Sweetly Spiced Bacon Wrapped Chicken (Appetizer)

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!

We enjoyed the afternoon and evening with my in-laws, which is always fun (especially since the kids are little angels over there). Unfortunately the kids had to call their pool party short because a thunderstorm rolled in while it was humid as can be with the temperature in the high 80s.

Luckily the house was filled with food, most of which Miss Picky (Ellexa) refused to eat. Ellexa's favorite item on the menu was whatever everyone else was drinking (I think she had tea, soda, water, juice, and milk) and a baby handful of chips. Ethan's favorite item was catchup. Yup. Catchup. By itself. As for everyone else, they were raving about my Sweetly Spiced Bacon Wrapped Chicken, which was really rewarding considering it is so easy to make!

I know you're ready to spread the ultra savory amazing joy that is specially glazed bacon and chicken, so I won't hold it back any further. (Note: For the sake of avoiding any confusion, I'll explain everything as much as possible and include step-by-step pictures. To those comprehensively challenged: You're welcome.)

Sweetly Spiced Bacon Wrapped Chicken (Appetizer)

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
  
• 12 ounces of bacon (1 package)
• brown sugar
• chile powder
• toothpicks

PREPARATIONS: Prepare a broiler pan with foil on the bottom to catch drippings (You may be tempted to cover the top part of the broiler pan with foil to possibly save yourself from a bigger mess, but it's not worth it. Trust me; nothing is less fun than picking foil off of each piece then standing over the sink scrubbing foil and what seems like an edible super glue off of a pan while mumbling "Damnit, why did I come up with this stupid idea?!"). Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Your pan should look like this (foil bottom, no foil top):


STEP 1 - CUTTING THE MEAT: Take the boneless, skinless chicken breast and cut into cubes (about 1 inch or so). Take the bacon strips and cut into three even sections. When done, it should look like this:
STEP 2 -WRAPPING: Take one piece of chicken and one section of bacon, then wrap the bacon around the chicken (Don't worry about overlapping, who doesn't want more bacon in each bite?). Stick a toothpick through the center, right where the bacon ends.


STEP 3 - FLAVORING: In a bowl mix brown sugar and chile powder, the ratio should be pretty close to 1 cup of brown sugar to 3 tBsp of chile powder (I don't measure everything and to find out why, go HERE ). When mixed well, roll each wrap in the mixture until completely coated, then place on the pan.

STEP 4 - BAKE & DEVOUR: When all pieces are coated, place in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Let them cool for a couple minutes before transferring them, but not too much, as you want them served while hot! (If you're taking them somewhere, it's best to reheat before serving. They'll still taste delicious.)

Lazy Pork Fried Rice

As pure chaos ensued, my hopes of completing the Mexican Meat Pockets slowly faded away. Eros was wrapped tightly to my chest, blaring his little baby head off in response to his ear infection and Ethan was scaling the bookshelf with the aid of a Playschool table (for the third time after being told not to). I stood there, yawning and shaking my head in disbelief at Ethan's persistence to try and pull down the entire bookshelf with the 8th book he had to have in the last 5 minutes. That's when it hit me; The meat pockets were never getting done.

After taking Ethan upstairs to his room for time out, I rushed back down to begin dinner, with screaming baby in toe. So the meat pockets were out.. What else is there to make? The fridge was near bare and not an instant meal to be found in the house. I was inspired by the single item on the bottom shelf: a pound of ground pork. Lazy Pork Fried Rice it is.

Somewhere between getting the rice started and trying to figure out what dessert would be, Eros had fallen into a drool-dripping baby coma. The wrap and my shirt were soaked. This was a definite sign of fun times ahead.

After transferring Eros from wrap to couch, I browned the meat, microwaved the veggies, and when the rice was done, pieced it all together. Went to get Ethan for dinner and apparently he didn't like time out in his room, so he thrashed around on my bed, destroying the piles of freshly folded laundry and fell asleep amongst them. Guess he wasn't hungry.

As most people know, I'm big dessert buff. We have dessert after dinner at least three times a week. Tonight's dessert was simple, yet amazing. I had previously made Devil's Food cupcakes and had a few left over as a result of not enough frosting. Since I've been having an hankering for s'mores, I unwrapped a cupcake, placed it on a graham cracker, topped it with whip-cream and another graham cracker and VIOLA! Marshmallowless Cake S'mores (which were amazingly delicious and messy).


So, without further ado, I present to you my easy-as-hell recipe:

Lazy Pork Fried Rice

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground pork
• 2 cups uncooked white rice
• 5 cups of water (divided into 4 cups & 1 cup)
• 2 cups frozen mixed veggies
• 1 cup shredded Chinese cabbage (optional)
• 1/2 tsp salt (optional)
• Sesame Oil
• Soy Sauce

STEP 1 - RICE: I recommend a rice cooker, as it makes the best flawless white rice and is incredibly easy. If you don't have one, then use a medium pot. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil with 1/2 tsp salt (optional). Add 2 cups uncooked rice to the boiling water, stir once, and cover pot. When the water returns to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Let it simmer for 20 minutes.

STEP 2 - PORK: While the rice is simmering, heat sesame oil (I don't measure, but if I had to guess I'd say 1 tBsp) in a frying pan. Add the ground pork and begin to brown. When the pork looks as if it's about done, drizzle soy sauce (I'm guessing about 1-2 tBsp) across the top. If you're using the shredded cabbage, add it now. Continue to brown til thoroughly mixed and pork completely browned (cabbage should be soft when done). Do not drain. The "juice" with the meat will flavor the rice.

STEP 3 - VEGGIES: Place 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables in a microwave safe bowl, with 1 cup of water. Microwave for 4 minutes, then drain.

STEP 4 - MIXING: When the rice is done, place into a large bowl, add veggies, then add meat. Stir well. If it seems a little dry, try adding little bits of soy sauce til it reaches your preference.



This is such an easy meal, especially with a rice cooker, and it's delicious too.


Well, I thought it was delicious. Ellexa decided Ethan's shoe was a better meal option. *sigh*

Hope you enjoy the Lazy Pork Fried Rice! Don't forget to try out the Marshmallowless Cake S'Mores as well. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a 35lb kid to lug to his room and laundry to re-fold.