Pizza Chicken Tenders

by Rachel Gurk on May 17, 2013 · 12 comments

in Appetizers/Snacks, Poultry

Pizza Chicken Tenders | RachelCooks.com

Apparently I’m on a chicken tender kick. They are so fun and easy to customize. It is a toss up to which flavor I like better, these pizza chicken tenders or my taco chicken tenders. The chicken tender recipes could have something to do with having a two year old, too. She of course loves anything that she can eat with her fingers, and even better–that you can dip into something: hummus, salsa, mustard, ketchup, and in this case, pizza sauce.  Anything having to do with pizza is usually a winner in her book as well.

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I typically just buy boneless skinless chicken breasts and cut them up into tender-sized pieces. You can buy the pre-cut chicken tenders, but I typically stock up a bit on the boneless skinless breasts when they are on sale so I feel like that is a more budget-friendly option. One extra step, and your tenders might not all be perfectly shaped, but I think it is worth it! All you do is dip these in some seasoned flour, then eggs, and then a crunchy pizza topping composed of panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, pepperoni and some Italian seasoning. The nice thing about these is that you get the taste of pizza but some added lean protein and far less cheese. Don’t get me wrong, we won’t stop eating pizza any time soon, but this was good for some variety. Oh and did I mention that they are baked, not fried? Enjoy! continue reading…

{ 12 comments }

Homemade Pizza Sauce

by Rachel Gurk on May 15, 2013 · 34 comments

in Sauces/Spices/Spreads, Vegetarian

Homemade Pizza Sauce | RachelCooks.com

On Friday I asked E what she wanted for dinner. Why I’m asking a two-year-old what she wants for dinner is beyond me. Ben had a late night at work, so I guess I didn’t really care. Well, sweet little E said “pizza!”

Shocking request.

I opened the pantry only to discover that we had no pizza sauce. Well, helllllo–I could make my own, right? Well, with a little tweaking and a lot of tasting, I think this pizza sauce turned out perfectly. I don’t know why I haven’t been doing this all along.

I threw in a completely weird secret ingredient. Chia seeds. Yes, you probably think I have fallen off of my rocker. No, you do not have to put them in if you don’t want to. They are not integral to the success of this recipe, but I wanted to thow in a little extra nutrition. Why not?

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This sauce is beyond easy. Throw all the ingredients in a blender, pour them in a hot pan, simmer for 30 minutes and don’t wear white while you’re stirring. And definitely don’t cook in your birthday suit.

Ouch.

I’d say this recipe makes about enough sauce for two pizzas. You can easily freeze half of it for use at another time. Enjoy! continue reading…

{ 34 comments }

{a day in the life} Heather’s Dish

May 14, 2013
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Today’s “a day in the life”  is the lovely Heather of Heather’s Dish. I love Heather’s devotion to her family. Her blog is a great balance of personal stories, reflections, and of course, FOOD. Gorgeous, delicious food.  ~~~~~~~~~~ Tell me about yourself and how you started food blogging. I have actually been blogging since about [...]

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Quinoa Salad with Grapes and Celery

May 13, 2013
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I hope everyone had a fantastic Mother’s Day! I told my husband that all I wanted for my first mother-of-two Mother’s Day was a card. Then I changed my mind. I wanted to not have to cook dinner. I know it’s insane, I have a food blog, I should want to cook 24/7, right? Well, Momma [...]

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Vanilla Bean Cookie Bars

May 10, 2013
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Clearly I’m obsessed with vanilla beans. This is nothing that we do not already know.  Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese, Vanilla Bean Buttercream, Vanilla Granola, Vanilla Bean Butter, Vanilla Bean Candied Walnuts, vanilla, vanilla, vanilla. Should I go on?  Because there are also meringues, and pancakes…and… Or perhaps I should seek treatment? Vanilla bean lovers anonymous. [...]

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Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Muffins

May 9, 2013
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Cocktail? Check. Egg dish? Check. Carbs? Completely necessary to every great brunch. And this happens to be brunch week if you’re just tuning in. But back to the carbs. Muffins, scones, bagels, pastries, I don’t really care–give me one of each. Bonus points if they have chocolate, which these muffins do. Now, you could make [...]

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Asparagus and Leek Frittata

May 8, 2013
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Brunch week continues, and what brunch is complete without an egg dish of some sort? A frittata, a quiche, an omelette, and let’s not forget a beautiful poached egg. I am obsessed with the fact that spring is finally here so I decided to do a spring-inspired frittata with asparagus and leeks. I kept the [...]

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{a day in the life} With Style & Grace

May 7, 2013
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Today’s “a day in the life” is the lovely Lisa of With Style & Grace. I don’t follow a huge amount of glunten-free blogs, because, we’ll I’m not gluten-free (at all), but I never miss Lisa’s posts. Her food is gorgeous and creative and it is always a treat to read her posts. Plus she [...]

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Pear Hibiscus Brunch Cocktail {giveaway}

May 6, 2013
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  Every good brunch starts with a cocktail, right? Everyone is familiar with the mimosa, and then there is sangria, but I mixed it up a little with these pretty pink drinks. They would be perfect for a Mother’s Day brunch and would be so fun for a girl’s night out, a spa day, a [...]

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Cilantro Lime Rice

May 3, 2013
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This recipe is SO simple and so good. I love adding this cilantro lime rice to a Mexican meal. It has bright flavors and brings life to what might be a heavy, cheesy and spicy meal (nothing wrong with that!). I love the flavors of the lime and cilantro with the rice. I could not [...]

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