Light Pimento Cheese

So, yesterday I raved about Bobby' Deen's Not-So-Fried chicken.

Today,  I rave about about his Lighter and Leaner Pimento Cheese.

Yes. Pimento cheese.

As in thick, hunks of cheese.

With pimentos in it of course.

I am in love lurve with cheese.

In fact, I wrote a cheese haiku  poem:

Yellow cheese, white cheese, orange cheese, ooh
goat cheese, cream cheese, fruit cheese too.
No matter where I may go or what I may do,
I will always love every cheese --as long as its not blue! Ew.

Problem is, cheese doesn't like me back.

Or maybe it loves me back.

Loves me so much so, that it wants to stick around on my tush. For.Ev.Er.

Imagine my delight when I discovered Bobby Deen had made a lighter, leaner version!!

I was giddy. With pimento cheese delight.

Tomorrow, I will show you my favorite thing to make with pimento cheese.

Don't fall off the edge of your seat while you wait for it.

Make this whilst you wait.

It's thick and creamy, full of rich cheese with tang and a kick that only the best of the best pimento cheeses could give.

Light Pimento Cheese
adapted from Bobby Deen's Lighter and Leaner Pimento Cheese
1 7oz container greek yogurt
1 1/4 cup grated cheddar
3/4 cup grated mozzarella (part skim)
2 tablespoons chopped chives
2 tablespoons diced pimentos
2 tablespoons jarred jalepenos, diced
Dash salt
Dash Pepper
Dash garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together until it reaches your desired consistency.

"You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. " Psalm 139:1

Not-so-Fried Chicken

Well, hello there.

Yes I know, I have missed you terribly as well!

Where have I been?

On a diet.

Yep.

And I've been a little bored with my choices.

Alas, no blogging. And no pictures.

Then why am I throwing big hunking pictures of fried chicken in your face?

Because I made a discovery.

Bobby Deen's new show : "Not my Mamma's meals."

You know Bobby Deen. Son of Paula Deen.

He has taken his mamma's meals and made them just as savory but for less calories and fat.

His mamma. The queen of butter. And frying things.

Uh-huh.

I know you're intrigued.

Bobby calls it his Unfried Chicken.

{And yes Bobby and I are now on a first name basis.}

We are going to call it "Not-so-fried Chicken".

Healthy Fried chicken.

My husband asked me "isn't that an oxymoron?"

Maybe.

But it was delicious so I don't care.

I'll eat an oxymoron every day if I have to.

It's crispy on the outside, and juicy and flavorful on the inside.

If you don't believe me-make it yo'self.

Not-so-fried Chicken
adapted from Bobby Deen's Not my Mamma's Meals
2 Chicken breasts, cut thinly in half lengthwise
3 cups unsweetened cornflakes
2 tablespoons House Seasoning: [Equal parts Garlic powder, pepper & Salt]
1/3 cup buttermilk
4 tablespoons hot sauce
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 egg whites

Preheat oven to 375. Spray a baking pan with cooking spray.

Season Chicken breasts liberally with House Seasoning on both sides. In a casserole dish, combine buttermilk, hot sauce, lemon juice, and egg whites and mix with a fork until combined.

Using a food processer, puree cornflakes until they form chunky breadcrumb-sized pieces. Douse chicken breasts in buttermilk mixture, and then dip in cornflakes.

Place on baking sheet and sprinkle remaining House Seasoning on chicken. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes until cooked throughout.

Makes 3 servings.

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

Countdown to New Year's

Here's a countdown to 10  of your favorite recipes from Our McWonderful Life over 2011.

Ya know, all you millions  handful of devoted fans. 

As 2011 comes to a close, I wanted you to know I am thankful for each and every one of you. And our common lust for food.

So, from me to you here are my New Year's wishes for you all...

10. May your 2012 be even spicier than  2011.

Spicy Thai Basil Chicken

9. May 2012 send you somewhere South of the Border, [even if its from the comfort of your own kitchen]. 

Red Chile Chicken Nachos

8. May you start every morning off with a healthy, dreamy treat that will make you feel great and make your stomach smile.

Pumpkin Muffins

7. May you enjoy every holiday to the fullest [ahem, vacation], and may you truly remember the meaning behind each and every one.

Christmas Cayenne Sausage and Pepper Campanelle

6. May your meals be repurposed, your leftovers be eaten, and your stomachs be full of warm soup this winter. 

Lasagna Soup

5. May every day give you a reason to party and reflect on the blessings in your life. 

Greek Chicken Pita Party

4. May your 2012 be full of chocolate. In all forms.  

Rolo Cake Mix Cookies

3.  May you try new things in 2012. And may you not wait until your husband eats all of the ice cream in the freezer before you do it. 

Funfetti Mug Cake 

2. May Pinterest inspire you in all the right directions this year. Directions that involve cream cheese stuffed inside of chicken and fried. 

Oh, and wishing you inspirational pictures of flat abs to go with it. 

Jalepeno Popper Chicken

1. May you exercise more and work your butt off in 2012, and enjoy decadent, cream cheesy food in moderation. Because life is much sweeter that way. 

Honey Moon Rolls

May you have a wonderful New Year blessed by the fullness of His grace!

