Thai Style Peanut Pulled Chicken in the slow cooker served with an Asian Slaw

I know, another slow cooker recipe! But I can't help it! This is the season for cozy meals, and cozy meals that cook themselves... need I really say more? This recipe I have been developing for a little while now. And it is finally ready to be shared with all of you. It combines so many of my favorite things in one dish:

pulled chicken

Asian Flavors

my beloved peanut butter (Mmmmmm)

crunchy slaw to balance the creamy chicken

and lots of cilantro- which is optional. But I highly recommend it!!!

These two recipes go hand in hand together and balance the flavors of one another perfectly.  A match made in Heaven, really.  And goodness are they versatile!!  They taste delicious pretty much any way you heart moves you!  In the photograph above, you see them all wrapped up together in a flour tortilla. Super good, and perfect for a lunch on the go. But we also enjoyed them stacked onto sandwich thins, pilled onto a nice crisp salad, and tossed with udon noodles, or over a bed of basmanti rice.  One day of cooking with endless options. I love recipes like that!

Thai Style Peanut Pulled Chicken in the Slow Cooker

3 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, breasts or a combination of the two
1 medium onion, halved and quartered
torn cilantro leaves and crushed peanuts for garnish

for the sauce
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup chicken stock (or warm water)
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon chili flakes

Puree all ingredients of the sauce in a blender for two minutes, or until smooth.  Set off to the side.

Place the onions in the bottom of the slow cooker and lay the chicken on top.  Pour the prepared sauce over the top of the chicken.  Place the lid back on and cook on high 3-4 hours on HIGH or 6-8 on LOW.

About an hour to 40 minutes before your final cooking time*, very carefully, because the chicken will be hot, remove the meat from the slow cooker and place on a large cutting board. Using two forks, shred the chicken by pulling away from each other. The meat should be very tender by this point. Place the shredded chicken back into the slow cooker, stir well and continue to cook for that additional 30 minutes to an hour. This will make the chicken nice and juicy because it will soak up some of the peanut sauce.

*I have found that if I cook the chicken on high, at two hours into the cooking time is when I remove the chicken and shred it. Then replace it and cook for that additional 30 minutes to an hour. At this point the chicken is cooked, you just want the chicken to get nice and saucy.

You could also choose to just chunk the chicken if you are serving the meat over rice or tossed with noodles.  If doing so, I have found that it is good to cut up the chicken at this time instead of initially.  It retains the juiciness of the meat this way.

Once ready to serve, remove from crock pot and garnish with lots of cilanto and crushed peanuts.  Be sure to serve alongside extra peanuts and chopped cilantro if your family is anything like mine!  These two components truly bring out and enhance the flavors of the dish.

Don't forget the Asian Slaw!

Asian Slaw

1 bag of shredded cabbage, preferably added veggie variety (it has lots of carrots and red cabbage mixed in)
1 english cucumber, sliced into matchsticks
1 carrot (about 1 cup), sliced into matchsticks
1 cup bean sprouts
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

For the Dressing
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons fish sauce (this can be omitted if you don't have any on hand)
4 Tbsp sesame oil
3 Tbsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp grated fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ground
salt and freshly ground black pepper

To make the dressing, combine all the ingredients except the olive oil in a small bowl with a pinch of salt. Slowly while mixing with a whisk, add in your olive oil to emulsify. Taste and readjust seasoning as needed.  Add your salt and pepper.

Combine all the veggies in a big bowl and pour the dressing on top.  Add the sesame seeds.  Mix with a big spoon.  Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.  Put in the fridge until ready to be used.


To make the Wrapped sandwich pictured above
Place on large lettuce leaf on top of your flour tortilla.  Spread chicken over the lettuce and tortilla, leaving about 1/3 of the tortilla bare. Top it with asian slaw and a lot of cilantro leaves.  Wrap tightly, jelly roll style, from the chicken side to the bare part of the tortilla.  With the seam side down, cut the wrapped sandwich in half on a diagonal.  Wrap in parchment or plastic wrap until ready to be eaten.

