Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Let's talk CHICKEN, shall we?

I'm constantly looking for good chicken recipes.  It took me probably a solid 7 years of our marriage to learn how to STOP cooking chicken to a rock form.  You know, the type of chicken you have to get a chain saw out to cut it.  I was terrified of UNDER cooking my chicken and making my whole family sick.  As a matter of fact, one Christmas, my mom wrapped a simple meat thermometer, watched me open it, looked me square in the eye and said, "PLEASE use this".  

That same Christmas my mom also gave all of her little chitlens a priceless recipe book.   One that she made with all of our favorite recipes from growing up and into adulthood.  She was a sly one in making this book! We all love it and when I don't know what to cook, I usually go to this book. 

  

So, in honor of our upcoming trip to the good ol' South to spend time with the fam, and for the fact that I no longer cook chicken until it is all but a brick, I want to share this very yummy, kid approved, adult approved, chicken recipe. 

ENTER: Captain Crunch Chicken Fingers.  

This is one of my most favorite recipes my mom made while growing up.  When my mom made it, I had no trouble coming down to the dinner table.  And don't we ALL know, in this day and age, coming together for dinner isn't always easy, but it's needed more than ever! 

To start, you actually need TWO cereals for this recipe; Captain Crunch and Corn Flakes.  

Put 2 cups of Captain Crunch and 1 and a half cup of corn flakes in a gallon size Ziplock bag.  Beat the crazy out of the two cereals.  I used a rolling pin; this is an incredible way to get out some aggression! 

Beat 1 egg and 1 cup of milk in a bowl and set aside.  

Mix together the following: 1 cup of flour, 1 tsp of garlic powder, 1 tsp of onion powder, and 1/2 tsp of black pepper.  

Take raw chicken tenders (I bought a couple of packages) and dredge each chicken tender in the flour shaking off excess, dip in the egg mixture next, and drop in the cereal bag.  

When the bag is full, get a good arm workout in and SHAKE.  

**I put about 3 chicken fingers in the bag each time I shook, I wanted to make sure the tenders get good and covered with the cereal.  Putting too much chicken in the bag won't cover them as well.**

In a large skillet, pour a layer of oil (I used vegetable oil) and bring to a simmer.  Drop coated chicken into the hot oil and fry until done and no longer pink in the middle.  About 3-5 minutes depending on the size of the chicken pieces.  

What's funny here, is that my mom, in the recipe book specifically said, "MAKE SURE THEY'RE DONE."  I wonder where my small fear of undercooked chicken came from? Any guesses?  Love you, mom. 

Serve with Creole Mustard as the dipping sauce.  When using the mustard as a dipping sauce, it is  the perfect combo of a little sweet from the chicken with a little spicy from the creole.  

These can also be baked in the oven at 375 degrees instead of frying.  Place on a greased baking sheet, turning once. Cook until done. 

What I love about this recipe is that you can put various sides with it. Mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, asparagus, and more.  It goes with about everything.  

And there you go.  A dinner fit for all!  Here's a recipe card for you, too.  Pin it to save it! 

Enjoy! 

When You Don't Know How To Swim

Little Spitfire took swimming lessons a couple of weeks ago and my goodness, if you want entertainment, that is IT.  It and a bag of chips, my friends.  To ALL of our surprise, she didn't yell and scream not once about going in the water.

She jumped right on in.  Right to the step.  Splashing, laughing, excited to get started.   She had a great first day.  I mean, awesome.  She listened to everything her teachers said.  They had an incredibly wonderful lead into making her do things (never underestimate the power of a swim teacher!).  We were all pretty excited when we left. As a matter of fact, I left thinking, "my gosh, I have an Olympic swimmer on my hands. I better get prepared for this wonderful swimming future we have!"

The next day went on without a hitch.  The next, even better.  We were SWIMMING, y'all!  I thought  for once, Little Girl didn't do what she usually does. This was actually pretty darn easy.  Where was my easy button?  Apparently, the many times of me pushing it, it finally stuck.

Things were safe.  They were well led. There were plenty of baby steps, yet big steps all wrapped into one.  It was good.  Really good.

