Jalapeno Popper Chicken

A week ago Eric and I celebrated our 5th anniversary (our last anniversary before we get married!) and went to Ukai Hibachi Grill and Sushi Bar to celebrate. As an appetizer we had tuna jalapeno poppers. They were fricking amazing--as is all their food there. Anyway, it got me thinking about jalapeno poppers and I knew somewhere in my hundreds (maybe thousands) of bookmarked recipes, I had a jalapeno chicken recipe. I found, and made it, and it was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be making it again.

Recipe is adapted from here.

Jalapeno Popper Chicken  with Salt and Vinegar Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 teaspoons taco seasoning
1 egg
3 ounces cream cheese (I used reduce fat)
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 jalapeno pepper, seeds and ribs removed, minced
2 chicken breasts.

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a rimmed cookie sheet generously with cooking spray.

In a small skillet, combine breadcrumbs and olive oil over medium heat. Cook until golden brown, stirring often. Pour into a shallow dish and stir in taco seasoning.

In a second shallow dish, lightly beat the egg.

In a third bowl, mix together cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and minced jalapenos.

Cut a slit into the side of each chicken breast to make a pocket. Stuff each of the breasts with half of the cream cheese mixture. Secure with toothpicks if necessary.

Dip the breasts into the eggs then into the breadcrumbs. Make sure to completely coat each chicken breast, and then place them on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the juices run clear.

Eric said that the whole house smelled like this dish and he couldn't wait to try some. He wasn't disappointed. However, he was wondering if there was a way we could fry them next time. That boy wants to fry everything!

On a side note, I highly recommend drinking a margarita with this dish. Together they make a perfect summer pairing.

Enjoy!

~Krissy

Baked Garlic Chicken

Growing up I never had any interest in cooking. It wasn't until my senior year of college, after making lasagna with a couple of friends, that I found my love for cooking. It didn't have to be a chore; it could be an expression of creativity. Baked Garlic Chicken was the first recipe I made all on my own. It involves a bunch of ingredients, but it's really very simple. After the dish turned out delicious and I discovered that I could cook, I was hooked.

Right out of the oven, baked garlic chicken

Ingredients:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 cup low fat sour cream
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons celery salt
2 teaspoons Worchestershire sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup crushed Ritz crackers or bread crumbs
¼ cup butter, melted

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9x9 inch pan.

In a medium bowl, combine sour cream, minced garlic, celery salt, Worchestershire sauce, lemon juice, paprika, and pepper. Coat chicken breasts in the mixture and marinate for at least three hours in the refrigerator. Place cracker crumbs in a shallow bowl. Dredge the chicken in the crumbs. Transfer chicken to pan. Pour the melted butter over the chicken. Baked uncovered for approximately 50 minutes or until the juices from the chicken run clear.

Enjoy!

~Krissy