Chicken Basil Parmesan Burgers

This looks absolutely amazing!!!  I love Framed Cooks.  Kate is a phenominal cook and takes the best photo's of her food...and life.  Please check out her blog and follow her, you will love it!

10 1/2-inch-thick slices French bread (4 inches in diameter);

~ 8 slices toasted, 2 slices (crust removed) diced

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

4 tablespoons minced fresh basil, divided, plus 12 large basil leaves

3/4 cup marinara sauce

12 ounces ground chicken (white meat)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

1 tablespoon grated onion

1/4 teaspoon salt

4 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced

1. Blend diced bread and Parmesan in processor to fine crumbs. Transfer to pie dish; mix in 2 tablespoons minced basil.

2. Mix marinara and 2 tablespoons basil in small saucepan. Transfer 1 1/2 tablespoons sauce to large bowl. Add chicken, 1/2 tablespoon oil, onion, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle with pepper; blend. Shape into four 1/2-inch-thick patties; coat with crumbs. Heat sauce over low heat.

3. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook patties until bottoms are crusty, 4 minutes. Turn patties over; top with cheese. Cook 3 minutes. Cover; cook until cooked through and cheese is melted, about 1 minute.

4. Place each burger on a slice of toasted bread. Ladle some sauce on top and cover with basil leaves. Top with another slice of bread and serve immediately. With lots of napkins!

Enjoy!

Dove Delight Cookies

I have yet to make these, and really shouldn't since I have recently been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes...but may have to make these for a pot luck of something where they will go fast and I will not have to eat the rest of them with lots of milk...sigh, oh how I want to though!  (Can you tell I LOVE Dove chocolate...)

1 ½ cups DOVE® Brand Milk Chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup chopped SNICKERS® Bars

 1. Melt chocolate in a bowl on top of a double boiler or in the microwave for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Add the sugar, butter, eggs and almond extract. Stir in the flour, baking powder and SNICKERS® Bars, blend. 

2. Drop heaping tablespoons of batter on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10 to 12 minutes. 

3. Cool on the cookie sheet.

Enjoy!

Un-bourbon Chicken

This dish was easy and fast to make.  Great for a weeknight dinner.  I added about double the pepper flakes and the kids thought it was a little too spicy...I think they were still full from their McDonald's cheeseburger at 3:30 this afternoon and didn't want to eat if you ask me!  My fault for spoiling their dinner...I thought it was delicious served with Jasmine rice, left over sauce over the rice and some corn.

2 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, or 6-8 pieces whole chicken thighs, legs or breasts
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, or 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce

1. Slow Cooker Preparation: Put chicken in bottom of slow cooker. Cover with remaining ingredients. Cook 6-8 hours on low. Remove chicken and shred or cut into chunks. Return to slow cooker and stir to combine. Serve over rice and top with more crushed red pepper flakes.

2. Baked Preparation: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place the sauce ingredients (garlic, ginger, red pepper, apple juice, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, water, soy sauce) in a saucepan. Heat over medium high heat until boiling, then reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Arrange the chicken pieces in a baking dish or casserole and pour the sauce over top. Bake for 45 minutes. During the last 15 minutes, baste the chicken a few times with the sauce.

Enjoy!