And Action!

This great picture was sent to me by one of the lovely ladies working at New Day Cleveland.  I love it- an action shot!!!  I was trying so hard to focus on what I was doing and to only talk to to David (not the camera) that I honestly had no idea that a huge camera and camera man were that close to me!  Yikes!

I've had quite a few of you ask for the links and pages on New Day Cleveland's website, so here they are. Here you will find the youtube clip as well as my recipe on their website if you would like to take a look.
Links for the show for February 21, 2012
Video Clips
Recipe Link

Thank you everyone for all of your tremendous support!  It has been so heartwarming to read all of your emails, text messages, facebook posts, twitter messages and posts, phone calls... you have made me feel like a million bucks!  I am blown away by all of your sweet words and congratulations.  I feel like I keep repeating myself, but I just have no words to say but Thank You.  

Butter Twist Cookies

These are a perfect cookie to bake when you want to throw something together really quick, you only have "the basics" in your pantry, but yet of course you want it to be simple, pretty and most importantly, delicious. These Butter Twist cookies by Martha Stewart are a winner for sure.  They are crisp and crunchy, making them the best kind of cookie for dunking, if you are into that sort of thing.  Which we all are in my family; coffee, an ice cold glass of milk, hot tea... almost no beverage goes undunked!  Yum!  They have a lightly sweet flavor, and a wonderful feel in your mouth from the flaky butter taste to the crispness of each bite.  These will be bookmarked as a do again, a perfect playdate cookies, lovely for tea parties and just great with a nice cozy mug of hot chocolate at the end of a long day.

Butter Twists
recipe courtesy Martha Stewart's Cookies

1/2 cup (one stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg white
1 1/2 cups plus 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Put butter and sugar in the bowl of and electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until creamy.  Mix in vanilla and egg white.  Reduce speed to low.  Add flour and salt; mix until combined.

Roll dough into 3/4 inch balls. Roll each ball into a 6-inch log. Bend log in half, then twist.  Space 1 inch apart on baking aheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake, rotating halfway through, until cookies just begin to turn golden, 13-15 minutes.  Let cool on parchment on wire racks.  Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature.

*I added sprinkles to make them a little festive for a tea party the were baked for.  But the sprinkles are not necessary- just fun.  

My BIG Day on New Day Cleveland

David was wonderful.  He is so nice and made me feel very comfortable right away.  Thank you!

All I can say is WOW. Today was an experience I will never forget.

When I started this blog as just a little hobby, a place to journal my cooking adventures, save recipes, and bookmark favorites I thought it was just that.  But over the past two years it has grown slow and steady and is becoming so much more.  I have really loved not only growing in my recipe writing, but also in my food photography as well.  At night you know how it is, you lay and bed and dream about those little adventures, those breaks that could push you into the next step.  But I always figured that if I ever wanted to appear on Television it would be because I applied, competed, knew someone who knew someone, in other words worked my butt to get there.  But they found me.  The lovely people of New Day Cleveland discovered my blog, liked it and ASKED ME if I would consider appearing on their show.  What?! Of course!!!  Holy Moly!

I guess in a way my hard work did pay off, just in a different way.  And for that I am honored, unbelievably flattered, and this entire experience humbled me in more ways then one.  But most of all it was FUN!

this is nervous little me, getting a feel for the kitchen and trying to relax after setting my food and supplies all up.  I am running through my recipe in my head for oh, about the millionth time....

When I arrived they told me that my segment would be starting at 10:04 am.  WHAT?!  The show starts at 10:00!!  Yep, I was going to be kicking off their show.  Oh, and did I mention that this is LIVE television?  No pressure or anything.

Honestly it felt good to do it right away- I always liked going first in class.  This is the basically the same thing, right?

Hey!  Look over there, you can see my mic.  This is real deal!  And thank goodness for it too, because I am still recovering from laryngitis.  This was by far my best voice day in about a week, but still gruff.  And straight ahead are the lovely ladies from Kajal by Kimberly preparing for their make-up demonstration.

