alright its my review and tip time!

These cookies are beautiful. I did do the chill for two hours and it was a breeze to get gorgeous round cookies. The will need to set up for a couple minutes on the cookie sheet before you try to move them to a cooling rack. They just need to firm so they won't crumble apart. They pretty sweet, and it seemed like the peanut butter flavor wasn't as strong as I thought it would be. I didn't use bittersweet chocolate since that's not something that I really like, I just used plain chocolate chips (milk). So perhaps the sweetness would be cut down a bit if you used the correct chocolate. They are delicious though, and wonderful with cold milk.  They are a oatmeal cookie with the taste of cinnamon which I love. Next time I will be adding some more peanut butter and less cinnamon and see what I can come up with. :)

OK a tip is that you can definitely freeze these. After I chilled the dough I just rolled the rounds and flattened them, and put them on a plate and froze them for an hour and then put them in a freezer Ziploc bag and they will keep for 2 months in the freezer. Just take them out, put them on a greased cookie sheet and bake.

Definitely try them when your in a mood for an oatmeal cookie. You won't be disappointed! :)