Got the Munchies?

Over spring break I went to the library and took out a dozen cookbooks. I finally had a chance to look through them and am happy to report that I found a few recipes that look great.

I tried this one and it proved to be a great snack!

Spiced-Cherry Crunch Mix from Cooking Light Gluten Free Cookbook

I changed it up a bit and am pretty happy about it.  In fact, I am eating the rest of the batch as I type this.  Both sweet and salty; it hits the spot.

I have adapted the recipe and will share with you what I did:

Snack Mix
Adapted from Cooking Light Gluten Free Cookbook

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg white
• 1/4 cup sugar *
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 2 cups gluten free rice krispies**
• 1/3 cup chopped almonds***
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts (toasted)
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1 tsp grated orange rind****

Directions :

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees
2. Line a cookie sheet with tinfoil and coat with cooking spray
3. In a medium bowl, beat egg white with a mixer until foamy
4. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, in a separate bowl.  Add sugar mixture to beaten egg white, 1 tbsp at a time beating until stiff peaks form
5. Fold in cereal as well as next 3 ingredients.  
6. Spread mixture on cookie sheets and bake for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.
7. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack and store in a airtight container.

Notes:
* Next time I am going to try 1/8th cup of sugar or try to omit completely
** Don't want it to be gluten free? just use regular rice krispies or be adventurous and use your favorite cereal.
*** I might try to toast the almonds next time too, I love that taste
**** I learned that I really don't enjoy orange flavor, so I will omit the orange rind.

Free Chicken Nuggets

My favorite meal of all time is chicken nuggets. 

I grew up eating the ones you buy from the grocery store and occasionally enjoyed the fast food version.  Then I got married.  It didn't work for us to go to the drive thru every time I had a craving and I was determined to not buy processed food- so I learned to make my own.   

I have tried a number of recipes, all which disappointed and then I found it.  I found a chicken nugget recipe that inspired me to make my own version.  

I am confident that I will be feeding my version to my grandchildren one day.  

It is fast and easy and in fact, my husband is usually the one to make it!

If you haven't tried this recipe already, give it a try.  I promise you won't be disappointed...unless you use vanilla flavored Rice Krispies.  
 
Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets*, feeds 4

Ingredients:

• 2 Chicken breasts
• 1/3 cup olive oil (+ extra on hand if you run out)
• 3-4 cups gluten free Rice Krispies, crushed**
• 3 tbsp of gluten free flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray or line with parchment paper.
3. Crush rice krispies (by hand or with food processor) and add flour.  Put in bowl and set aside.
4. Cut defrosted chicken into chunks/strips and put on plate.
5. Pour olive oil in a bowl
6. Begin an assembly line until all of the chicken has been used   

• dip chicken in olive oil
• dip chicken in Rice Krispie mixture
• put on pan  

    7. Sprinkle/drizzle any leftover krispies/oil over top.
    8. Bake in the oven until the meat is white in  the center (about 30 minutes).  Flip half way
      through.

Easy Peasy!

Notes: 
*Don't be fooled by the Gluten Free aspect.  A) they are still delicious...like actually and B) use regular Rice Krispies and white flour and you are able to have gluten.

** I keep a jar of crushed Rice Krispies on hand.  When it is low, I use my blender and make some more