Green Beans with Garlic and Lemon Butter

For the first time since I was a child, I have Blue Lake Green Beans in my garden! Yesterday, I went out and picked enough for supper! I only have five plants, but they are loaded and doing well! I wanted to cook them in a unique way, something other than boiled with salt and pepper. I sauted them in butter. I added garlic, a touch of lemon, and finished them off by steaming them in chicken broth. Even my teenage son said, "Those are pretty good!"

Green Beans
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup chicken broth

Saute green beans in butter. Add garlic and lemon juice and cook until the lemon juice is absorbed or cooked off. Turn heat to medium/medium high and add chicken broth. Cover pan and let steam until the beans are tender. (or until they are your desired texture.) Add salt and Pepper to taste. 

Red Velvet Crinkle Cookies

I wanted to do something different with the cake mix I had on hand. I researched how to turn cake mixes into cookie dough. I decided to turn them into crinkle cookies. They are very easy and pretty!

1 box Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup Oil

Powdered Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine cake mix, eggs and 1/3 cup vegetable oil using a hand mixer or wooden spoon.

Form teaspoon size balls or scoop with a cookie scoop and roll in powdered sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet or baking pan about 2 inches apart. Cook for 10-12 minutes.

Homemade Fajita Seasoning & Southern Bite's Fajita Chicken Casserole

My foodie friend Stacey over at Southern Bite shared a recipe for Fajita Chicken Casserole back in February, and I like many people pinned it and forgot about it. I was looking for something different to cook for Tuesday's Casserole Day last week, and I remembered his casserole. I quickly got word out that this one was on the menu! It smells heavenly as it cooks and tastes delicious! Click on the link above for his recipe and gorgeous photographs of this yummy casserole! Also, check out my recipe for homemade fajita seasoning mix below! It is super simple and might save you a dollar or two!

Mine is not as pretty as his, but boy howdy is it good!!!

I admit that I do not follow direction well,

but I do play well with others! LOL
I misread the recipe and used regular rice that I had cooked,

so I had to change things up. 

Follow his direction, and you will be fine!

My seasoning mix!

Homemade Fajita Seasoning

¼ cup Chili Powder

2 tablespoons Kosher Salt

2 tablespoons Paprika

1 tablespoon Onion Powder

1 tablespoon Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Cayenne Powder

1 tablespoon Cumin Powder

Mix in a bowl, and store in an airtight container until ready to use. Use about 1 teaspoon, or to taste, per chicken breast or steak when making fajitas.

Chicken Wing Drumettes

It is that time of year! Time for graduation, end of the school year parties, bring on summer parties and picnics! These chicken drumettes are a favorite for kids of all ages! 

6-8 chicken drumettes 
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 Tablespoon Hot Sauce
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
Oil for frying

Make an egg wash by beating the eggs, buttermilk and hot sauce together in a shallow dish. Mix flour and spices in another shallow dish. Dip drumettes in egg wash then dredge in the flour mixture. For a thicker crust on the chicken, repeat that step again... egg then flour. In a heavy skillet, heat about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of oil to 365 degrees. (Or heat a deep fryer to 365 degrees) Place chicken in hot oil. (If the oil is not up to temp, the coating will not stick. Do not crowd the chicken in the pan or it will boil in the oil and not fry crispy.) Fry for about 5 minutes per side or until golden brown and no longer pink inside.

Lemon Pepper Sauce

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp minced garlic

lemon pepper to taste

Combine ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer for a couple of minutes. Toss wings in sauce and serve.

Teriyaki Sauce

1/3 cup soy sauce

1 cup water

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp garlic powder

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tbsp honey

2 tbsp cornstarch

1/4 cup cold water

Mix all but the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of cold water, in a saucepan over medium heat. Mix cornstarch and water. Stir until dissolved. Add to saucepan. Heat until thickened. Toss wings in sauce and serve.

BBQ Hot Sauce

1 yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp oil
1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar, light or dark
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup Texas Pete hot sauce***
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Sauté onion and garlic in oil in a large pan. Drain any excess oil. Add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer about 10 minutes. 

*** Add more or less. Adjust to your taste.