I can't think of a better recipe to end the year on than this delicious and simple chicken recipe. Did you have Shake & Bake when you were growing up?  

It was a favourite of my brother, sister's and mine! It was a rare treat in our house. I think my mother considered it to be a bit of a luxury.

 

And as a woman who worked outside the home, my mom did buy it every now and then.  Not that we had chicken very often. 

We did not.    Chicken must have been really expensive back then. It was only ever rarely on the menu, and when it was, it was a real treat!

 

Usually if we had chicken legs mom would use the shake and bake on them.  I confess as an adult the legs/drumsticks are not my favourite cut.

If we had chicken breasts, mom did her Maryland Fried Chicken. Now that was something which we thought of as an exceptional treat!

 

She would buy bone-in, skin on chicken breasts. She  rolled them in egg and cracker crumbs. They were fried in butter and oil. 

Oh boy but we thought it was magnificent.  We had it maybe once a year and we were all really pleased when we did!

 

This is not that.  It is not my mum's Maryland Fried Chicken. However good that might have been . . .

 I can tell you that this is even better than my mom’s Maryland Fried Chicken! That's why this is called Heavenly Chicken. When something is called heavenly, you better believe that it is!

 

This recipe is like a combination of my mom's chicken recipe, and shake and bake. but I like to think it is a lot healthier than either one. (Don't burst my bubble.)

I like to think that for a number of reasons. First unlike shake and bake, there are no chemicals and preservatives!

 

This recipe uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts. They are pounded lightly to an even thickness.

I like to put them either between two sheets of cling film to do this, or into a plastic bag. Do be gentle so as not to tear the meat.

 

Secondly this is baked, not fried.  We won't think about the butter drizzled on top, shhh . . .

 

After all of the excess of the last week or so I was craving something simple today that I could enjoy with a cup of herbal tea.  I confess I am fruit-caked and mince-pied OUT! 

 Actually in all reality Todd is the  one for the most part who eats those things.

 

I find them really sweet, and can only enjoy them in small amounts.  I prefer something more in-between sweet and savoury with my tea.

 

These fabulously moist and delicious muffins fit the bill perfectly. 

 

They are sweetened naturally, with just maple syrup.  I can remember when I first moved here to the UK, I brought along a 2 litre can of Maple Syrup, right onto the plane! 

Remind me sometime I will tell you how much fun that was carrying it through the terminals with its wire handles. 😖 At the end a kind gentleman helped me out!

 

Back then maple syrup was very difficult to get ahold of here in the UK,  and if you did find it, it was super expensive. 

 Truth be told maple syrup is always a bit dear, even in North America, but I feel that it is worth every penny.  I buy mine at Costco in a small jug.

  

These delicious muffins are not too sweet. There is no refined sugar in them, just the maple syrup, which also gives them a mild maple flavour . . .

 

I have to talk about my teacup.  My sister gave this to me for my birthday a long time ago. She had found it in a charity shop and knew I loved teacups.

 It is my most prized teacup, mostly because it came from my sister with love.  Gifts tied with heart strings are the best gifts of all.

  

Back to the muffins, they have a very tender crumb, almost cake like I suppose  . . . . but they aren't cake. They're muffins.

 

They are studded throughout with toasted walnut meats, coarsely chopped  . . . I love toasted nuts.  I always toast them prior to baking with them. It helps to bring out their nuttiness.  

Just a few minutes on a baking sheet in a hot oven does the trick. You only want to toast them in the oven until you start to smell them.  Then they will be perfectly toasted.

 

I chose to garnish the tops with halved walnuts, which is completely optional, but I think it makes them rather pretty.

 

Optionally you can dip the tops in warm maple syrup and serve them warm, dusted with a bit of powdered sugar, but I like them just like this.

 

These were the perfect treat after all of the indulgence of the holidays. Very, very welcome! I enjoyed one with a cup of Hibiscus tea steeped in the pot our friend Maxine gave us for Christmas.  Its a glass teapot.  I have always wanted a glass teapot!

 

If you are wanting something that is tender and not overly sweet, I think you will enjoy these beautiful muffins!  

 

 

I've never been one much for going out on New Years Eve.  I'm pretty much a stay at home, have a few nibbles, watch the ball drop on the telly kind of a gal.  I suppose that comes from years of having a huge family and not being able to afford tickets to go out and a baby sitter!

 

I never minded much and as my children got older it got to be more fun. We would have a nibble buffet of finger foods, and watch some great things on the telly, or play a few board games, and then watch Dick Clark's Rockin New Year's Eve!