I have to say the segment went really smooth.  I wasn't 100% sure what to expect.  But David guided me and I just went with it.  *phew* I knew I was comfortable with this recipe and cooking in general, so that wasn't what made me nervous.  It was the talking in front of a camera that made me a bit queasy.  I was to look at him as much as possible and to tell you the truth I hardly noticed the huge looming cameras after a minute. Of course I have personal critiques but I feel that for my very first time on tv, I did pretty darn good, if I do say so myself.  Opportunities like this don't present themselves very often, and I am 100% grateful for being given this one.  Thank you, Thank you.  

Along for moral support was my amazing husband Scott and beautiful sister Bonnie.  And thank goodness too. Because just having them there made me feel so much stronger.  Thank you so much you two!  I love you guys!!!  

When the show was over we headed out to have a celebratory Bloody Mary and a little bite to eat. Ahhhhhhh.  I could finally breath.  And replay the entire experience over and over and over.....

Incase you missed it Live or are outside the viewing area the wonderful people of New Day Cleveland gave me a youtube video for me to share with all of you.  Wasn't that so nice?!  So go ahead and let me know what you think.  Just be nice.  Remember, this is my 1st television appearance!

The recipe I made on the show is a Retro Kitchen favorite.  The Mustard and Vinegar BBQ Pulled Chicken in the Slow Cooker is a tried and true.  It is consistently in my list of most favorite recipes on this blog, so if you haven't given it a try yet, now you have no excuse!  

Mustard and Vinegar BBQ Pulled Chicken in the Slow Cooker

Betcha Didn't Know...

OMG, I am on TV TODAY!!!  Can you believe it, because I can't!!!!  Little old me asked to cook live for all of you.  Wow.  I never would have thought it, but I am super excited, pretty nervous, and so truly honored.  So incase you forgot the memo, tune into Fox 8, today, February 21st on New Day Cleveland at 10:00 am.  I will be cooking a favorite recipe LIVE (no mistakes or the whole world will see it- no pressure though....)  so please pray for me for a nice smooth and most importantly FUN morning.  See you then!

In the meantime I thought I would do a little different type of post then I normally write on here.  No recipe here!  But I was tagged by one of my favorite new blogging friends, Crystal of Eat*Drink*Cleveland to complete this fun questionnaire.  I have been really enjoying reading all of these wonderful posts floating all over blogland by other friends and was excited to share a little more of myself with all of you.  So here you go, my wonderful readers, a Betcha Didn't Know This about little old me.

First I need to share eleven random things about myself for all of you to read.

1.  Flying used to be one of my most favorite things in the entire world to do.  I LOVE traveling and by airplane was always my favored method.  Sure roadtrips were great and all- but oh my goodness, look how fast you get there!  No more missing at least two days of vacation time just in travel alone.  I loved the excitement I felt right before liftoff; the sound of the engine in my ears, and the beauty of the world below.  I didn't care if the plane ride would be 50 minutes or 15 hours.  I loved every second of it!  Then my children were born.  I am now terrified.  It isn't the "flying with my children" part that scares me, although that would be scary too.  But now I just have SO much more too loose.  I will never forget the way I felt the first time I flew after Jackson was born, with him happy and safe at my parents house.  I don't know that I had ever been so scared in my life. Every bump of turbulence made me think the plane was going to come crashing down with me inside.  I am sure I had white knuckles the entire flight.  

I still love to travel, and if I have to go by plane, I will.  But I may ask for a Xanax before hand.  

2.  Tomorrow is the anniversary of my 5 year headache.  Yes,  I have had a headache every single day of my life for the past 5 years.  From the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep it is there.  It never goes away, although the intensity of it fluctuates throughout my day.  I have been diagnosed with CDH (Chronic Daily Headaches), Migraine Disease and a complex neurological condition called Occipital Neuralgia.  I don't tell you this for you to feel sad- I love life!  God is so good!  I just get to live this good life with chronic pain.  I have a new physician whom I love and she is finding some wonderful ways for me to lesson and some days almost alleviate my pain.  My head pain was never something I wanted to talk about much, I don't like pity parties.  Most recently I have finally come to the reality that this is my new normal, but goodness gracious I am determined to remain happy and hopeful through it all!  