Oh, but wait.  The story doesn't end there.  Envision this:  The last day was the day she was to swim the entire length of the pool…from the diving board.  It sounds daunting, but the thing is, with guidance, she had done it the day before.  This fateful last day, she decided to have a full blown, wide-eyed, conniption FIT.   Full blown!

Y'all.  The last day of the two week lessons and girl child decides to throw a MIGHTY fit.  One that drags on into the next kids' lessons.  **Sidenote: If that mom is reading this, I totally owe you a lesson.**  I was not only livid but absolutely confused.  I will say, however, I wasn't the least bit surprised with her behavior.

You see, she had felt the feeling of panic the day before, but her teacher was there for her and helped her through the path. She knew that feeling of fear, and decided that it wasn't worth it; last day or not.

For at least 15 minutes we coaxed, I left and sat in the teacher's driveway, my husband helped, and she fought and fought BIG.  The teacher was extremely patient giving words of encouragement, but also laced with a firm lead.  Until finally.  FINALLY.  She jumped with just a hint of my husband's hand leading her into the water from the diving board.  She immediately went to safe mode (her back), but her teacher gently rolled her to her belly so she could progress.  Progress to the finish.  Oh, she didn't want to. My girl didn't want to at all.  I saw it in her face.  But she kept going, thanks to the lead she got from her daddy and her teacher.

We got in the car and she was exhausted.  Throwing a fit like that will make a girl pretty tired if I do say so myself.  And since we had caught her in a little nap, I thought.  I had time to actually think.

Swimming lessons.

We are having these every single day.   We are either on the steps or on the diving board.

When things are safe…when we are in that shallow end splashing around and having a blast.  Going just far enough to make us feel like we are risking it, but then back again to Safetown.  In those times, we are good.  We are content,  Content loving our Teacher and serving Him.

It's the moments off the diving board that can really get us.  It can either make or break us.  You might be dealing with something new, or fighting with something that has been a constant battle in your life for years.  And the enemy keeps rearing its ugly head trying to get the best of you.  The moments where we look into the future and question everything we've ever said and ever done to get us where we are.  We are frightened.  The deep end is stinkin' scary.  We have been there before.  We know what if feels like, what it is like to feel like we are on the brink of drowning, complete failure.  Failure again.  Yes.  We know that.

We look into the deep waters and say to ourselves, "I won't do that again. I can't.  I know I've overcome things before, but this is different.  This is scary and uncomfortable.  I know the steps are on the other side, I know that I NEED to get there.  But there's no way I can do this, I can't embark on this journey AGAIN."

Here's the thing that I say with ALL of my heart to all of you, my dear friends.  It isn't only YOU versus the deep end; YOU versus the burdens and the battles you are facing.  It is you with GOD, "your refuge and strength, your ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1), that are facing these hurdles head on.  That deep end? The diving board? Success at the end is possible to overcome and get to because your Teacher is in the pool.  The Lord is waiting on you to jump in so He can guide you to a victorious side.  HE will guide you, HE will turn you on your belly when you need to progress even more.  HE will give you that gentle touch to push you along.  It won't always be easy; you might be grasping for air.  But as you come up for a breath, and when you think you are almost defeated, if you TRUST in HIM to get you there, He will wonderfully, with the perfect touch, and with perfect timing, raise you up and give you another leg to stand on.

Oh my goodness friends.  Isn't He good?  His goodness and mercy and FAITHFULNESS is something that we can jump to every single day with the daily battles or the new ones that have hit us like a freight train without warning.

Trust HIM.  He has got you.  And the scary moments?  Keep trusting…He hasn't left you.  Even though it might feel that you are alone kicking and reaching your arms to the shallow end, coming up for air, you are not alone.  He is growing you; it might be uncomfortable growth, but He is watching you, helping you, as you grow and learn.  He has not abandoned you.  Call for Him and He will come to you at the exact right moment.  He's in the pool.  He's with you; with you as you and Him swim to the steps.

As Dory would say, "Keep on swimming."

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