Mac & Cheese and Chicken Satay

I wanted to do some fun twists on some kid friendly ideas this week that might interest kids and adults, so I ran through a bunch of recipes and decided to try a few of the more interesting ones. I invited my neighbors over, who have two children, one young and one teenager to be able to try it out and let me know what they thought. The dishes I decided to do were my Pepperjack Mac and Cheese with bacon, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, and Banana S'mores. Everything turned out pretty awesomely, and of course with the mac and cheese you can always substitute whatever cheeses you'd like. Turned out the kids didn't like banana's though, so I didn't get an opinion on the S'mores, but all of us adults sure liked them! The biggest hit, that I was a bit surprised at, was the peanut sauce, everyone really seemed to like it, and the chicken itself turned out very moist and flavorful.

Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

(I forgot to try to get a picture until they were almost all gone! But here's the last one, it was quickly eaten after this picture)

• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast halves
• 2 T sesame oil
• 1/2 t paprika
• 1 t salt
• 1/2 t pepper
• 12 bamboo skewers, soaked in water for at least 10 minutes
• 1/2 t sesame oil
• 2 t grated ginger root (peeled first)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 2 T brown sugar
• 2 T lime juice
• 2 T soy sauce
• 1/2 cup light coconut milk

Cut each chicken breast into strips about 1/2 inch wide and put into a large resealable freezer bag. Combine the next 4 ingredients in a small cup and pour over the chicken. Seal the bag, toss until coated and let stand in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours, turning occasionally. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove the chicken and discard any remaining mixture. Thread the chicken accordion-style onto the skewers and arrange on a baking sheet lined with foil. Bake for about 15 minutes, turning at halftime until no longer pink.

Heat the sesame oil in a small saucepan on medium heat. Add the ginger root and garlic. Heat and stir for about a minute until fragrant, be careful as these can burn quickly. Add the next 5 ingredients, heat and stir for about 5 minutes until the peanut butter is melted. Add the coconut milk, heat and stir about a minute until bubbling. Cool to room temperature and serve with skewers.

(not the best picture of the sauce, but it was so tasty!)

Pepperjack Mac and Cheese with Bacon

• 6 strips of bacon, cooked and diced
• 4 oz grated pepperjack
• 8 oz grated white cheddar 
• 1 T olive oil, or reserved bacon grease
• 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• About 1/2 cup of flour
• 2 T butter
• 1 box of rigate pasta (or any other noodle), cooked
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 T italian seasoning
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 cups of heavy cream
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• Optional: Vegetables such as peas, broccoli, etc.

Heat oil or grease in a large oven safe pot, and cook onions with seasoning and garlic for a few minutes or until soft. Add broth and cream and bring to a slow boil. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add the flour until it forms a thick paste, it may take more flour than I listed. Let cook for a minute or two on low heat, stirring frequently to ensure it doesn't burn. Add one cup of the reserved cream and broth liquid to the sauce pan, whisking continuously until it is a smooth mixture, and then add that back to the large pot, stirring well. Let boil for about 10 minutes or until the whole mixture is thickened, and then add the cheese. Let cook until the cheese is melted, and add to the pasta along with the bacon and any vegetables you might wish to add (I used peas). Top with bread crumbs and transfer to an oven heated to a broil until it is golden brown on top. Enjoy!

Banana S'mores

• Bananas
• Chocolate chips
• Mini Marshmallows
• Optional: Nuts

I don't have exact measurements for this, it depends how much chocolate or marshmallows you would like, and feel free to experiment and let me know if you happen upon any awesome ideas! Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Slice the bananas in half lengthwise, and lay in sheets of tin foil. Sprinkle the chocolate chips and marshmallows in between the two banana halves and close the foil around it tightly. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until everything is warm and melted. Enjoy!