3.  I have a strange talent that allows me to remember things like lyrics and random facts.  They enter my brain and pop out at the weirdest times.  It doesn't really do me much good, it never worked for math or chemistry classes in school (bummer!!)  But it does make me a great teammate for Trivia Pursuit.  

4.  I hate, and I mean hate commercials or movies that involve babies or animals talking, singing or dancing like people.  The absolute worst is when the creators of the commercials make a fake mouth to move when the animals or babies "talk".  It seriously gives me the hebe-jebees.  Yuck. It is a freak factor that bugs me like no other.  For example those Kia dancing hip-hop hamster commercials make me never, ever want to purchase a Kia ever in my life.  Ever. I turn away and shudder whenever it comes on.  Thank goodness we dvr most our shows and have the ability to fast forward.  

5.  One of my favorite foods is Peanut Butter and Jelly on cheap white bread.  I know, I know.  But no other type of bread tastes quite the same for this sandwich!  We almost never have white bread in our home.  But if we happen to have a loaf on hand you know I will be having my PB&J. Yum!  

6.  Is there any food that you could eat every single day and not tire of it, but actually look forward to it?  I do, and it is Pad Thai.  This pasta dish is perfection in a bowl.  People could tell me, I bet if you actually did eat Pad Thai every single day I am sure eventually you would get sick of it.  To that I say, I highly doubt it but bring it on and lets find out!  Anyone want to help me see? I will be a very willing participant to the challenge.  

7. When I was in college I studied art and graduated with a degree in Art History.  I loved it and actually worked at Harvard University Art Museums for a number of years after college.  It was a fantastic experience and love that my Jackson has a talent and love already with the arts.  It is so cool!  But now, as I have grown up I am dying to go back to school for cooking.  And the more and more I learn and grow and play in the kitchen the more I feel that baking and being a pastry chef (if only in my own kitchen) is the path I should lead.  *sigh* Maybe one day once the kiddies are in school.  

8.  I love magazines.  To some I may even be considered a magazine hoarder.  They don't take over my house, I promise!  That is what those cute magazine holders from Ikea are for... I used to have loads of subscriptions (those have reduced as a means of saving our budget these days).  But I still have in my possession every single cooking, diy, gardening and home magazine I ever purchased. And yes, i still look at them and refer back to them from time to time.  

9.  I would love to live self-sufficiently, and hope that we could come close to it one day.  I blame it a lot on my parents.  They raised me right!!!  haha.  For we had a HUGE vegetable garden, a big herb garden, 13 or so chickens and an enormous rooster. Whatever they could do themselves, they did.  I am so proud of how I was raised. They did what is now called "Homesteading", and I hope to have my very own homestead soon. Currently trying to talk the hubby into chickens for the very, very early future.  Not 13 (at least not to start...) 

10.  I am addicted to white noise while I sleep.  The sound of a fan to be exact.  It all started when we lived in a duplex next to a family who shared a bedroom wall with us.  The husband next door was a VERY loud snorer.  We could hear it so clearly through the wall, I almost had to buy earplugs.  To sleep in my very own home. One summer it was hot upstairs so we went out and bought a small fan that was really loud when turned on, and guess what- no more snoring.  It was heaven!  I could finally sleep again!  Now I can't sleep without it.  Of course my trusty fan just broke in the middle of winter- not quite fan season.  Thank goodness for iphone apps is all I've got to say.  They have saved me and now I can sleep yet again.  

