Featured recipes: Maple Pancakes, Homemade Chicken Fingers
Our fridge/freezer is icing up... not a good thing to have happen when the warranty expires in three days. So, between the hours of one and five this afternoon I will be waiting for a call from the service company saying that a senior technician is on his way. This is a problem because between the hours of one and five I am usually doing something in the kitchen, and with five o-clock being close to when something might need to get started for dinner AND the fact that I need to prepare/cook for an upcoming long weekend at the lake, I feel held hostage by the fact that I need to stay out of the kitchen. However, the need for a working fridge/freezer trumps all and I have to accept the afternoon "repair window."
Not being able to be in my kitchen makes me anxious. If the repair company could give me an exact time, I could plan around that time and actually get something accomplished - even if it is just mixing up the dry ingredients for pancake mix to take to the lake. But without a specific time, this is not possible. Having been through the repair process (unsuccessfully I might add) before, I know the counters need to be cleaned off and I need to be out of their way. If I want to mix up pancake mix, it will need to be done before one o-clock.
It also makes me anxious thinking about how I am going to get dinner on the table - quickly. Chicken fingers come to mind. No, not the frozen store bought kind. The pre-packaged ones are fast and I am not opposed to using them under duress (summer home lunches is a good example), but nothing beats my recipe for homemade chicken fingers when it comes to a kid-friendly fast-to-the-table meal. Now I have to admit that sometimes, as a grown-up, chicken fingers are not an ideal meal. But the great thing about chicken fingers is that, while the kids can dip them in ketchup or BBQ sauce, parents can layer them over a bed of greens with fresh halved cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumbers, and whatever else is on hand that makes for a great salad. Paired with a steamed vegetable and fruit, you have a healthy and quick meal that both kids and parents will enjoy and one that allows the freezer service tech guy free range in my kitchen all afternoon and early evening.
HOMEMADE CHICKEN FINGERS*
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
crushed crackers of your choice or (see note)
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into one-inch strips
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. In a glass pie plate (or other shallow dish) melt the butter. Stir in the soy sauce. Put the crushed crackers in another pie plate or shallow dish. Dip the chicken strips into the butter mixture, then roll in the cracker crumbs. Place chicken strips in a single layer on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until chicken is done and juices run clear (I usually cut into the thickest strip to check for doneness).
Note: If using Ritz, I usually crush a whole sleeve. If using Breton, I usually crush 1/2 a box.
* This recipe can easily be made gluten free using either gluten free crackers or gluten free bread/cornflake crumbs and gluten free soy sauce.
MAPLE PANCAKES
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 eggs
2 cups milk
1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 generous tablespoons maple syrup
splash of vanilla (or to taste)
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. (I usually mix up the dry ingredients to take to the lake for an easy "pancake" mix to use for breakfast. It is cheaper and better than the packaged stuff and we usually have the other needed ingredients at the lake anyway.) In another bowl combine the egg, milk, oil, syrup, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients just until combined. Cook pancakes on a lightly greased hot griddle, turning when bubbles break on the top. Cook until other side is golden brown.
To be honest, at the lake my husband is the one making the pancakes while I sleep in. Thank you hubby. He usually adds more maple syrup and lots of vanilla. We serve these with butter, maple syrup, sugar, whipped cream and some sort of fresh berries.
Written August 27, Posted August 28
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