Sweet & Spicy Bacon BLT Sliders

 

Sweet & Spicy Bacon BLT Sliders

 1 cup Desert Pepper Peach Mango Salsa

1 package low sodium bacon

¾ cup mayonnaise

1 clove garlic

½ cup sliced green onion

¼ cup parsley

8 toasted Sweet Hawaiian style slider buns

8 tomato slices

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

8 lettuce leaves

 

Place the Desert Pepper Peach Mango Salsa in a small food processor and puree until smooth. Pour the salsa into a small saucepan and cook, over medium low heat, until reduced, for about 12 minutes. Once the salsa has thickened, remove from the heat and set aside.

 Heat the oven to 400º and line two cookie sheets with foil. Place an oven safe cooling rack in each, lightly spray them with non-stick cooking spray, and evenly lay the bacon slices in a single layer on the racks.  Place in the oven for 15 minutes.

 In a small food processor puree the mayonnaise, garlic, green onion and parsley until smooth.

 Remove the bacon from the oven. Flip each piece over and brush with the salsa and place back in the oven for another 15 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp.

To serve, spread the mayo mixture onto the toasted slider buns. Top each bottom bun half with the tomato slices, salt and pepper, lettuce and bacon.

You can purchase Desert Pepper Salsa products at your local Sprouts, Publix, Hannaford, Harris Teeter, Shop Rite, Walmart, Giant Eagle, Market Basket, Jewel, Meijer

You can follow Desert Pepper on their Website, on Facebook and Instagram 

#desertpepperrecipechallenge #desertpeppertradingco #desertpeppersalsa

Cool Ranch Fried Chicken Salad Hand Pies with Green Onion Buttermilk Dip

If that’s not the longest recipe name that I’ve ever created I don’t know what is, but sometimes you need all those words to convey just how good something is. I took creamy herbed chicken salad and stuffed it into a buttery, flaky fried pie crust. Once the crust is totally browned and bubbly it is dusted with ranch seasoning and served with a cracked black pepper, green onion and buttermilk dip. I’m telling you it’s heavenly and beyond delicious and I truly hope you try them!

This is my Main Dish entry for the Wick’s Pies Recipe Challenge 

Update: This recipe won "Best Entrée" and $500!

Cool Ranch Fried Chicken Salad Hand Pies with Green Onion Buttermilk Dip

3 Wick’s 9” Dough Circles

1 cup prepared chicken salad

½ cup mayonnaise

½ cup thinly sliced green onions

¼ cup buttermilk

¾ teaspoon freshly ground coarse black pepper

½ teaspoon garlic salt

6 cups vegetable oil for frying

1 Tablespoon ranch seasoning

4 cups finely shaved romaine lettuce

Allow pie crusts to come to room temperature and roll into 10-inch circles with a lightly floured rolling pin. Using a 5-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 12 circles, re-rolling crust scraps as necessary.

Place one heaping Tablespoon of chicken salad in the middle of each circle and brush the edges with water to moisten. Carefully pinch the edges of each filled circle closed, working carefully to avoid the dough ripping. Place the pies on a cookie sheet lined with parchment and place in the freezer for 1 hour. 

While the pies are chilling, whisk together the mayonnaise, green onions, buttermilk, pepper, and garlic salt until well mixed.

Heat the oil in a large, deep sided skillet to 375° fitted with a candy thermometer. Fry the pies in batches, for about 4 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer the pies to a cookie sheet lined with a cooling rack and sprinkle with the ranch seasoning while still hot.

Serve pies on a bed of lettuce with buttermilk dip.

You can follow Wick’s Pies here for more recipes and ideas:  Wick's, Facebook , Instagram, Twitter 

#WicksPies #TrustTheCrust #InCrustWeTrust

Nashville Hot Chicken Paneer Croutons on Buttermilk Chopped Salad

My second entry for the Karoun Dairies Blogger Recipe Challenge is a serious salad. This is not your standard bag mix of sad wilted Iceberg with two dry shreds of carrot thrown in. This is the main event! I coated cubes of Paneer cheese in Nashville Hot Chicken Oil, grilled it and put it on a Buttermilk Ranch salad loaded with greens, fresh sliced fennel, cucumber and basil. Gluten free, vegetarian and perfect for summer!

