Whole Chicken..bawkbawk!

OK..so I don't know ANYONE that doesn't live on a farm that enjoys gutting a chicken. I happen to be one that also could think of a million other places to put my lttle paws! ;) So today I decided to make a chicken for dinner. Since we live in Arizona and it's getting warmer here I am trying to find ways to cook without turning on my oven. So I bought a whole chicken and started the task of preparing it for roasting. Before you get into the cutting be sure you remove the innards that they pack in the "neck & butt"...
I take the chicken and make a slice with my knife down the breast bone on either side of the actual bone as to not cut the breast.

Be warned, after you cut it apart it looks kinda yucky until you flip t over.
After I get the meat sliced and the bone is exposed I use a pair of kitchen shears to just cut the bones. It's really not too hard just be careful when working with a knife OR sharp shears, chickens are slippery when wet! ;)




I added garlic salt, cracked black pepper, lawry's seasoning salt and Cajon seasoning. I placed it in a roaster on 350* degrees with chunked onions on top wth a pat of butter. Close lid and let it slow cook.


I flip the chicken several times, basting with any BBQ sauce you like. I was planning on putting it on the BBQ grill to sear the outside BUT I slow cooked it so long it fell off the bones...so I just pulled the skin off and served with BBQ sauce. Was super super good. I guess this site is for people that like to cook eat and wing it ;)

Stuffed Pizza bites

1 package refrigerated pizza dough
1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing mix
2 Tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 Tablespoon melted butter
Sharp Cheddar cheese
Mozzarella cheese
1 cup cooked, shredded chicken
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup milk



Take 1 tsp of your ranch dressing mix and combine it with 1 1/2 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese, set aside. Combine the remaining ranch mix with 3/4 cup mayonnaise and 3/4 cup milk and place in the fridge to chill. Preheat oven to heat specified on pizza dough package (usually 400 degrees)



Unroll your pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Use a rolling pin to platten dough out, use a pizza cutter to cut into 3x3 squares * or whatever size you would like, you will need enough space to put all your pizza goodness inside*
Place cheese and desired toppings on each square. Carefully lift the dough, grab the four corners and squeeze the seams shut. **Sorry I do not have a picture of this step but I will add one soon** Place them seam side down into a muffin pan that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. If they are not perfectly sealed it's not a huge deal but try to get them closed so your cheese does not run out.
Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the Parmesan-ranch mixture.

Bake at 400 degrees (or whatever temperature your pizza dough package suggests) for about 18 minutes. Check them around 10 minutes to see how they're browning. They are done when brown enough for your liking.

Serve warm with a side of ranch dressing or pizza sauce.

Home Made Chicken Strips

•1 Package Chicken Tenders (more if feeding more than 2-3 people)
•5 oz Parmesan Shredded Cheese
•3 Cups Plain Bread Crumbs
•Garlic salt to taste
•Black pepper to taste
•Fresh Flat leaf parsley chopped (Dried if you do not have fresh)
•3-4 eggs (depending on how many tenders you use)


Dipping sauce

•1 cup of mustard
•1cup of BBQ sauce
•4 Table spoons of honey

Pre-heat oven 400*
Crack eggs, put in separate bowl


in larger bowl mix bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic, pepper and parsley. Mix dry ingredients.


Dip chicken tenders in eggs, shake off excess egg, roll in dry ingredients. Put on flat cooking pan, sprayed with cooking spray. Repeat until all chicken is dipped and on pan.


Put pan in oven and cook 20 minutes, flip chicken carefully so the breading does not come off. Cook on other side until breading is crispy. *approx 25 minutes.


For dipping sauce, mix mustard and 2 Tablespoons of honey for an easy honey mustard.
To make honey BBQ mix BBQ sauce and remaining honey.

Serve hot!

Cheese Cake...

Crust:
Vanilla Waffers an entire box *you can use graham crackers if you prefer them*
1 stick of Margarine (melted)

Filling:
3-8 oz pkgs Cream Cheese
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1/2 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
2 Tbls Lemon Juice
1 Tbl Vanilla


topping:
1/4 C. mini chocolate chips
1/2 C. caramel ice cream topping
1/2 C. hot fudge ice cream topping
1/4 C. chopped pecans *or any nuts you like*

Directions:
• Crush the Vanilla waffers in a bowl with the melted butter,if you have a food processor use that to crush them, it makes it easier and if you have ever tried to crush something in a zip lock bag you know you can have a blow out and a huge mess. I use a piece of wax paper on the bottom of the spring pan, I just lay it down, put the ring around it and voila...spray with a cooking spray...press into bottom & 1-1/2inches up sides of spring form pan.
(if you make a mess, no worries, your supposed to)



• Beat Cream cheese and condensed milk together until creamy.



• Add remaining filling ingredients until well combined.



• Bake at 300 for 1 hour and 15-30 mins-until light golden on top and edges are set and middle moves slightly.
Cool completely & Chill.



**(I place a pan full of water on the lower rack during cooking time for moisture. I put it in the oven when I turn it on to pre-heat, that way it is warm when you put your cake in. Most recipes call for just a pie pan full of water but after a few tries a large shallow pan on the bottom shelf of your oven works best... Also, I turn the oven off and leave the cake in the oven to cool for 1-2 hours before removing and NEVER OPEN THE OVEN, it will crack if you do)
• Remove outer ring just before topping and serving
• Top outer edge and center with 1/4 cup mini choco. Chips & 1/4 cup Pecans (chopped). Drizzle melted chocolate chips and caramel topping all over top and drip down sides.

Welcome to Cooking By Lola

I am so glad you found your way here! My goal with this blog is to help everyday people make great things! Kid friendly, great tasting, fun fun fun! I really love cooking and want to share my passion with you! I am hoping to walk you through the steps of cooking or creating so you don't stop and wonder "Is this right? Should it look like this at this step? OMG is it ruined?" I have been there so many times and it's a panic I am hoping to help you avoid!
If there is anything you want me to answer, cook, create...PLEASE ask me, I will try anything once!

Peace, Love & Welcome!
Lola