Saturday, March 31, 2012

Buffalo Chicken Bites and Panera's Mac & Cheese

I feel like it has been a while since I have posted some new recipes! It has been a crazy couple of weeks and I am glad to see life starting to go back to normal. All I am going to say is life sure is a crazy roller coaster and I hoping for a smooth part of the roller coaster for a little while. The first recipe I made about two weeks ago and the other one I made last night. They were both super yummy and pretty easy. And yes I found both of them on Pinterest!

Buffalo Chicken Bites: 
- 3 cups shredded cooked chicken
(4-5 breasts. I used 3 and that was not really enough)
- 1/4 to 1/2 cup hot sauce (to taste)
- 3 1/2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1 3/4 cups sharp shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 3-4 cups Corn Flakes cereal, crushed

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. Line a large baking
sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine chicken, cream
cheese, hot sauce, cheddar cheese and green onions.
3. Roll a heaping tablespoon of mixture into a 1 1/2-inch
 ball and place onto a plate or separate baking sheet.
Repeat with the remaining mixture.
4. Place flour in a shallow dish.
5. In a second shallow dish, place eggs.
6. In a third shallow dish, place cornflakes.
7. Dip each chicken ball first into the flour, then the egg and ending with the Cornflakes. Place on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm with ranch dressing or blue cheese dressing.

I did not have parchment paper and I didn't want to spend the money on it for one recipe. I just made sure the pan was sprayed really well and it turned out ok.  I also used Texas Pete hot sauce and I think it would be fun to try different hot sauces to get different flavors.

Panera's Stove Top Mac and Cheese: 
- 16 oz pipette pasta or other small pasta shapes
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 1/2 cups milk, heavy cream, or half-and-half
- 4 oz white American cheese, chopped or torn into pieces
- 8 oz extra sharp white Vermont cheddar, shredded
- 2 tsp - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (adjust to your taste)
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp hot sauce

Directions:
1. In a large stockpot, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain well.
2. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a 4 quart sauce pan over medium heat. When the butter has melted and has started to bubble, whisk in the flour; cook for 1 1/2 minutes whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in the milk until no lumps remain. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook milk mixture, whisking frequently, until it thickens and bubbles, about 8 minutes.
3. Remove sauce pan from the heat and by the handful, stir in the cheese allowing all of the cheese to melt into the sauce before adding more. Stir in the mustard, salt, and hot sauce. Return the sauce pan to the heat and stir in the pasta. Be sure to stir up the sauce from the bottom of the sauce pan and thoroughly coat all of the pasta with the sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes over medium-low heat until heated through. Serve hot in blows with spoons.

I know it sounds crazy to have Dijon mustard and hot sauce in the Mac & Cheese but you couldn't really taste either so it just must add that something special. I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I did :)

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Washington D.C.

I went to Washington D.C. to visit my oldest friend for the second half of Spring break. It was just the little escape from the everyday norm of NC. Here are just a few of the pictures from my trip :) The first day I was there we went to the National Zoo. I didn't even know there was a Zoo in D.C. The other days we spent time exploring monuments we either hadn't been to in a long time or had never been to. We also spent time exploring George Town where Jenni is living. Over all it was a great trip and I am so glad I got to spend time with one of my best friends!
Panda Scratching his bottom on a tree!


Jenni: Look Meredith this is where you live!
Isn't she a great friend haha!














Free cupcake? Why yes please!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

First Crochet Scarf!

Woohoo It is finally done! I finished making my first crochet scarf! I do think crochet is easier and quicker than knitting. It is also easier to fix your mistakes. The only down side is that it is not as easy to travel with as knitting is. Now if I can learn how to do all the different stitches that would be awesome. I really want to make a blanket! Here is the finished product!

In other news I am on spring break!! Thank God!!! I needed this break so badly! The next new months are going to be a real test of my strength but I'm being optimistic! I have spent the first half of the week at home spending time with friends and family. Tomorrow afternoon I am going to visit my friend Jenni in D.C. She is also on spring break at George Washington so we are going to make the best of it! More pictures of my trip to come in the next post!

One thing I have realized over this break... I may not have the man of my dreams but I have the best friends and family a girl could ask for :)

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Brownies stuffed with Oreos!

Holy Chocolate Goodness!!!! My friend Jen invited me over for dinner a few days ago and I told her I would bring something for desert. I was thinking about cookie cake but when I was at the store I realized I can make something yummy and new a lot cheaper. So I pulled up my trusty Pinterest app in the middle of Harris Teeter's baking aisle. I came across brownies stuff with Oreos and I could not believe how easy it was!!


You buy whatever brownie mix you like and some Oreos. Make sure you have what you need to make the brownies. Mix up your brownie batter then dip your Oreos in the batter and place them in a well greased muffin pan. Once you have all your Oreos dipped pour the left over batter on top of the dipped Oreos. I was able to make 24 brownies. You bake them at 350 for 10-12 minutes. (Do NOT over bake!)

The next time I make these I am going to use cupcake paper liners. I have two muffin pans and one is older than the other. They came out fine out of the newer pan but they were really hard to get out of the older one.