Flattened Redskin Potatoes

These potatoes are the perfect side dish to accompany just about any main dish. I usually make them when I already have something in the oven, because they easily adjust to any oven temperature.

Ingredients:

• 5-6 Redskin Potatoes (I usually make 1-2 potatoes per person depending on size of the potato)
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• ½ teaspoon minced garlic
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions
Put potatoes in water, bring to boil.

Once boiling cook 7-9 minutes or until they are tender enough to stick knife in with ease. Remove from water.

Preheat oven to 400. Place potatoes on foil lined baking sheet. Lightly press with bottom of drinking glass. (Be sure to do this slowly so potato does not go everywhere).

Melt butter and garlic in bowl in microwave.

Brush over potatoes. Salt and pepper to taste.

Bake in oven for 10-15 minutes until skins are slightly crisp. These potatoes are good on their own, but even better when served with Loaded Potato Dip (see other recipe)

This recipe was featured in Two Magical Moms March Menu Madness.  Check out the entire menu and try out some of our other YUMMY recipes!

Maple Dijon Chicken

Maple Dijon Chicken Last night’s dinner must have been good because there were no leftovers today for my lunch! I tried something new- Maple Dijon Chicken. I made a few variations to the original recipe and I think it turned out great! My Father-in-law (who likes to give his “feedback” about everyone’s cooking) said that he LOVED it!

Ingredients:

• 6-8 Chicken Thighs ( I used Boneless/Skinless)
• ½ cup Dijon Mustard
• ¼ cup Maple Syrup (I used Breakfast Syrup)
• 1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar or Rice Wine Vinegar
• Fresh Rosemary (I didn't have any on hand so I used dried)

Preheat oven to 450. Combine Dijon Mustard, Maple Syrup, and Rice Vinegar together in a bowl. Arrange chicken in 8X8 baking dish.

Salt and pepper the chicken to your taste and then poor the mixture on top.

Cover baking dish with foil and bake at 450 degrees for 40 minutes. Baste the chicken with the liquid in the baking dish after 20 minutes. To make sure that chicken is cooked all the way through, you can use a meat thermometer. Chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees.
I am sorry that I don't have a picture of the finished dish, but it smelled so good that we gobbled it up as soon as it came out of the oven! Oh and I forgot to sprinkle the rosemary on it. Ooops!
I served this chicken with Flattened Redskin Potatoes, Loaded Potato Dip, and Steamed Broccoli.

This recipe was featured in Two Magical Moms March Menu Madness and our 30 Days of Dinners June Menu. Make sure to check out all of the other great recipes on the menus!

Who Wants To Be A Jedi?

Who hasn't dreamed about having Jedi powers and using a lightsaber as a kid?  During our latest trip to Disney World in 2012, our son Evan was lucky enough to have the opportunity to participate in Jedi Training Academy at Hollywood Studios.  I used my iPhone 5 to take some video of the training and did a little editing to keep it short.  This is a MUST DO activity for anyone that is in to Star Wars, but it is a very popular attraction so here is my tip to make sure that your son or daughter gets to participate in this Jedi right of passage.



Top Tip:  Arrive at least 45 minutes before Hollywood Studios open with your running shoes on.  Make sure that you have the young Jedi with you that want to participate(ages 4-12 can participate) in Jedi Training Academy.  Once they open the gates go directly to the ABC Sound Studio to register your Jedi not the Jedi Training Academy stage.

After you're done battling Darth Vader with your newly learned force powers, you can make your way to the Tatooine Traders gift shop to build your own custom lightsaber or you can choose to build one from your favorite character.