I am a Honey Bee

All about my adventures with cooking, crafts, and travel

Poultry

Slow Cooker Cool Ranch Chicken

Easy peasy amazing Slow Cooker Cool Ranch Chicken is a dish that is sure to satisfy any family member. Enjoy it as tacos, on a salad, or in quesadillas.

You will fall in love with this Slow Cooker Cool Ranch Chicken because it’s so easy to make, just uses a few ingredients, and it’s so delicious. I really like that it can be enjoyed in so many dishes too. Enjoy it as tacos, quesadillas, on salads, and rice bowls- so many options.

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How to Make The Best Crispiest Fried Chicken Ever

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CrispyCreations #CollectiveBias #CrispyChicken

Follow these easy steps to make The Best Crispiest Fried Chicken Ever! And don’t forget the secret ingredient to make the perfect airy texture!

Post Contains Affiliate Links. Read my full disclosure HERE

I really had a hard time coming up with the name for this recipe. There were too many delightful adjectives to describe this wonderful chicken. I ultimately settled on “The Best Crispiest Fried Chicken Ever” because I am boasty and I think it is the best and the crispiest. No lies there. It’s awesome! Did you know that the secret to this great crispy fried chicken is using corn starch in the dredge. That Argo® Corn Starch has some magic properties. ha!

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Instant Pot Crack Chicken

We are going on our cruise tomorrow!!!!!!!

I am ridiculously excited. I’ve researched the ship and ports we are going to, I’ve joined FB groups to get get tips, and I’ve made lists, and I’ve packed and packed again. And I know I will still forget something! ha!

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Chipotle Lime Honey Roast Chicken

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Let’s talk Podcasts.

I am super behind the times and just ‘discovered’ them.

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I know, I know. I am lame. But it’s true.

Still reeling from when John & Sherry quit blogging at Young House Love last year, but things are getting better now that they have a podcast.

I downloaded the Stitcher app on my phone and now I’m hooked. I have gone through all their podcast episodes, and now I’m discovering others.

I’m burning through the David Gregory Show, I listen to NBC’s Meet The Press too. I have added Chris Loves Julia to my favorites to check them out. Gilmore Guys… yes please!  I have been adding bunches and bunches to my queue.

Send me podcast recommendations!!!!

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Anywho, it’s Tuesday… so it means Taco Tuesday.

So what am I doing posting a chicken?

I use the ‘Taco Tuesday’ loosely in this sense so that I can make cool dishes like this chicken that is loaded up with Mexican spices and flavor notes. Plus, it’s super cool to slice this chicken up and load it up on a taco.

I mean, I’m not telling you how to live your life and eat tacos, but it’s cool to change things up and have some roasted chicken in tacos. Give it a try so you don’t just eat the same ground beef tacos. Although I could eat them 24/7…

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We get chicken whenever it’s on sale or when we go to Costco since we try to cook them up every weekend, or so. I think they are great for dinner and for whatever. My husband makes chicken salad all the time. He is working on perfecing his roasted chicken too. He plays around with spices, herbs, butter vs oil, temperatures. It’s quite fun to watch and taste his work.

But I took over chicken roasting duties recently to make this chicken.

It takes about 10 minutes to prep. Then another hour and a half of cooking, when it fills up your house with the best aromas. Let it rest for a bit- a must or all those delicious juices will come pouring out when you cut it. And then done. It’s done in under 2 hours which is perfect for a Sunday dinner.

I served our dinner with some fresh summer corn and a cous cous salad I quickly through together with some tomatoes, cucumbers, red cabbage, cilantro, and a lime based dressing.

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The layered flavors of the spicy and smokey chipotles, zesty lime, and sweet honey make this chicken liven up your dinner tonight!

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Chipotle Lime Honey Roast Chicken

Makes 1 Roast Chicken

Ingredients

  • 5lb whole chicken, giblets removed
  • 2 tablespoons adobo sauce from a can of chipotle peppers in adobo
  • 2 limes
  • 1/4 Cup honey
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced

Progress

  1. Preheat oven to 450F degrees.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together the adobo sauce, lime juice, honey, garlic.
  3. Carefully, lift the skin up from the breast by inserting your hands under the skin. Place about 2 Tablespoons of the adobo mixture under the skin of chicken. Massage the rest on the ski of the chicken. Generously sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  4. Roast for 20 minutes, then turn down to 375 for the rest of the cooking time.Baste every 20 minutes. If the skin of the chicken is getting too dark, or dry cover with foil for the remaining cooking time.
  5. Cook for 1 hour and 20 minutes, until the internal temperature is 160F.
  6. Let sit for 15-20 minutes prior to cutting.

 

 

 

 

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

There are so many things going on right now, I don’t even know where to begin!

“Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end; then stop.”

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I have just 9 days left at work before moving. It’s scary and wonderful at the same time. I’ve been here for over 9 years and I love where I am and what I do, but it’s time for some change.

The tickets for Autumn and I to move on 2/15 are booked.

My dad is flying up tomorrow to get our loaded up car to drive to CT to stay at my sister’s, then he will take the Auto Train from VA to FL arriving on Friday. And then my brother and dad will unload the car and assemble Autumn’s crib while my brother is on vacation. My family just effing rocks!

And that bag of poop with a spray tan, wearing a toupee didn’t win in Iowa. So that’s pretty awesome.

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Plus, I have these bangin’ Buffalo Chicken Tacos for you today!

And I didn’t purposefully make them for the ‘Big Game’! I just made them because I was really craving some buffalo chicken and ta-da, I made some tacos. Duh! It’s Taco Tuesday! Double duh!