 

Because my ex was a Military Policeman, he used to have to work on New Years Eve anyways, so it was pretty much me and the children on our own celebrating!

  

We all had our favourite nibbles.  I would out a variety of crisps and cheese snacks, cheese and crackers, pickles . . .

 

Pretzels,  mini pizzas, dips and other nibbles and mocktails, of course!

 

These Sweet & Spicy Pepitas are really tasty.  They go down great with drinks and are incredibly moreish.

  

They are also very easy to throw together and roast, plus you can do them ahead of time which makes them ideal!

  

Another nibble we really like are these Spice Toasted Pecan nuts.  I adore Pecans.

 

Pecan pie has long been my favourite kind of pie, next to lemon meringue of course. I can remember when I was pregnant for my oldest daughter I picked up a frozen one at the store and bought it home.  Once it thawed I cut out a piece and savoured every morsel. 

 

It was so good. I was so afraid that I would eat the whole pie myself so I then dumped the rest of it in the bin and then I emptied an ash tray on top of it as well, just to make doubly sure. (Pregnant women . . .  you never know!)

  

It has been a very long time since I have had a pecan pie  . . .  and I can't say that these toasted pecans are as good as a slice of pecan pie, but I can say that they are mighty tasty as a nibble and quite a bit healthier than a pie!

 

So what are your favourite nibbles for New Years Eve?  Are you a party goer, or do you prefer a more intimate affair?

 

Of course we are Latter Day Saints so we don't drink alcohol, but I do enjoy a Mocktail or two, or even a glass of punch.  Sparkling water with a slice of lemon or lime is also quite nice.

 

And these tasty nibbles go with all of them!  Enjoy and Happy New Year! 

 

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your visits throughout the year and your lovely comments.  A very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or whatever it is that you celebrate at this time of year.  May your days truly be Merry and Bright!  Eat good food, enjoy good people, be happy and be blessed! I had not planned on shutting shop quite so soon this season, but you know what they say about plans!  I am looking forward to another year of sharing good food and recipes with you.  In the meantime, happy, happy!

 

 

If you are looking for a fabulous dessert to finish your Christmas celebratory meal with I say look no further!  This wonderful Christmas Gingerbread Roll fits the bill on all counts! 

 

Not only is this really delicious but it is also very simple to make.

 

I am not sure what it is about those warm baking spices and gingerbread.  They go together with Christmas like peas and carrots! 

The smell alone speaks Christmas to me!

 

The cake smells heavenly when it is baking . . .  the scent of Christmas  . . .  ginger and cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and a bit of ground cardamom for good measure . . . 

 

Gets your tastebuds to tingling  . . . 

 

I think Mary Berry herself would be very proud of the distinct roll I achieved, don't you? 

 

I was rather well pleased with how it turned out.

 

Flavoured and sweetened with warm, earthy molasses and fragrant vanilla  . . . mmmm.

I love anything with molasses.  As a maritime Canadian, molasses runs through my veins . . .

 

That filling is lush and moreish  . . .  light . . .not in the least bit heavy or cloying.

 

Its simply whipped cream mixed with lemon curd  . . .  perfectly flavoured. 

 

Lemon and Ginger are perfect partners.

 

Not too sweet, not too tart . . .  just perfect with the sweetness of the cake.

 

You could also stir in a TBS of ginger syrup from a jar of preserved stem ginger if you wanted to inject even more warmth and flavour, but I can assure you it is pretty perfect just as it is.

  

It cuts beautifully into lovely slices . . .  a light dusting of icing sugar is the only adornment it needs  . . .

 

Oh this would be lovely with a hot cup of something like coffee, or tea  . . .  herbal or otherwise  . . .

 

This is the perfect finish for any meal, be it on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day . . .

 

I can't think of anyone who wouldn't be happy with a slice of this set before them, can you?

 

This will probably be the last sweet recipe I post before Christmas.  I think most people's menus have probably already been decided now and you can only eat so much sweetness.  I may post one or two quick ideas for suppers, but we will see how it goes!  In the meantime, don't forget to take some time to relax a bit and to enjoy the sweet spirit of these final few days before the big day itself.  If you are like me, its all done now and you can breathe a bit easier until the big day itself!  I am doing the Easy Turkey from Piper's Farm this year so all I have to do is cook the side vegetables.  The turkey comes with stuffing and bacon wrapped sausages and stock for gravy.  All I have to do is pop it all into the oven.  Easy peasy.  Since there is just the two of us, I am taking the easy route this year!

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