Chicken Tikka Masala

So, I hate the new layout. Any one else with me?
Yea. No bueno.
What was so wrong with the old one? Honestly, it's what's been keeping me from posting! I have been keeping up with reading, but I cringe a little every time I pull up the Blogger website! Reiteration: NO BUENO


BUT- you know what is bueno? Chicken Tikka Masala :-)
I realize that "bueno" is spanish, and this dish is not, but I live in Texas, roll with me.

I cannot even explain to you how good this stuff smells the entire time it is cooking. For real life. From the sauteing of the onions and chicken to the spices and cream sauce- holy moly, I wanted to shove my face directly into the pan before it was even off the stove.

I then paired it was some seriously toasty whole grain naan bread. GAH. no words.

no.words.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Recipe Inspirations from McCormick

2 tsp Paprika

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp Garam Masala

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

2 tbs butter

1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts- cubed

1 medium onion/ 1 cup chopped onion

2 tbs lemon juice

1 can (14oz) diced tomatoes- with juice

1/3 cup heavy cream

1 tbs cornstarch (or 2 tbs flour)

1.2 tsp salt

Melt butter in large non stick skillet. Add chicken, onion and lemon juice and cook until chicken is no longer pink. Add all spices except for red pepper and stir one minute.

Stir in tomatoes until well mixed, then stir cream into the cornstarch and salt until it's smooth. Stir cream mixture into the chicken mixture and stir in red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil then reduce to low heat stirring frequently. Simmer for about 5 minutes or until sauce reaches you preferred thickness.

Serve hot with naan bread or rice.

Naked

...is how I like my donuts.

Was your mind in the gutter?

Deeeelicious.

I had a minor panic attack when I looked for all the ingredients, though. I had baking powder, but no baking soda and whatta ya know, the recipe called for baking soda... annoying. Plus, I had JUST come home from the grocery store....super annoying.

So I googled it and found THIS. Google-Gods know all.

Crisis averted.

Anyone noticed my donuts are also top hole-less?

Yea, I get a little carried away when filling the tiny pan.

It looks like they have belly buttons, doesn't it?

So maybe these are naked donut bellies?

Alright, here's the recipe already...

Cinnamon Vanilla Mini-Donuts

adapted from Homemade Coconut Donuts

2 cups APFlour

3/4 cups white sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp nutmeg

3/4 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

2 tbs melted butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

Combine dry ingredients. Melt butter in separate dish, when cooled whisk in the eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk.

Spoon (or pipe, overachiever) into a mini-donut pan. Bake at 350* for 5-7mins. Lightly touch the tops to tell if they're done. Cool on a cooling rack, or shove them in your mouth....I'm not judging. :-)

Cesar Salad Pizza

I have internet again!!! Yaaaaay!!!! The internet setter-upper guy came over on Monday when I was resting from my vacation. Hey, when you have 3 full days of sun, sand, waves, dolphin cruises, surfer watching, midnight ocean swims, and tasty seafood you may need a little vacay from your vacay. There's nothing like moving into a new place, unpacking almost nothing and then taking off for a long beach weekend, wouldn't you agree? Unpacking sucks, anyway.


Today's recipe is a tasty little number that is 1) cheap! and 2) healthy-ish. The ish-part is for the dressing, but the dressing makes it. You'll see what I mean.

Chicken Cesar Salad Pizza
-single serving pizza crust (I used Mamma Mary's 100% whole wheat)
-Romaine lettuce
-light Cesar salad dressing (I used Kraft)
-Parmesan cheese
-diced pre-cooked chicken

I toasted my pizza crust in the toaster oven while I diced the chicken, chopped the lettuce and tossed in a tiny amount of dressing. When the crust was fully crispy I assembled! A drizzle of dressing spread on the bottom of the crust, topped with lettuce, topped with chicken and then everyone was sprinkled with cheese!
The crust is like your croutons, but you still get to say you're eating pizza!

this recipe has been Maddy approved.

April 10th was my 1 year Blogiversary.

I remember thinking "well, let's see how long I can keep this up" when I first posted. :-)

Big Thank You to all my readers! You keep me posting!!!! <3 <3