11.  I am a homebody through and through.  Sure I love going out to eat, in fact one of my favorite dates is diner and a movie.  It is fun to get out, see the sites and spend time with friends. But I have this huge part of me that would much rather just hole up with my little family, snuggle, play games, bake, do crafts, watch our favorite shows on the dvr, and just BE.  I don't need to go out to make myself happy.  I am happy where I am.  I also hate to talk on the phone.  I am getting much better since the majority of my time is spent with little ones, so adult conversation is very nice!  But please don't get offended if I am really bad about returning a phone call, or asking you to go out somewhere.  It isn't that I don't love you and want to spend time with you.  I just get in my groove and kinda need a little shove sometimes to get me out of it.

Now I need to answer the questions given to me by Crystal .... if this wasn't long enough already!  Sorry folks. I a making up for bad blogging as of late :)  But isn't this so fun learning all this random stuff about your favorite Amie? So anyways, here we go.....

1. What is the most adventurous thing you have ever eaten?

I would say that I am an adventurous diner.  I LOVE trying new foods and trying to figure out "how they did it".  But I am no Andrew Zimern!  I am not about to eat bugs or other gross things (even if they are a "delicacy" in another country.  No thank you.  Too many truly wonderfully delicious food out there for my belly!  I have been trying all week to figure out the answer to this question and I keep coming up in blanks.  Which is so strange, because I really am adventurous.  But maybe because of that statement and way of thinking, no food I have eaten has been thought of to me as really "adventurous?  Hmmmm.

I guess the few things that are popping up in my head are the times when my husband and I were in Italy for our Honeymoon.  We wanted to try all the wonderful foods there and often times we weren't 100% sure what we were eating due to not knowing the language all that well.  One of our ur favorite memories of the trip was in Venice where we took part in a cicchetti. This is a Venitian tradition where you hop from one bar to the next, have a glass of wine (or two or three) and enjoy the little bar snacks called cicchetti- it is a progressive dinner of sorts.  On the main canals you can find over priced bruschetta, and other common hors d'oeuvres.  But if you get lost along the inside streets and dark canals you can find the real gems.  This was my first time eating squid cooking in its own ink- careful here because it can turn your teeth black!  But boy is it yummy!  I also ate a ton of stuff I had No IDEA what it was (you just point and say how many you want), but all the locals loved them, so we figured lets give it a try!  And we were never ever disappointed.  Always take the road less traveled- especially when in Venice when on a cicchetti tour!  

2. What would your last meal be if you had a say in it?

Ok, I am going to die anyways.  I don't need to worry about getting fat OR having a tummy ache afterwards right?  So I want a little of everything I love!  This is not a time to hold back or to show restraint.  Here are a few of the highlights: definitely my grandma's Babchi Bread slathered with butter.  I want to taste that bit of heaven for the last time on Earth for sure!  Although since she is in actual Heaven right now and I would be joining her soon, I am sure she is could bake me one herself chock full of golden raisins! Better yet, I would love to bake a loaf with her.  I was a child the last time I baked with Babchi, so that is definitely something to look forward to.

On my last meal I would also need to have an authentic Lobster Roll.  I would like a perfectly cooked medium rare steak along side an entire bowl of sauteed mushrooms and onions- no one ever gives enough of them when it is a "topper".  (You all know my obsession with sauteed onions by now! lol.) Another essential would be a homemade pierogi and my mom's potato pancakes.  Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Bundles, a bowl of Pad Thai, really good BBQ- I don't care what for I love it all, Chicken Tikka Masala- (nice and spicy!) and fresh warm garlic Naan, my dad's grilled lemon and thyme shrimp scampi, and I would also love a slice of pizza with perfectly gooey, melty cheese (with as much mushrooms and onions on it as I like! pepperoni too.)  Oh, and perfectly juicy roast chicken perfectly delicious and flavorful skin that also has the best crispiness to it.  Lets be honest, the skin is the best part, right?!  lol.

And then oh boy, I have to have dessert!  Ice cream is a favorite- better yet, gelato.  Also chocolate mousse, a soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie, and anything that has peanut butter and chocolate together.  My favorite combination!