 Nashville Hot Chicken Paneer Croutons on Buttermilk Chopped Salad

2 Tablespoons canola oil

1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper

1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika

1 teaspoon light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cajun seasoning 

¾ teaspoons garlic powder

¾ teaspoons onion powder

½ teaspoon mustard powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon white pepper

1 (8 oz) package Gopi Paneer 

2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

2 cups Butter lettuce, torn into bite sized pieces

2 cups finely shredded kale

1 cup thinly shaved fennel

1 cup sliced seedless cucumbers

¼ cup thinly sliced shallot

¼ cup fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

¼ cup flat leaf Italian parsley leaves

½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning

1/3 cup buttermilk ranch dressing

Whisk together the canola oil, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, brown sugar, cajun seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, salt and white pepper in a small sauté pan and cook over low heat, for 3-5 minutes, or until warmed through. 

Preheat a grill pan or outdoor grill to high heat. 

Cut the paneer cheese into bite sized cubes and toss in the oil mixture. Thread onto metal skewers and grill for 1 minute per side, or until lightly charred. Remove from the heat and brush with any remaining oil mixture.

In a large serving bowl gently toss the romaine, Butter lettuce, kale, fennel, cucumbers, shallot, basil, parsley and cajun seasoning. Drizzle the salad dressing over the mixture and toss to evenly coat the greens. Place the grilled paneer on top and serve immediately.

Chicken Al Pastor Taquitos with Tomatillo Garlic Ranch

This is my entry for 505 Southwestern's 25 Years of Flavor Recipe Contest. I took two of their salsas and made taquitos with an Al Pastor spin. Shredded chicken is cooked down in a pineapple mango salsa and all wrapped up in crispy oven baked corn tortillas. Top them off with a Tomatillo Garlic & Lime Ranch sauce and crumbled cotija cheese and dig in!

 Chicken Al Pastor Taquitos with Tomatillo Garlic Ranch

1-pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 2-inch cubes

½ cup diced onion

1 cup 505 Southwestern Pineapple Mango Jalapeno Salsa

1 teaspoon cumin

1 Tablespoon (2 packets) Latin seasoning blend with achiote

½ teaspoon salt

12 corn tortillas

½ cup 505 Southwestern Tomatillo Garlic & Lime Salsa

½ cup packed cilantro leaves

¼ cup Ranch dressing

½ cup crumbled cotija cheese

1 lime, cut into wedges

Combine the chicken, onion, Pineapple Mango Jalapeno Salsa, cumin, spice blend and salt in a large sauce pot. Cover the pot and place over medium low heat. Cook for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and easy to shred. Using two forks, shred the chicken and stir to coat evenly with the sauce and set aside to cool slightly. 

Set the oven to 400° and generously spray a foil lined cookie sheet with olive oil spray. Place about ¼ cup of the chicken mixture on each tortilla, roll tightly and place seam side down on the oiled cookie sheet. Spray the tops of each taquito and place in the oven for 15 minutes, or until browned and crisp.

Puree the Tomatillo Garlic & Lime Salsa, cilantro leaves and Ranch dressing until smooth in a small food processor. 

Place the taquitos on a platter. Drizzle with some Tomatillo Garlic Ranch sauce, sprinkle with the cheese and serve with lime wedges and remaining Tomatillo Garlic Ranch sauce for dipping.

Italian Grinder Style Wild Rice Salad

Italian Grinder Style Wild Rice Salad – all the flavors of your favorite sub sandwich but leveled up with wild rice to make it filling and healthy! Perfect for summer and easy to make ahead! 

Italian Grinder Style Wild Rice Salad

½ cup bottled Italian vinaigrette

½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

½ teaspoon dried oregano

1 Tablespoon mayonnaise 

3 Tablespoons chopped pickled banana peppers

¼ cup diced red onion

2 cups cooked wild rice

½ cup diced ham 

½ cup Provolone cheese, cut into small cubes

½ cup diced tomato

4 cups very thinly sliced iceberg lettuce

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the Italian vinaigrette, red pepper flakes, oregano, mayonnaise, banana peppers and red onion. Add the wild rice, ham, cheese, and tomato to the bowl and stir gently to evenly coat. To serve place the lettuce on a large serving platter and pour the wild rice salad in the middle.

 

Asian Chicken Chopped Salad with Egg Roll Croutons and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

 This is my entry for the “Make Taste Not Waste Challenge”. Being creative and making something out of what might normally be tossed out is so important in reducing food waste, keeping your grocery budget in check and being environmentally friendly. For this dish, I raided the fridge and found a few left-over take-out egg rolls, the last bit of rotisserie chicken, those cut up veggies that didn’t get finished from a crudite platter and all of those leafy greens that can easily be ignored until they wilt and get tossed. Slice the egg rolls, toast them until crunchy and bake them for crispy croutons, toss together the veggies and chicken in a delicious creamy dressing made with Hellmann’s Cilantro Lime Sauce and dig in!

