Easy BBQ Chicken

So, it was my turn to cook last night. My hubby is so considerate and handles most of the cooking during the week, so it's only fair that I contribute on the weekend.

Chicken breast was all we had in the freezer. I'm about "chickened-out" so I didn't want to make the same ol' same ol'. I started hunting on Pinterest for a marinade or something that could jazz up the same ol' boring chicken breast. When I couldn't find anything, the hubs chimed in and said, "Hey, why don't you just make BBQ chicken!?"

Now - I do confess that anytime I make BBQ chicken (I wish my fingers would stop trying to type BBW chicken!) LOL! Anywho, I always just through a bottle of store bought BBQ sauce on some chicken and let it ride. This time, though, I wasn't satisfied with doing that. I wanted to make it my own... make it better...

I didn't do much but it was enough to make some yummy delicious BBQ chicken!


BBQ Chicken

Ingredients
4 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 can of soda (I used ginger ale)
1 bottle of BBQ sauce (I used store-brand Honey BBQ)
1 cup brown sugar
Juice of 1 large orange
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions
Preheat oven to 375
Season chicken breast (I used salt, pepper & a salt-free Ms. Dash seasoning)
Place chicken in glass baking dish lightly coated in non-stick spray
Pour can of soda into dish surrounding chicken
Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour 

For the sauce, add 1 bottle of BBQ sauce to sauce pan over low heat
Add 1 cup of brown sugar and juice of 1 large orange
Whisk until combined

After chicken has cooked in soda for 1 hour, remove from oven and drain off majority of soda
Cover chicken with BBQ sauce from pan and recover with foil
Bake for an additional 45-55 minutes

Chicken was moist, tender, sweet and delicious! The hubby approved!

Simple Vinaigrettes!

Considering I never eat salads, this is an odd thing for me to make. However, I think the "weirdest" part of a salad is the dressing. I have not yet found a typical dressing that I will eat.

SO, I'm on the mission to make one that can appeal to me as well as the normal salad-lover (though there is nothing normal about loving rabbit food!) :P

Let's try these!

Lemon Vinaigrette

Ingredients
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tbsp. honey
Salt & pepper to taste

Honey Mustard Vinaigrette

Ingredients
1 tsp. dijon mustard
1/4 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. white balsamic vinegar
4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. honey
Salt & pepper to taste

Orange Vinaigrette

Ingredients
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp. orange zest
1/4 cup orange juice
1 tsp. honey
Salt & pepper to taste

Can't wait to make a salad and see if these creations pass the test!

Roasted Parmesan Potato Wedges

I searched and searched for a side item to compliment the orange cranberry chicken I'll be making later this week. Finally - I came upon this super simple one! It sounds easy (which I will need after I get home from work and try to put it altogether)

Roasted Parmesan Potato Wedges

Ingredients
4 - large potatoes
2 tbsp. olive or canola oil
1/2 cup of parmesan cheese
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. seasoned salt
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Directions

Cut each potato lengthwise in half
Cut each half into three wedges
In a large bowl, sprinkle potatoes with oil; toss to coat
Combine the remaining ingredients
Add to potatoes; toss to coat
Arrange potatoes in a single layer on a baking pan coated with cooking spray
Sprinkle with any remaining coating
Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown and tender

Can't wait to chow down on these babies!! (coming from the girl who does not even like cheese!) Go figure :P

Orange-Cranberry Chicken

Can I just tell you that I am SUPER pumped about this dish!? We are having friends over for dinner this week and I am so excited about it! I've always wanted to be able to invite people to our home and have dinner and such. And now, we finally have a place where we can! YAY! :)

NOW - Let's just hope this chicken tastes as good as it sounds!

Orange Cranberry Chicken

Ingredients
4 - chicken breasts (I'm using boneless; bone-in would be good too)
1 - 14 oz. can whole berry cranberry sauce
1 cup of orange juice
1 tbsp. brown sugar
Zest of 1 large orange
Salt & pepper to taste

1 tbsp. butter
1-2 tbsp. flour or cornstarch

Directions

In the bottom of the slow cooker, combine cranberry sauce, brown sugar, orange juice and orange zest

Season chicken breasts with salt & pepper. Add to slow cooker.

Cook chicken breasts on low for about 4-6 hours or until meat is tender.

 

For glaze, add butter and flour to skillet to create a roux

Add 1-2 cups of orange cranberry liquid to roux

Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens
Serve sauce over chicken breast

 

Is anybody else hungry!?? :)