POPCORN CHICKEN

I'm two days away from running in my first 5K…but I'm calling this one a practice run, not the real thing.The reason for this is that it's the Rodeo Run and we're doing it with Mike's office. So this is more social than anything and there's no BLING at the finish line! I've been running a ton lately and I'm feeling good! March 2nd will be the real thing!

In preparation for the running over the next two weekends, I've been trying to eat healthy during the weekdays. But like most of you know, we go all out over the weekends! Here's two recipes we used last weekend when watching the KU vs. UT basketball game. We used popcorn chicken in stead of wings, but you could use a number of things…wings, bites, tenders, nuggets…whatever you'd like!

Parmesan Garlic Popcorn Chicken

(adapted from Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Restaurant Recipes)

INGREDIENTS:

Tyson popcorn chicken, cooked

4 cloves garlic, peeled

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons light corn syrup

5 teaspoons grated parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss garlic cloves with oil in a small oven-safe dish, then bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the cloves soften and begin to turn light brown. Cool garlic and then run the cloves through a garlic press or finely mince with a knife.

Combine garlic and remaining ingredients in a small bowl and stir well. Cover and chill for several hours or overnight before using.

Place cooked popcorn chicken bites in a bowl and pour some of the sauce over the top. Toss to coat and place in oven for 5 or so minutes to warm.

Makes 3/4 cups of sauce.

Hot Popcorn Chicken

(adapted from The Pioneer Woman)

INGREDIENTS:

Tyson popcorn chicken, cooked

12 oz. bottle of Frank's cayenne pepper sauce

1 stick of butter

several dashes of Worcestershire sauce

several dashed of Tabasco sauce

DIRECTIONS:

In a saucepan, heat the Frank's cayenne pepper sauce and butter over medium-low heat.

Add Worcestershire and Tabasco. Let it bubble up and then turn off the heat.

In a bowl, pour some of the sauce over the cooked popcorn chicken and toss to coat. Place in 350 degree oven for 5 or so minutes to warm.

pups & kisses,

  Tiffany