Asian Chicken Chopped Salad with Egg Roll Croutons and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette 

2 egg rolls

3 Tablespoons Hellmann’s Cilantro Lime Sauce

1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1 teaspoon soy sauce

¾ teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon sugar

4 cups leafy greens (I used a mix of leftover romaine, cabbage and baby spinach)

1 cup sliced crunchy veggies (I used a mix of carrots, red bell peppers and jalapeno pepper)

¼ cup sliced green onion

1 cup leftover shredded rotisserie chicken

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a small cookie sheet with parchment paper. Slice the egg roll into 1-inch pieces and bake for 10 minutes, or until heated through and crispy.

In a large mixing bowl whisk together the Hellmann’s Cilantro Lime Sauce, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and sugar until smooth. 

Add the green leafy vegetables (I used a mix of leftover romaine, cabbage and baby spinach), sliced crunchy veggies (I used a mix of carrots, red bell peppers and jalapeno pepper), sliced green onions and the shredded chicken and toss to coat.

Pour the mixture onto a serving plate, top with the crispy egg roll croutons and serve.

#MakeTasteNotWaste #GameDay #ContestEntry #Hellmanns 

Meaty Mushroom Teriyaki Tostadas with Orange Jalapeno Crunchy Slaw

Kevin's Natural Foods is hosting a recipe contest using their clean ingredient sauces and they were kind enough to send me samples to work with. I have to be honest, I was a little skeptical and didn't know what to expect once I knew that all of the sauces are Paleo, Keto, gluten, soy and dairy free, non-GMO and has no preservatives. Can you even believe that list?!

I'm happy to tell you, I was blown away by the flavor of these sauces!

These tostadas are loaded with flavor and are completely guilt free. They're also Paleo, Keto, Gluten, Soy and Dairy Free so no matter who is at your table, everyone will be satisfied. I took a mixture of sautéed mushrooms and lean ground beef and simmered that in Teriyaki sauce, loaded it onto grain free crunchy tostada shells and then topped them off with a veggie slaw that's sweet and spicy thanks to orange zest and jalapeno. It's an amazing new take on taco night!

Meaty Mushroom Teriyaki Tostadas with Orange Jalapeno Crunchy Slaw

3 Tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon olive oil

¾ teaspoon orange zest

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup matchstick carrots

½ cup julienned cucumber

¼ cup julienned radish 

2 Tablespoons chopped jalapeno

2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

2 green onions, sliced

6 Cassava & Coconut Grain Free Tortillas (or other grain free tortilla of your choice)

1 ½ teaspoon olive oil

8 ounces chopped crimini mushrooms

1-pound lean ground beef

1 (7 ounce package) Kevin’s Natural Foods Teriyaki Sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the rice wine vinegar, olive oil, orange zest and salt. Gently toss in the carrots, cucumber, radish, jalapeno, cilantro and green onions in the bowl until everything is evenly coated. Set in the fridge to chill.

Lay the tortillas flat on 2 large cookie sheets and spray both sides evenly with avocado oil cooking spray. Bake for 7 minutes, flip over and bake 7 more minutes, or until crisp. 

Add the oil and mushrooms to a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until all the moisture has cooked out. Add the meat, breaking it up as you brown it, and continue to cook for 10-12 minutes. If there is any excess grease, strain it out. Add Kevin’s Natural Foods Teriyaki Sauce packet and reduce the heat to low. Allow the mixture to simmer until ready to serve.

To assemble, top each crispy tostada shell with an equal amount of meat and then top with the crunchy slaw. 

Serve immediately.

#eatcleanlivehappy #kevinsnaturalfoods #kevinsrecipechallenge

You can follow Kevin's Natural Foods on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest

 

Grilled Charcuterie Panzanella Salad

Charcuterie boards are really having a moment right now and I am so here for it! I always, without fail, have a charcuterie board out when entertaining. It's so easy, can be made ahead and has a little something for everyone! Anything goes when I'm putting together a board - clean out your fridge, pantry and veggie drawer! Cheeses, meats, crackers, bread, olives, pickles, veggies, fruit- it's all delicious and really beautiful when placed together making you look impressive with very little work put into it.

