Crispy Chili-Lime Chicken Breasts (healthy oven-baked)

Finally, a healthy meal suggestion that isn't incredibly dull or buried under green veggies.  I decided to try making my own flavored chicken using chili and lime flavors after I saw a pre-packaged version that was out of my budget.
Might I recommend you attempt Crispy Chili-Lime Chicken Breasts?  As long as you remember to soak the chicken in lime juice in the morning, the actual recipe is not complicated and takes only around 10 minutes to prep. 

You will need:
4 small chicken breasts
3 tsps medium chili powder
1 1/2 tsps garlic salt
3/4-1 cup lime juice
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 large zipable bag

1. Poke chicken with fork.

2. Marinade chicken breasts by placing them in the bag and adding the lime juice.  Close bag in a way that very little air remains, allowing the lime juice to cover as much of the chicken's surface as possible.  Leave for 2-3 hours.

3. In a flat bowl, mix the bread crumbs, chili powder, and garlic salt.

4. Prepare the chicken for baking by first dipping each breast into the egg and then into the bread crumb mixture, assuring all sides are covered.

5. Place chicken on greased baking sheet, and spray with low-cal cooking spray oil.

6. Bake at 400F/200C for 20-25 minutes (depending on exact size of breasts).

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Tips for Picky Eaters! - Sauces

 

 Photo by Ladybug Carnage flickr

I love sauces.  I have a small collection that takes up far too much space in our fridge. Now when I say 'collection' I am not actually kidding. 

List of sauces currently in my flat:
Ketchup
American-Style Mustard
Sweet n Sour Sauce
Soy Sauce
Marinara Sauce
Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
Honey-Chili Sauce
Honey
BBQ Sauce
Bourbon BBQ Sauce
Mayonnaise
Piri Piri Mayonnaise
Worcestershire Sauce
Sweet Chili and Ginger Relish
Salsa
Nacho cheese
French Dressing (American style)
Lemon Juice
Lime Juice
and various gravys can be whipped up at a moment's notice

Sometimes when you're a picky eater like myself, you end up eating the same thing over and over and over again in order to avoid aversive tastes.  Especially if you are unable to spend time cooking a grand dinner. Sometimes it IS better to just stick with what you know, especially if you have one food you like that is actually healthy for you.  Sauces are one of the best ways of changing things up.  My love affair with sauces started after sampling the array of british and indian sauces at my boyfriend's parent's house while eating chip shop chips.
But let us take lean chicken breast as an example.  I have invented many different ways of jazzing this up.  One of my favorites is by making Orange Chicken.  I'm also a fan of Sweet n Sour Lime Chicken.

It may also be useful to peruse the sauce isle(s) of your own supermarket and try something new.  

If you're in America, I'm aware that many large supermarkets offer a huge array of BBQ sauces and chinese/japanese cooking sauces. YUM.

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Tips for Picky Eaters! - How to enjoy fruit

 It is my experience that many who do not enjoy fruits take issue with the texture.

As mentioned in the last tip for picky eaters, you may benefit from blending your fruit to a pulp, and then further disguising aforementioned pulp...

Better yet, turn your fruit into a smoothie!  Fruit is naturally sweet and can be combined with low-calorie ice cream for added creaminess.

Other ways to enjoy fruit include:
Use fruit to flavor your dishes.  For example, lemon or lime chicken.
For desserts, create a fruit reduction sauce and use as an ice cream topping (blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are ideal for such an eventuality).
Make your own juice!  Squeeze those apples, lemons, and oranges!  If the pulp offends your palette, simply run the juice through a simple strainer or sieve.

Might I suggest trying cantaloupe or honeydew melon?
Scooping out the middle of a cantaloupe and filling it with sweetened granola is an amazing way to get a serving or two of fruit.  The texture and taste of the granola completely overpowers the texture and taste of the melon.

One last tip:
Think you've tried and hated every fruit in the book?  Strawberries?  Oranges?  Bananas?  THE HORROR.
Have you tried any more obscure or exotic fruits?  Personally, I've been looking for a reason to try a dragon fruit...

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Sweet n Sour Lime Chicken

 
Sweet n Sour Lime Chicken has become a standard in my diet, as I try to create healthy asian-inspired dishes to curb my love of chinese take-out food.  Sweet n Sour Lime Chicken is quite sweet, with a fairly intense tart edge.  Therefore, I'm not actually sure how picky-eater friendly it is.  However... no bits! :D 

You will need:
3 medium skinless chicken breasts, cooked and cut into strips.
1/3 cup soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp corn starch (corn flour)
...dissolved in 1/4 cup water

1. Cook the chicken however you see fit.  I like to cook mine for 10-15 minutes in the microwave at a medium heat, covered in a casserole dish with some water at the bottom (flip halfway through).

2. To prepare the sauce, simply combine soy sauce, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, honey, brown sugar, and cayenne pepper.

3. Fill a small measuring cup with 1/4 cup water and add 1 1/2 Tbsp corn starch.  Stir until dissolved.  Add to sauce mixture.

4. Bring sauce to a low boil until the liquid thickens slightly, then remove from heat.

5. Add strips of chicken to the pot, and allow the chicken to marinate for 10-15 minutes.

6. Serve with rice and extra sauce.

Extra saucy mmmmmmmm ------------------->

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Birthday-Anniversary-Graduation-Party / Family-Get-Together

It is rare that I am presented with so many foods to choose from!  Which is why I think yesterday's family get-together bbq is blog-worthy. 
Now onto the noms.... om nom nom:

 ^^^Mom's key-lime cake with buttercream frosting.

    ^^^ The double sandwich. Complete with BBQ chicken and a mushroom burger.

<--My dear brother, nomming one of my cupcakes. 

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Party!

We're having a family get-together to celebrate various birthdays, anniversaries, and my graduation today, which is lovely.  It also means, LOTS OF FOOD.
It is always a hodge-podge with these things.  In lacking a theme, it is a cookout and fruit party?  I, however, am not in charge.  And my dear mother has been running around crazy with her new job.  So a cookout and fruit themed party shall do.  Stay tuned for recipes!

Menu

Cut Veggies and Dip

Fruit Salad

Coleslaw

Potato Salad

Taco Chips and Salsa

Homemade Bean Dip

Deviled Eggs

Cocktail Meatballs

Baked Beans

BBQ Chicken, Hot Dogs, Brats, and Burgers

Sandwich Buns

Soda, Coffee, Beer, Cooler

Birthday Cake (homemade lime cake with buttercream frosting)

Ice Cream

Watermelon-themed Vanilla Cupcakes
Low Fat Cappuccino Crinkle Cookies

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