Hot and Spicy Peanut Chicken

2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges
1-1/2 cups sliced carrot (3 medium)
1 small red sweet pepper, cut into bite-size strips
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
3/4 cup chicken broth
3 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp. finely shredded lime peel
2 Tbsp. lime juice
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger
2 to 3 tsp. red curry paste
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup frozen peas
Hot cooked Jasmine rice
Chopped peanuts (optional)
Snipped fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions :

1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, place onions, carrot, and sweet pepper. Top with chicken. In a medium bowl, whisk together broth, peanut butter, lime peel, lime juice, soy sauce, tapioca, ginger, curry paste, and garlic until smooth. Pour over all in cooker.
2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2-1/2 to 3 hours. Stir in coconut milk and peas. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes.
3. Serve chicken mixture over hot cooked rice. If desired, sprinkle each serving with chopped peanuts and cilantro. Makes 6 servings.

I leave out the curry paste when I make this for my family, it is just to spicy! This is a really good, easy one dish meal!

Tomatillo Chicken Soup

6 medium tomatillos, husks removed and rinsed
1-1/2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 32-oz. box chicken broth
1 medium green sweet pepper, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 4-oz. can diced green chiles
2 Tbsp. snipped fresh cilantro
1 fresh jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced*
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. lime juice
2 tsp. chili powder
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground black pepper

Dairy sour cream, chopped green onion, chopped red sweet pepper, sliced jalapeño peppers, snipped fresh cilantro, and/or tortilla chips (optional)

Directions :

1. Chop three tomatillos. Place remaining tomatillos in blender. Cover; blend until smooth. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker combine pureed and chopped tomatillos, chicken, broth, sweet pepper, onion, celery, chiles, cilantro, jalapeño, cumin, lime juice, chili powder, garlic, and 1 tsp. each salt and pepper.
2. Cover; cook on low for 6 to 7 hours or high for 3 to 3-1/2 hours. Remove chicken; let stand until cool enough to handle. Shred chicken; return to soup. If desired, top with sour cream, additional chopped red sweet pepper or jalapeño peppers, snipped cilantro, and/or tortilla chips. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

Apple Viniagrette Dressing

1/2 cup flat leaf parsley
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup olive oil
3 basil leaves
2 teaspoons honey
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Serve at room temperature. Refrigerate leftovers. Makes about 1 cup.

I had several of you ask for this dressing recipe. It is on my menu for 9/19-9/23. I make a simple salad of endive, romaine, and fresh spinach, diced Braeburn apples, walnuts, and cubed sharp cheddar cheese to put this on.

P.M.S. Cookies

1 box of Ritz crackers
1 jar of creamy peanut butter
1 jar of marshmallow cream
1 package of chocolate bark

Spread peanut butter, then marshmallow cream onto Ritz cracker, then top with another cracker to make a "sandwich". Melt chocolate bark in microwave or double boiler. Dip sandwiched cookies into chocolate, covering both sides. Place cookies on waxed paper and allow to harden.

These cookies are called P.M.S. cookies because they will satisfy every craving you have, and make you smile when Flo has got you down! Make some for a girlfriend today!

Hunka Hunka Elvis Cupcakes

I found my thrill...and it is these cupcakes!  All of Elvis' favorite flavors in one small package...now if we can just figure out how to get bacon into these......ha ha!  I usually double this recipe and triple the frosting recipe..because they go fast!

2 Cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup real mayonnaise
1 1/3 cups mashed ripe banana, about 3 medium (the blacker the better)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
18 chocolate kisses

Peanut Butter Frosting:

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 to 4 Tablespoons milk
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips, melted

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt.  In another bowl combine the mayonnaise, banana, and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until combined.

Spoon 1 Tablespoon of batter into each paper-lined muffin cup. Top each with a chocolate kiss, pointed side down. Fill cups two-thirds full with remaining batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire racks to cool completely.

In a large bowl combine the peanut butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Makes 18 cupcakes.

Salty Peanut Squares

1 package (10 ounces) Frito Corn Chips, lightly crushed
1 cup unsalted peanuts
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup milk chocolate chips, melted

Place half of the corn chips and peanuts in a greased 13X9 inch pan; set aside.  In a large saucepan bring the corn syrup and sugar to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter until blended. Drizzle half of the mixture over corn chip mixture in pan. Add remaining corn chips and peanuts to remaining syrup in pan, stir to coat. Spoon over mixture in  13X9 inch pan; press down lightly. Drizzle melted chocolate over the top. Cool before cutting. Makes about 2 dozen.