When I saw that Stella Rosa wines was hosting a recipe contest looking for grilled dishes to be paired with their wine I knew what I was doing! Grilled Charcuterie Panzanella Salad - it's all of your favorite items from a fabulous charcuterie platter grilled to give it a little extra crisp and smoke and then mixed into this gorgeous salad that pairs perfectly with wine!

If you're not familiar with Panzanella, don't be scared by the name. It's just a traditional Italian salad made with bread, tomatoes and basil. So instead of going the traditional route, I grilled everything and loaded it with all the best from a charcuterie platter! Whether you use it as a side dish, or the main event, I promise you'll love it! Cheers! 

Grilled Charcuterie Panzanella Salad

2 Tablespoons fig preserves

2 Tablespoons sherry vinegar

4 Tablespoons olive oil

6 ounces ciabatta bread

½ cup jarred marinated artichokes, with 1 Tablespoon of the marinade

2 thick slices (3 ounces total) Italian hard salami

1 (6 ounce) ham steak

½ cup mini mozzarella balls

½ cup cubed manchego cheese (or any other sharp firm cheese)

1 cup mixed olives

½ cup cornichon, cut into ¼ inch pieces

4 Tablespoons golden raisins

½ cup multicolored baby tomatoes

3 Tablespoons fresh chopped basil

 

 Heat a grill to high heat.

 Whisk together the fig preserves, sherry vinegar and olive oil in a large mixing bowl.

Brush both sides of the bread slices with the marinade from the artichokes. Place the bread slices on the hot grill for 2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning. Flip the bread over and allow the other side to toast and get grill marks. Remove from the heat and cut into ¾ inch cubes.

Place the ham and salami on the grill and allow them to cook and get grill marks on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove from the grill and cut into bite sized pieces.

Add the grilled bread, salami and ham chunks to the vinaigrette and toss to evenly coat. Add the artichokes, mozzarella, manchego, olives, cornichon, golden raisins and tomatoes and stir. Pour the mixture onto a serving tray, sprinkle with basil and serve with lots of wine. Cheers!

 4-6 servings

  

Pickle Baked Chicken Tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce

Thanks to Hellmann’s 100% Recycled Plastic Bottles and the “Real Taste, Less Waste” challenge I get to share with you a kitchen hack that I have used for years! I call it a “Crumb Catcher” and I used it to create this kid approved, super easy and delicious dish - Pickle Baked Chicken Tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce!

 

Here’s the deal. A Crumb Catcher is an airtight container I keep in my pantry that I fill with whatever I have at the bottom of the bag of allllll the chips, snacks and crunchy things I’m already buying. Once it’s full I dump it in a food processor and make crumbs out of the mix. Then it can be used to bread chicken, pork chops or fish, top casseroles, or in place of breadcrumbs for meatloaf or meatballs!! The options are endless when it comes to what can be used in this. Literally anything crunchy and salty would work! Here are some ideas of what usually ends up in mine: pretzels, taco shells, Goldfish, tortilla chips, potato chips, croutons, cheese crackers, rice krispies, bagel chips, corn flakes.

I know most of you have had this happen just like me. I buy a pack of taco shells but two are broken. I buy goldfish crackers and there’s only a handful left in the bag and the kids won’t eat them. You make nachos but ¼ of the bag is crumbs at the bottom. Or, every mother’s favorite, you buy a Costco size box of pretzels only for your kids to decide ¾ of the way through that they suddenly don’t like pretzels anymore. You’re already buying these snacks, so why throw ¼ of what you paid for away just because it’s broken or not enough to make a full snack or meal with?! Less food waste = budget friendly!

While we’re at it, I’m going to use the juice left in my empty pickle jar for the world’s easiest brine for chicken instead of just throwing that away! These chicken tenders are perfectly seasoned thanks to the pickle juice and stay ultra-juicy because of the Hellmann’s mayonnaise that’s holding onto all the crispy crunchy coating on the outside. Dipped in the Creamy Chili Honey Sauce and it’s a winner!

Pickle Baked Chicken Tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce

2 pounds chicken (either tenders or boneless skinless breasts sliced into strips- get what’s on sale!)

2 cups pickle juice

½ cup Hellmann’s mayonnaise

2 cups Crumb Catcher mix crumbs (see notes below for suggestions)

½ cup Hellmann’s Creamy Chili Honey Sauce

Place the chicken tenders or sliced chicken breast strips in a large bowl and cover with pickle juice. Allow the mixture to marinate for a minimum of 2 hours, but preferably overnight.

When ready to cook, pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees. Drain the pickle juice off and evenly coat the chicken with the mayonnaise.