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." John 1:16

Apple Almond Butter Muffins

The New Year is approaching.

Every time this year, it never fails, I feel the urge to go on a diet.

It may or may not have everything to do with
a) all of the diet commercials on the radio,
b) the gym membership and weight watchers mail I just took out of my mailbox, or
c) the 4 lbs I may or may not have gained over the holidays.

Extra emphasis on the may not.

I'm relying on the power of positive thinking.

Well the good news is, these muffins have 3 healthy-for-you ingredients.

Apples. Greek Yogurt. And Almond butter.

As always with my baking, please ignore the sugar and butter in the recipe when counting your calories.

Thankyou.

For all you almond butter haters out there, don't.freak.out.

While some Almond butters are gritty and stick to the roof of your mouth, I have found one that is delicious and wil allow you to keep your butt on the healthy boat.

Justin's Maple Almond Butter. [From Target.]

Or, you can just feel free to use peanut butter.

I won't tell a soul.

Mix up a batch of these to eat while you jog your tush to a skinny New Year.

Apple Almond Butter Muffins


5 Tbsp. butter, softened
1/3 cup almond butter (or peanut butter)
1/3 cup greek yogurt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup cane sugar
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 large apple, grated on a box grater

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line 12 muffin cups with liners and spray liners lightly with cooking spray.

2. With an electric mixer, mix butter, almond butter, and greek yogurt until creamy and smooth. Add eggs, one at a time. Add sugar, and mix until creamy on medium speed for 3-5 minutes.

3. While mixing, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add flour mixture to wet ingredients in mixer and mix until creamed througout.

4. Add apple (and juice from grating).

5. Bake for 23-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Enjoy these fluffy, good-for-you muffins!

"Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old." Psalm 25:6 (NIV)

Happy Christmas Eve!

We've been busy spreading Christmas cheer around the house...

What are you up to this Christmas Eve?

Ain't it purty!

Wishing you and yours a Christmas filled with peace, joy, love, family, and LOTS of icing!

Merry Christmas!

Samoa Bark

Happy almost Christmas.

You may or may not be familiar with bark.

Not of the tree variety.

The Chocolate bark variety.

Usually in the form of peppermint. Only problem is, I am one of those WEIRD people who hate mint and chocolate mixed together.

It reminds me of toothpaste.

And no. I've never had chocolate mint toothpaste.

Let me introduce you to MY version of peppermint bark.

Samoa bark.

Yep.

Like the Girl Scout Cookies.

But in messy, break off your own piece, and shove it in your mouth girl scout cookie kind of way.

Hello there.

I can't take credit for these magical beauties.

Cookies and Cups can.

I can, and will, however share the recipe I used with you. Barely  slightly adapted.

Make them. And then share them with the people you love.

So you don't eat the entire plate in one sitting.

Samoa Bark
adapted from Cookies and Cups

• 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate + 2 oz for drizzle
• 35-40 shortbread cookies 
• 11 oz caramel sauce
• 3 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 2 Tbsp water

Melt 12 oz chocolate chips in microwave in 30 second intervals until silky. Spread out on parchment paper into a thin layer. 

Place shortbread cookies in intervals on the chocolate. (You could also break them into pieces and crumble atop the chocolate.)

Place the cookies & Chocolate in the fridge to chill and harden.

Toast coconut for 10 minutes on Low heat, stirring constantly and watching to ensure coconut doesn't burn.

Remove coconut. Add caramel sauce to pan, and cook on Medium for 1-2 minutes until hot and bubbly. Add coconut back into pan, and toss with caramel. 

Spread caramel and coconut over shortbread & chocolate. Heat and drizzle remaining chocolate over bark. Place in fridge to cool and harden ~10 minutes. Break into pieces! Eat Eat Eat!

"So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told." Luke 2:16-20

Sugared Balsamic Berries

Christmas is coming!

Yep.

Whether you like it or not.

I am happy to say all of the shopping in the McWonderful house is Mc-FINISHED. Phew.

And everything is wrapped.

You think I'd have some sort of peace about me, and be in chill mode. Nope.

Instead I'm fretting that I forgot something. Or someone.

Who did I forget?

Arg.

Oh to relish the final days before the feasting, family, and presents begin.

Here's to hoping its all a big joke and no one has been forgotten.

In the meantime, I will eat fruit and put my Christmas stress on hold.

I discovered this treat at my nephew's Christening.

Don't be afraid.

You can't taste the balsamic. Well you CAN. But it's not what you think.

The balsamic and sugar create this amazing glaze that hugs the berries and draws out their natural flavors and sweetness.

And then you will want to jump in the bowl and swim around for a bit.

It's like taking a swim in a berry flavored pool. And not feeling guilty because its fruit. Duh.

Please ignore all of the sugar that goes along with it.

Thankyou.

This is the perfect accoutrement to your holiday feasting. If only to cleanse your palette between meals.

Sugared Balsamic Berries
2 cups blackberries
2 cups strawberries, tops removed, and sliced in half
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Mix together balsamic and sugar mixture. Toss berries in balsamic glaze, or drizzle glaze on top of berries. Do not drench berries, this should form a thin glaze on the berries.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, 

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:13-15