I honestly could go on and on.  And I am sure after I hit "post" I will remember 10 more things I should have added!  OK, so you asked a food lover this question.  I can't help it!

3. What is your all time guilty pleasure food?

Appetizers! I could eat an entire meal of just small plates (especially if they are Asian ones- my favorite!!!)

Also my PB&J on cheap white bread- see above....

4. What are you currently listening to?

I have this habit of when I find a song I love I listen to it over and over and never tire of it.  Like ever.  I have this playlist on the ipod of my forever favs.  Here are a few in no particular order:

Mumford and Sons "Sigh No More",

Vampire Weekend "Mansard Roof" and "Walcott",

She and Him "Sentimental Heart" and "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here",

Neko Case "I Wish I was the Moon",

The Wailin' Jennys "Long Time Traveler" "One Voice" and "Heaven When We're Home",

Belle and Sebastian "Judy and the Dream of Horses"

Alicia Keys "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down"

Nickle Creek "Out of the Woods" and "Lighthouse Tale"

The 6ths (with Katherine Whalen) "you you you you you"

Regina Spektor "The Calculation", "Eet" and "Folding Chair"

Tori Amos "Tear in Your Hand", "Cooling" and "A Sorta Fairytale"

Rufus Wainwright "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk"

Ok, I better stop, otherwise this will go on way too long!  You get the idea....

5. What is your favorite sport (to play, watch, or both)?

ugh. I am SO NOT a sports person. I'm sorry, it is just not my "thing".  The idea of actually playing a sport that involves a ball flying at my head send me into cold sweats.  I am sure I was ruined as a child by being the last picked in gym class.  But I don't care.  I have other joys, sports doesn't need to be one of them!  haha.  But I DO love a good tailgate (umm, delicious food cooked over the grill- yes please!)  and I love going to games, as long as it is not freezing cold and I don't have to pay attention to the sport.  I am there for the food and the socialization only!

6. One thing you are dying to try (this could be anything)

I want to make my own cheese, especially stretching my own mozzarella!  It just sounds like so much fun, and from what i understand it is super easy!  This is very soon on my culinary resolution list!!!

7. Fill in the blank: Food makes me _____

EXCITED!  There is nothing like tasting that first bite of someone wonderful.  But Food also does so much more for me.  Now being a stay at home mommy it fulfills a place in me that was missing before. I have something that I can learn, accomplish, and really make me proud for a job well done!  I have a way of making those around me happy with a yummy dish I prepared from scratch that I know is not only delicious and satisfying but also full of the good stuff - nothing weird or full of additives.  I have made new friends because of it, gotten closer to other ones over it and bonded with some while preparing it together.

8. If you could have dinner with just one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

This is seriously the hardest question on the list.  I have been thinking and thinking and it is making me crazy deciding on "just one".  But I think I will have to go with Tori Amos.  She has been my most favorite musician for as long as I can remember and it would just be such an honor and so very exciting so share something as lovely as a dinner with someone that followed me through all parts of my life- at least her music has! Yep, Tori would be it.  It makes me almost a little nervous just thinking about it.  Yeah, I know I am a dork.

9. What is your "go to" restaurant for taking out of towners?

Crystal was so dead on when she said Pier W!  The view is spectacular and it hosts the best brunch in the Cleveland area imo.  But I also adore Green House Tavern, the food is not only amazing, but it also demonstrates in so many ways what the CLE is and why we all love it so!

10. What quote sums up your life right now?

I love wonderful quotes!  If you are a follower on my facebook page, or read the widget on the right hand column, you will already be used to seeing quotes that inspire me in life.  But these two are ones that I look to, read and gain strength from every day.  

"Don't be anxious about anything, but in every situation,  by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all human understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  -Philippians 4:6-7

Also the verse I live by is Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


Questions for the Tagged Bloggers
Honestly, I loved the questions that Crystal gave me, so I am going to keep them as well.  Answer all of the questions that are in bold as well and telling us random stuff about yourself.  Have fun, and i can't wait ot read your blog posts as well.  This was fun!  A lot of thinking, but still FUN!

