Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders are made with simple pantry ingredients, and because they are so delicious and easy, they have become a fixture in our dinner rotation.  The seasoned flour gives an interesting boost of flavor to these otherwise basic baked chicken tenders.  It also is a nice complement to the hot and spicy buffalo sauce.  While either buttermilk or egg whites work great for moistening the chicken before breading, I tend to prefer the tang from the buttermilk.  The buffalo sauce makes a modest amount to contribute the spicy  buffalo flavor without excess, thus making it a bit lighter.  The result is a spicy buffalo baked chicken dish that is as delicious as it is easy.  The recipe also halves easily, making a simple dinner for 2.  I enjoy my buffalo chicken plain, but it is also delicious served with your favorite side of blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Strawberry Banana Pancakes

We recently picked up several pounds of strawberries from a local farm, and I'm chipping away at my long list of things to make.  At the top of the list was pancakes, but not just any strawberry pancakes... Strawberry Banana Pancakes!  I searched online for inspiration and found nothing, so I decided to just make something up.  I took my standard pancake base recipe, combined it with my Strawberry Vanilla Pancakes and added some banana.  The result is a Strawberry Banana Pancake made with a buttermilk pancake base, a good dose of vanilla, and a generous amount of chopped strawberries and mashed bananas.  Such a delicious combination! 

I never thought my little Adam would ever love any pancake more than Cottage Cheese Pancakes.  Well, after making these Strawberry Banana Pancakes, I stand corrected.  He devoured 4 pancakes with impressive speed and has been asking about them ever since. 

Light Chicken Parmesan

This Light Chicken Parmesan is a delicious and healthy spin on a classic favorite.  There are a few tricks that helped with the lightening up of this dish.  Baking the chicken results in moist meat without having to use any extra fat.  By breading only one side of the chicken, you get the benefit of the delicious breadcrumb/cheese mixture without the excess.  Using part-skim mozzarella cheese helps keep the fat and calories down without sacrificing taste. 

The sauce can easily be substituted with your favorite marinara (use jarred for a time saver) - simply skip to step 5.  We enjoyed Light Chicken Parmesan with a mixed green side salad for a light, healthy dinner.  Spaghetti tossed a little olive oil, herbs and red pepper flakes would also be a delicious accompaniment to this dish.

Strawberries and Cream Sandwiches

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We recently picked up several pounds of fresh strawberries from our local farm.  While we will happily eat a majority of them plain, I also have a long list of things to make with these delicious strawberries.  Muffins and pancakes were at the top of the list (of course), but I wanted to make a dessert as well.  Nothing elaborate or fussy, just something simple and tasty to enjoy at the end of our day.

Strawberries and cream immediately came to mind.  It is such a classic combination that is simple and tasty.  But I wanted something a little more interesting while still being easy.  With a toddler in the house, we of course have lots of graham crackers.  With COOL WHIP whipped topping, strawberries and graham crackers on hand, it seemed all the pieces were falling into place to make these cute little Strawberries and Cream Sandwiches. 

Strawberries and Cream Sandwiches are a chilly version of strawberries and cream.  They are similar to an ice cream sandwich except made with COOL WHIP whipped topping instead of ice cream. 

I like the flexibility and the simplicity of these Strawberries and Cream Sandwiches. The recipe is super quick and easy to make, can be made ahead, and can be multiplied or adjusted to suit your preferences. 

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Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread

Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread is a moist banana bread with a chocolate swirl.  The addition of chocolate to the classic comfort food of banana bread is not only delicious but it's pretty too!


Truth be told, the first time I made this bread, the result was less than stellar. The bread was pretty, and it tasted okay, but texture was off. It was dense and chewy, not quite the light and fluffy texture I look for in a banana bread. And actually come to think of it, even though it tasted good, it didn't taste like banana bread.   Clearly, this recipe was in desperate need of a do-over!
   

Thankfully Frigidaire is encouraging folks to share do-over moments, which gave me the extra push I needed to try again.   I never like wasting ingredients on an unsuccessful recipe, but I loved the concept of the chocolate swirl in banana bread.  So I took the original recipe and gave it a makeover.

I made several tweaks, such as using buttermilk instead of yogurt, oil instead of butter and eggs instead of egg substitute. I also added some vanilla and a few extra chocolate chips on top. Then...I crossed my fingers! 

A little over an hour later, the results of this do-over were in.  The bread rose nicely, had the perfect banana bread texture, and the chocolate swirl was harmonious with the banana bread.  This is exactly what Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread should be like!  I look forward to making this recipe again and again, and I thank Frigidaire for this do-over opportunity!

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

I was flipping through one of my holiday cookie publications recently, when I stumbled upon a recipe for Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies.  Made with no flour and only 3 simple ingredients, I was intrigued by how seemingly easy these cookies were.  Not only are these Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies easy to make, they are super tasty too.  I was pleasantly surprised at how something so simple can be so incredible!  The result is a soft and chewy cookie that is perfectly peanut buttery.  While perfect as-is, a cup of chocolate chips or chopped peanuts would be a delicious addition to this recipe.

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese is a delicious, cheesy, veggie-filled baked pasta with a Mexican twist.  It is made with three different cheeses (yum!) and lots of vegetables (yum!).  The chipotle chiles add a nice smokiness and spice which, along with the chili powder, balance nicely with the tomatoes and cheeses.  Black beans give a protein and fiber boost while adding a nice color contrast to the rest of the dish.  A traditional breadcrumb topping is sprinkled over the top before baking. 

Chipotle Macaroni and Cheese is very easy to prepare and the result is no ordinary mac 'n cheese, that's for sure. This recipe makes plenty, and the leftovers heat up nicely for lunches the next day.

Easy Creamy S'more Pie

This Easy Creamy S'more Pie is very simple to make and tastes like a chilly, creamy version of a s'more.  It starts with a graham cracker crust, topped with a smooth chocolate layer. It is then topped with a fluffy marshmallow layer, which has a similar consistency to the soft, pillow center of a marshmallow that has been toasted in the fire. The result is a creamy, delicious s'more pie.

This pie is made with only 5 simple ingredients, which can be kept on hand at all times. The hands on time takes less than 10 minutes, making this pie a cinch to make any time.  

Easy Creamy S'more Pie pie is a refreshing treat for a hot summer day, a tasty way to end any day or share with family and friends. The recipe is easily doubled, making it perfect for get-togethers or to have one as a spare. Enjoy! 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes with Chocolate Frosting

Last Saturday was a special anniversary.  An anniversary worthy of these Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes made with chocolate cake, filled with peanut butter and topped with a fluffy chocolate frosting.  These cupcakes are light, decadent and perfect to celebrate this milestone anniversary.  This anniversary in question, or blog-o-versary as some call it, marks the 1 year anniversary of Alida's Kitchen!

The chocolate/peanut butter combination is always a winner for any celebration.  I doubled the amount of peanut butter filling from the original recipe, which resulted in a generous amount of peanut butter.  It had a good peanut butter to chocolate ratio, which is key.  I used my go-to chocolate frosting, which is a classic and pipes really nicely. 

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes were super easy to make and the result was the perfect treat to celebrate the 1 year blog-o-versary of Alida's Kitchen.  I want to thank you all so much for visiting and for cooking and baking with me this past year!