Pour the contents of the Crumb Catcher into a small food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Measure out 2 cups of this mix. If what you have isn’t enough to make 2 cups add enough plain breadcrumbs or plain panko to reach that amount.

Dredge the chicken in the crumb mixture and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Spray the tops of the chicken as well and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken over and continue to cook for another 15 minutes.

Serve the chicken tenders with Creamy Chili Honey Sauce for dipping.

#RealTasteLessWaste #ContestEntry #Hellmanns

Spring Minestrone Udon Noodle Soup

What are you having for lunch today? How about trying my Spring Minestrone Udon Noodle Soup. This is my final entry in the JSL Foods Fortune Udon Noodle Blogger Recipe Challenge and I think it might be my favorite! It's warm and comforting but still light and loaded with veggies - this is the perfect dish to usher us into Spring! I think I get bonus points for it only takes 20 minutes to make too, don't you think?

Spring Minestrone Udon Noodle Soup

2 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/3 cup diced onion
1/3 cup sliced mushrooms
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
2 (7.34oz) packages Fortune Udon Noodles Chicken Flavor 
1/3 cup diced zucchini
1/3 cup sliced asparagus
1/3 cup frozen peas and carrots, thawed

In a medium soup pot over medium-low heat warm the oil. Add the onion and mushrooms and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the onions have softened but not browned.

Add the broth and water to the pot, raise the temperature to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil.

Stir in the soup base seasoning packets, zucchini, asparagus, peas and carrots and simmer for 3 minutes.

Once the vegetables are tender, add the noodles and cook for 3 more minutes.

Divide the mixture between 2 bowls and serve immediately.

Makes 2 servings.

I am taking part in JSL Foods 2nd Fortune Udon Noodle Blogger Recipe Challenge. They are celebrating their new packaging designs and their new simplified ingredient list that is only 4 ingredients!! You can sign up here to be part of the Noodle Club and receive a free coupon code to use and you can purchase Fortune Udon noodle products at United Supermarkets and HEB Supermarkets

You can find JSL Foods and all of their fabulous products HERE, on Facebook, Twitter and 

Instagram

#fortunenudonoodles #cheftyaki #udonsoups

Shoyu Udon Egg Drop Soup

We just got back home from Mardi Gras and it was a jam packed long weekend full of family, parades, friends, beads, king cake, drive through daiquiris, a formal ball, po-boys and fun! As great as our quick trip was, once I got home to the freezing temperatures and endless laundry here all I wanted was something quick, warm and comforting and this totally fits the bill! Using minimal ingredients and time, this soup is so cozy and filling. I hope you love it as much as I do!

Shoyu Udon Egg Drop Soup

2 2/3 cups water

1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch

2 (7.34oz) packages Fortune Udon Noodles Shoyu Flavor 

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

2 Tablespoons sliced green onion

In a large sauce pot bring the water up to a boil over medium high heat. 

While the water is heating, whisk together the cornstarch and 2 teaspoons of cold water. 

Once the water comes to a boil, stir in the cornstarch mixture and soup base packets. Lower the heat to medium and allow the soup to simmer for 3 minutes. Add the udon noodles and continue to cook for 2 more minutes. Once the noodles are tender, use a spaghetti spoon or large slotted spoon and scoop the udon noodles into 2 serving bowls.

Once the udon is removed, stir the broth gently in a circular motion and slowly pour the beaten egg into the hot broth. Allow to cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the egg mixture has fully cooked.

Divide the egg drop broth mixture between the 2 bowls, sprinkle with green onion and serve immediately.  

Makes 2 servings.

I am taking part in JSL Foods 2nd Fortune Udon Noodle Blogger Recipe Challenge. They are celebrating their new packaging designs and their new simplified ingredient list that is only 4 ingredients!! You can sign up here to be part of the Noodle Club and receive a free coupon code to use and you can purchase Fortune Udon noodle products at United Supermarkets and HEB Supermarkets

You can find JSL Foods and all of their fabulous products HERE, on Facebook, Twitter and 

Instagram

#fortunenudonoodles #cheftyaki #udonsoups

Grilled Teriyaki Meatball Skewers

These Grilled Teriyaki Meatball Skewers are my kid's newest favorite dinner! They might be the easiest thing I've made all week too which makes it a total winner. With only a handful of ingredients and less than 20 minutes from start to finish, it may be my new go-to!
My kids even took the leftovers in their lunchboxes this week and  loved it cold too.
For these I used bamboo skewers since I can't find my metal ones (so annoying). If you use metal ones, you're good to go but if you're using bamboo be sure to soak them in some water before threading the food on them to prevent them from burning on the grill.
In the recipe I linked to the exact meatball I used, but please feel free to use any pre-cooked meatball you have, this recipe will be delicious no matter what flavor they are!