Did you know that the NFL owns the rights to “Super Bowl” and retailers and TV shows reference it as “The Big Game”, “Game Day”, etc so they don’t have to pay the NFL? I find it silly and awesome. There should be a drinking game for how many times the hosts of Food Network’s The Kitchen day “The Big Game”. Love it!

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Anyway, these took about 15 minutes to whip up, which is perfect for a lunch or quick dinner. Or to even throw together for your friends while you watch “The Big Game!!!”

I made my own blue cheese dressing since I really like to make most of my own dressings, but you can make things even easier for yourself and just grab your favorite blue cheese dressing.

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You can’t go wrong with buffalo chicken!

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Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Makes 4-6 Tacos

Ingredients

  • 1/2 Tablespoon oil (just enough to coat the surface of the pan)
  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 Cup cayenne pepper hot sauce,  such as Frank’s
  • 4-6 flour tortillas
  • greens
  • pickled onions (make at least 1 hour ahead of time!)

For the Blue Cheese Dressing

  • 1/3 Cup blue cheese crumbles
  • 1/4 Cup mayo
  • 1/4 Cup sour cream
  • 1-2 Tablespoons milk
  • salt and pepper to taste

Process

  1. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, add the chicken. Stir occasionally to brown on all sides. When chicken is almost cooked through, add the butter and the hot sauce. Simmer for 1 minute.
  2. While the chicken is cooking, make the blue cheese dressing. Combine all of the ingredients together in a bowl.
  3. Serve tacos by filling a tortilla with some greens, chicken, blue cheese dressing, and pickled onions.

 

Buffalo Chicken Waffle Sandwiches

Buffalo Chicken Waffle Sandwich

Summer is in full swing and I am loving it. But it’s speeding by too quickly. It’s almost August. Do you hear that noise? It’s mean groaning!! Ugh!!!

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I mean, as much as I love the upcoming Autumn with its crunchy leaves, apple cider donuts, and corduroy, I am trying to avoid thinking about it so I stay in the land of rosé, grilling, and flip flops.

To me the scariest part is how we have not accomplished much on our Boston Bucket List. I shared our list earlier in the year when I announced that we will be moving to Tampa next Spring. We have to get to work! There are so many places to visit and things to eat!!

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At least I know we will get a bunch of things done this August as we are vacationing on The Cape for a week. So we can visit The Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory and splash around on the beaches. Aside from that, I just can’t wait for the time off to hang with my family. I already have started to compile my list of goodies to make.

And of course I am packing my waffle iron!!

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I’ve jumped from the breakfast and dessert waffle to the lunch waffle.

You can’t deny that Buffalo Chicken Wings aren’t a favorite for people. They are hot and spicy. And you just love how the blue cheese dip cools off those heated bites. Buffalo Chicken anything always rocks.

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Making this Buffalo Chicken Waffle Sandwich really combines the best of both worlds. You can the heat from the chicken, rich tanginess from the dressing that helps cool off the heat and the crunch from the waffle.

I used a basic complete pancake mix that I jazzed up with some cornmeal for some extra flavor and crunch. The egg and oil that I added adds flavor as well.

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I used my Toastmaster Rotating Waffle Maker by Select Brands. I swear it makes the best Belgian Waffles. I’ve used it to make so many waffles Sour Cream Waffles with Peach Compote and Vanilla Bean Whipped Cream, Banana’s Foster Waffles, Chili Topped Cornbread Waffles, The Best Buttermilk Waffles, and these Cherry Crisp Waffles.

So yeah, I like it! It’s easy to use, easy to clean, and cooks evenly. The flip helps the batter get in the deep ridges, signature to Belgian Waffles. And its such a simple task you can do it with 1 hand.

And I love it so much and I want you to as well, so I’m giving one of these Toastmaster Rotating Waffle Maker by Select Brands away!!! Check out how to enter below!!!

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I think all sandwiches should be made with waffles. You should give it a try, I swear you will be a convert!

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Buffalo Chicken Waffle Sandwiches

Makes 2 Sandwiches

Ingredients

For the Waffle Sandwich

  • 1 1/2 Cups Complete Buttermilk Pancake Mix, such as Krusteaz Brand
  • 1/2 Cup corn meal
  • 1 egg
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 Cup milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

For the Sandwich

  • 6 Chicken Large Tenders
  • 1 Tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1/3 Cup Hot Sauce- I suggest Frank’s Red Hot
  • 1/2 Cup arugula
  • 1/4 Cup blue cheese dressing
  • splash of milk

Process

  1. Preheat your belgian waffle iron.
  2. In a medium sized bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the waffle batter until just combined; some lumps are okay.
  3. Scoop a 1/3 Cup of the batter into the center of your waffle iron. Cook until golden brown. Repeat to make 4 total waffles.
  4. While you are making the waffles, brown the chicken in a skillet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray over medium heat. When both sides are browned, add the butter and hot sauce. Continue to cook on very low heat until the chicken is cooked through.
  5. Combine all of the ingredients.
  6. Thin out your blue cheese dressing a bit with some milk to create a sauce to pour on the sandwich.
  7. Create your sandwich by placing some arugula on a waffle, place the chicken tenders on the greens, and then pour some of the blue cheese dressing on the chicken prior to topping off with another waffle.

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While I received the waffle maker from Select Brands in order to develop recipes, all opinions are my own. 

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And now the GIVEWAY!!!!

I have another awesome giveaway from Select Brands!! We’re partnering up this year and I’m so excited about it!

We want you to be able to make awesome Belgian Waffles with their Toastmaster Rotating Waffle Maker (Retail Value $25). You just have to enjoy stacks for those beautiful, golden waffles with deep ridges that perfectly capture butter and syrup. Pure perfection!

Follow the instructions HERE!!

Giveaway open to US residents and runs through 8/6/15.