Two things for YOU

I want to share a couple things with you that I've recently discovered ~ one is a giveaway and one is a great recipe that was gone in a flash!  Well, the recipe wasn't gone in a flash, but the food we made from it was.  YUM

First, the giveaway...

My friend Monica, The Mennobrarian, is hosting a giveaway for a $40 gift certificate that can be used at any of CSN's 250+ online stores.  FUN!  Look at these sweet little samples she chose to show us:

I am very happy I didn't jump through the screen to try and grab that flower and butterfly plate!  Close call, that was.  Pop on over to visit Monica if you'd like to enter ~ she's adorable.  You'll love her blog and pictures and recipes as well.

Speaking of recipes...

If you're watching your weight, or diet, or whatever, just zone out for a minute because this recipe is not gonna make you skinny.  Just put on your stretchy clothes for the night - you'll be fine.  I ran into one of the hot lunch ladies from our church/school at the grocery store and got the recipe for this FABULOUS chicken dish they serve the kiddos.  They call it Sweet & Sour Chicken, but it's similar to some wing sauce at the grocery store that's called Spicy Glazed.  Take your pick.  All I know is that all five of us devoured ate it and liked it!  Pause.  Let that sink in (those of you with a family of picky eaters).

Here's what you'll need:

Some chicken chunks (they use popcorn chicken at school).  I bought these weird round chicken token-looking things that you could probably use in a slot machine.  Hey, they were on sale - don't judge me, I overspent that day.  With a little forethought I probably would've bought some breaded chicken tenders and cut them up.  You can of course make them, but this is for a quick meal when you didn't thaw anything out that day.

1 cup of hot sauce (they use Frank's and so do I)

2 sticks of butter

1/2 a bag of brown suger (which is about 1 lb.)


Heat it all up (except the chicken) on the stove or in the microwave, stirring occasionally.  Cook the chicken and then serve over rice*.  At school they coat the chicken in the sauce first and serve it over rice.  I let everybody put their own sauce on so I didn't have to listen to "there's too much" or "there's not enough".  It was long day, what can I say?

*If you've never made rice in the microwave, it's beyond easy.  I use 1-1/2 cups of rice (not Minute Rice) and 3 cups of water; put it in the microwave uncovered and cook it for 20 minutes.  Poof - done.  If your family is smaller, use 1 cup of rice and 2 cups of water and cook it for 15 minutes.  I use the microwave for about 3 different things and rice is one of them.

ENJOY!!