Pita Chicken

I got this recipe from my sister awhile ago.  I like making this because its easy, and when I almost to the bottom of the bag of Stacy's Pita chips, I can use them for something!  It's kind of similar to the crunchy bake chicken recipe, but there is a different flavor.  Try using the flavored pita chips as well, Parmesan Garlic would be delicious!


Ingredients:


1 1/2 cups crushed pita chips (you want the pieces small, but not like bread crumbs)
2 eggs
salt and pepper
4 chicken breasts, pounded out 


Preheat oven to 350.  Combine pita chips with salt and pepper in a bowl.  Beat eggs in separate bowl.  Pound the chicken breasts out to about 1/2 in thickness.  Coat in egg and then with pita chips.  Place in a sprayed glass pan for baking.  Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the pita chips begin to brown.

Orzo Pasta

Orzo pasta is one my new favorite side dishes.  You are able to add anything you want really; cheeses, vegetable, etc. So this isn't really a recipe but a suggestion for mixing up your meals.  Its a nice break from the usual rice, potatoes, or pasta.  When cooking your Orzo, opposed to using just water for cooking, replace half the amount of water with chicken broth.  When the Orzo is almost done, add in the vegetables to allow them to heat thoroughly.

In the above picture, I had mixed artichoke hearts, green olives and spinach.  I would also suggest bacon.  Bacon makes everything taste great.   

Peanut Brittle

This peanut brittle recipe is from my friends mom.  When I first met my friend, around 5 or 6 years ago, her mom gave my family her peanut brittle, and we have been hooked ever since.  This year she gave me the recipe and I just gave it a try.  This was a lot easier to make than expected (the hardest part is stirring).

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1/4 cup butter

1/2 teaspoon salt

16 oz bag raw peanuts (make sure you get raw!)

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Cook sugar, corn syrup, butter and salt over medium-high heat in a 3 quart sauce pan.  Stir continuously until you reach 275 degrees on a candy thermometer.  At 275, add in peanuts and continue to stir to 295 degrees.  Remove from heat and add in baking soda.  Pour on 2 cookie sheets, I used parchment paper to cover mine.  Break up when cools.

Over all, it took me about 20 minutes and a little bit of help from my husband.  I would suggest an extra pair of hands, to help with the stirring and thermometer.