CPK BBQ Chicken Salad

Ingredients

FRIED TORTILLA STRIPS
Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
12 corn tortillas, cut in 1/4-inch strips
(or buy strips from Cafe Rio like I did)

GARDEN HERB RANCH DRESSING
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon cold water
3/4 cup mayonnaise
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 tablespoon thinly-sliced scallion including tops
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons minced fresh Italian parsley
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon minced fresh dill
1/4 teaspoon minced dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon minced fresh basil

GRILLED GARLIC BBQ CHICKEN
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons soy sauce
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (5 oz ea)
1/4 cup good-quality sweet-&-spicy barbecue sauce

SALAD
1/2 head iceberg lettuce (cored, rinsed and dried and cut into thin 1/8" strips)
1/2 head romaine lettuce leaves (separated, trimmed, rinsed, dried, and cut into thin strips)
12 large fresh basil leaves, cut into 1/8 inch strips
1 lb jicama, cut 1/4-inch by 1/4-inch by 3/4-inch strips
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup canned sweet white corn kernals, drained and rinsed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 lbs fresh ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch dices
1/2 cup good-quality sweet-&-spicy barbecue sauce

DIRECTIONS
1. To make the Fried Tortilla Strips: In a deep, heavy frying pan, heat several inches of vegetable oil to a temperature of 275 degrees. Working in batches to prevent overcrowding, carefully add the tortilla strips to the hot oil, submerging them with a metal skimmer or slotted spoon. Fry the tortilla strips until evenly golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Carefully lift them out with the skimmer or slotted spoon and transfer them to paper towels to drain and cool. Set aside, uncovered. (Buy them at Cafe Rio -- sooooo much easier!!)

2. To Make the Garden Herb Ranch Dressing: In a mixing bowl, use a fork to stir together the mustard and cold water, forming a paste. Set aside for 10 minutes. Add the remaining dressing ingredients to the bowl and, using a handheld electric mixer at low speed or a whisk, blend together just until smooth, taking care not to incorporate too much air into the dressing. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. (Awesome, yummy dressing -- makes enough to use on other salads).

3. To Make the Grilled Garlic and BBQ Chicken: Preheat a stovetop grill or the broiler. In a mixing bowl, stir together the olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, and salt. Turn the chicken breasts in this marinade and leave to marinade at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Grill or broil the chicken breasts until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Chill thoroughly in the refrigerator. Cut the chicken breasts into 3/4-inch cubes and, in a bowl, toss with the barbecue sauce to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

4. To Make the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, toss together the lettuces, basil, jicama, Monterey Jack cheese, beans, corn, cilantro, dressing, and half of the Fried Tortilla Strips. Transfer the salads to chilled serving plates. Surround each salad with diced tomatoes and the remaining Fried Tortilla Strips. Top each salad with chunks of Grilled Garlic BBQ Chicken and drizzle the chicken with the barbecue sauce. Garnish with additional sliced scallion.

Monkey Bread

4 cans (10 each) plain Pillsbury biscuits
1 cup sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 sticks of margarine (or margarine)
1 1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray. Sprinkle thin layer of pecans on bottom of pan. Combine cinnamon and sugar in a bowl. Cut biscuits into quarters then coat each with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Layer 1/2 of biscuit quarters in bundt pan. Place a layer of pecans over biscuits. Melt margarine or butter in a bowl with brown sugar and stir well. Pour half of butter/brown sugar mixture over first layer of biscuits. Layer the second 1/2 of biscuit quarters over this. Layer remaining pecans over the top and pour remaining butter/brown sugar mixture over this layer. Bake for 35 minutes. Cool about 10-15 minutes in pan. Invert onto platter and serve warm.

Chocolate-Filled Red Velvet Cupcakes

1cup milk chocolate pieces
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp. butter
1 egg
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. vinegar

Raspberry preserves (optional)

1. For filling, in small saucepan combine chocolate pieces, cream, and 1 Tbsp. butter. Stir over low heat until chocolate is melted. Transfer to small bowl; cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cover and freeze about 1 hour, until fudgelike consistency. Divide filling into 12 portions. Working quickly with hands, roll each portion in a ball. Place in freezer.

Meanwhile, let 1/4 cup butter and egg stand at room temperature 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 12 (2 1/2-inch) muffin cups with paper bake cups. In a small bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, and 1/4 tsp. salt; set aside.

3. In medium mixing bowl beat the 1/4 cup softened butter with mixer on medium to high for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar; beat on medium until combined. Beat on medium 2 minutes more, scraping side of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg, food coloring, and vanilla. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk, beating on low after each addition just until combined. In small bowl combine baking soda and vanilla; stir into batter.

4. Divide half the batter among prepared cups. Place a ball of filling on batter in center of each cup. Spoon remaining batter into cups.

5. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly touched. Remove from oven. Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm topped with raspberry preserves.

**My alternative method:

Bake cupcakes without filling. Prepare filling, cool, but don't freeze or roll into balls. When cupcakes are cool, put filling in a pastry bag with large tip; insert filling into center of cupcake. Frost with cream cheese frosting.

3 - 2 - 1 Cake

1pkg cake mix (any flavor -- your favorite)
1pkg angel food cake mix

Pour above ingredients into a large zip- lock bag. Seal bag and mush bag to mix mixes together.

In a microwavable dish (custard cup or similar), mix:

3 tablespoons cake mix
2 tablespoons water

Bake in microwave on high for 1 minute. (Bake only 1 cake at a time)

Serve warm with favorite topping.

Shamrock Pistachio Cupcakes

1 3/4 cups flour
1(4 oz) pkg instant pistachio pudding
3/4 cup mini-chocolate chips
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

In small bowl combine:

2 beaten eggs
1 1/4 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Stir into flour mixture, just to blend.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake 18-20 minutes. Makes 18 cupcakes.

Frosting

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1(8 oz pkg) Philadelphia Cream Cheese
2 - 3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Combine above ingredients. Tint green if desired. Sprinkle with green colored sugar, etc.

Crockpot Salsa Chicken

3-4 Tbs Lime juice
Skinless boneless chicken breast (however much you want)
1 Tbs Chili powder
Salsa (about 1 C)

Place chicken on bottom of crockpot.  Squeeze lemon juice over chicken.  Sprinkle chili powder over chicken.  Pour in as much salsa as desired.  Set crockpot on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hrs depending on when you want to eat.  (Chicken will cook thoroughly and not burn, even with the small amount of 'liquid' in the crockpot)
     *This chicken is best added to other recipes (tacos, taquitos, soup, etc)

Corn and Cheddar Chowder

3 tablespoons butter

1 onion, chopped

1 large potato, peeled and diced

1 bay leaf

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon dried sage

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 cups chicken stock

1 1/2 cups milk

1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels

2 tablespoons chopped parsley

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1/4 cup dry white wine  (I omitted this and it was fine)

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan over medium high heat, melt the butter and stir in the onion, potato, bay leaf, cumin, and sage. Saute about 5 minutes, until the onion is tender. Mix in the flour, coating the onion and potato. Pour in the chicken stock and milk. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly until smooth. Reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the potato is tender.               
Mix the corn, parsley, chives, and wine into the saucepan, and cook about 5 minutes, until heated through. Remove the bay leaf, and stir in the Cheddar cheese until melted and blended. Season with salt and pepper.               

*You can omit the cheese if you want plain corn chowder, it is plenty thick before adding the cheese.