Grilled Teriyaki Meatball Skewers

1 (1 ½ pound) package teriyaki and pineapple fully cooked chicken meatballs

1 red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 yellow bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 small red onion, cut into 1 inch pieces

½ cup bottled teriyaki sauce/glaze

Heat a gas grill to medium heat (350 degrees).

While the grill is heating, thread the meatballs, peppers and onions on skewers. Place the full skewers on the grill and allow to cook for 3 minutes. Using tongs rotate the skewers and brush with half of the teriyaki glaze. Allow to cook for 2 minutes. Flip the skewers again, brush with the remaining sauce and grill 2 min more. Remove form the grill and serve immediately.

These are delicious as is or serve with cauliflower rice, white rice or a green salad.

Just look at those char marks! I always grab the ones with the most crispy edges!

Smoky Orange Chicken Bowls with Mexican Street Corn Cauliflower Rice

Smoky Orange Chicken Bowls with Mexican Street Corn Cauliflower Rice - this orange zest, smoked paprika and ancho chile marinated chicken is quickly broiled in the oven to get crispy smoky caramelized edges and then served on a bed of creamy corn and jalapeno cauliflower rice. Packed with so much flavor, gluten free and really beautiful!

I think I saved the best for last....
My Entree entry for the "Lifeway Foods Blogger Recipe Challenge" might be the best thing I've made in a while! I used Lifeway Organic Plain Unsweetened Kefir two ways in this dish- as a marinade for the chicken and as a dressing for the cauliflower rice salad.
Marinating the chicken in Kefir keeps it super tender, juicy and flavorful! Broiling the chicken saves you from having to fool with the grill and you still get deliciously caramelized brown edges that add to the smokiness that the chili powder and smoked paprika introduced to the dish!
The Mexican Street Corn Cauliflower Rice is packed with veggies, color and flavor and way more healthy than the traditional mayo laden version.

Just look at all those crispy edges! So delicious, and so easy to quickly broil all of the chicken on one pan - no chasing food on grill grates here!

Smoky Orange Chicken Bowls with Mexican Street Corn Cauliflower Rice

1 large orange

2 large cloves garlic, minced

1 cup Lifeway Organic Plain Unsweetened Kefir

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 Tablespoon kosher salt

2 teaspoons smoked paprika

2 teaspoons ancho chile powder

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon cumin

2 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 ½ -inch cubes

1 (11 ounce) bag frozen fire roasted corn with peppers

1 (1 pound) bag frozen cauliflower rice

6 Tablespoons Lifeway Organic Plain Unsweetened Kefir

2 Tablespoons mayonnaise

¼ cup cilantro leaves, chopped

½ cup crumbled cotija cheese

1 jalapeno, minced

¼ cup sliced green onion

½ teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon garlic powder

Juice of 1 lime

Zest the orange and then cut into wedges. Add the orange zest, garlic, Plain Unsweetened Kefir, olive oil, salt, smoked paprika, ancho chile powder, pepper and cumin to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add the chicken and stir until all the pieces are evenly coated. Cover tightly and set in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

Remove the chicken from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature. Set the broiler on high and place an oven rack on the top third of the oven. Transfer chicken to a broiler pan and discard marinade. Broil the chicken for 5-7 minutes, or until the edges of the chicken are browning. Remove the pan from the oven and flip all of the chicken pieces over, return the pan to the oven and continue to cook for about 3-5 minutes or until chicken is fully cooked through.

While the chicken is broiling, prepare the frozen fire roasted corn with peppers and frozen cauliflower rice according to package directions. Pour both into a medium mixing bowl and stir together until evenly combined.  Stir in the Lifeway Organic Plain Unsweetened Kefir, mayonnaise, cilantro, cotija cheese, jalapeno, green onion, kosher salt, garlic powder and lime juice. 

To serve, place scoops of the Mexican Street Corn Cauliflower Rice into 6 serving bowls. Top each with an equal amount of the Smoky Orange Chicken and an orange wedge. 

Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings. 

You can find delicious Lifeway products here: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and their website  and you can find these products for yourself at Whole Foods, Randalls and Brookshire Brothers.

#lifewaykefir #madewithlifeway #loveyourguts  #lifewayrecipechallenge