The Rules:

• Post these rules
• You must post 11 random things about yourself
• Answer the questions set for you in their post
• Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer
• Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them

TAG!  Your it!!

Jessica of Jude and Lebe

Jess of My Own Bell Jar

Adrianne of The Right Words Are Wrong

Suzanne of Life on Mars

Michelle of Heartfelt Balance Handmade Life

Oven Roasted Bananas- Traditional and also with Cinnamon and Chocolate

Or how to impress your kids and make your husband fall in love with you all over again.  This recipe is so dang easy your children can do it almost entirely on their own (except for needing a smidge of help with the hot oven).  It also works as a great summertime campfire trick.  They are wonderful plain, in their beautiful perfect banana state.  Or my personal favorite, sprinkled with cinnamon, stuffed with chocolate chips and dotted with butter...mmmmmmmm.

These make a lovely dessert, it would even empress guests at a dinner party.  But it also works perfectly for a breakfast with a dollop of yogurt, or to curb that mid day sweet tooth.  It turns a plain banana into something truly special.  It tastes so much like the famous dessert Banana's Foster, but it isn't!  A simple banana with nothing else tastes like it is so much more.  If you've never tried this recipe before you will be amazed on the lovely flavors it changes into.

Oven Roasted Bananas

Traditional Oven Roasted Banana
1 banana per person (and this is absolutely all you need if you want to go the plain route, which trust me, tastes anything but "plain")

preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Place whole banana, as is, uncut on a baking sheet.  Place in hot oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the banana peel turns black.  That is when you know it is done!  Place on a plate and carefully split the peel with a sharp knife and eat with a spoon.

The warmth of the banana paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is heavenly.

Oven Roasted Bananas with Cinnamon and Chocolate

1 banana per person
a sprinkling of cinnamon
a sprinkling of chocolate chips, I used mini above, but large are just as great!
a few small pats of butter, optional

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Slice banana lengthwise and place on a foil lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with cinnamon and chocolate chips and top with a few pats of butter, if using.  Bake for 15 minutes or until banana peel turns black.  Carefully remove from oven and eat directly out of the peel with a spoon.  Enjoy as is, or serve along side ice cream, yogurt, sprinkle with granola, drizzle with honey or chocolate sauce- whatever your heart desires.  After you've had these once, trust me, you will want to try them every way possible!

Don't forget to tun in or set your DVR's to watch 

Amie, from My Retro Kitchen cooking on 

New Day Cleveland, Fox 8

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

10:00 am




I linked up my recipe at Sweets for a Saturday!

Exciting News!

Guess who's going to be on TV?!

ME!!

I know.  I seriously can't believe it myself. I was contacted by the show New Day Cleveland, telling me how much they love my blog *gasp*swoon*!!!  (You mean people actually read this blog besides me?!!)  That alone was exciting news!  And if that wasn't cool enough, I was then asked if I would be interested in coming on their show to do a cooking segment with one of their hosts.  

Holy Moly!  That's the cat's pajamas!  Of course I would love to come on television!!  

Oh boy.  I've got my work cut out for me for sure.  lol.  

In all seriousness, I am so incredibly flattered and excited for this wonderful opportunity.  I not only get to be on TV, but I get to do one of my most favorite things in the whole world at the same time- cook!  I couldn't have asked for a better break then this.  Thank you New Day Cleveland for taking an interest in my favorite past time, My Retro Kitchen.   I am honored.  

Please be sure to set your DVR's to Fox 8 where you can see me having a blast in their kitchen cooking up some delicious food,  on Tuesday, February 21st at 10:00 am.  

New Day Cleveland is a local television show, think a smaller version of The Today Show, so I am not sure how far away from Cleveland people will be able to watch this.  But hopefully there will also be a clip on their website as well for all you out-of-towners.

This is a going to be a good year for My Retro Kitchen.  

Amie, from My Retro Kitchen cooking on 

New Day Cleveland, Fox 8

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

10:00 am

See you there!