30 Minute Meals for Seniors - Acadiana's Multi-Media News Station

Double-Dipped Spicy Chicken

Ingredients:

• Vegetable Oil
• 1 1/2 Cups Flour
• 1 Teaspoon Paprika
• 1 Teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
• 1/4 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
• 1/4 Teaspoon Allspice
• 1 Cup Buttermilk
• 1 Pound Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs
• 1 Pound Chicken Breast Tenderloins
• Salt and Pepper

Method:

• Heat 1 1/2 inches vegetable oil in a deep skillet over medium high heat
• A cube of bread should brown in a 40 count when oil is ready
• Set out three disposable pie tins
• Mix flour with paprika, poultry seasoning, cayenne and allspice
• Divide seasoned flour between two tins
• Pour buttermilk into a tin
• Line up tins as such
  • Flour
  • Buttermilk
  • Flour
• Season chicken with salt and pepper
• Coat chicken in flour, then buttermilk, then a second coating of flour
• Cook chicken 6 minutes on each side, until deep golden brown and firm

Yield:  4 servings

Blue Cheese and Walnut Salad with Maple Dressing

Ingredients:

• 1 (10-ounce) Sack Baby Spinach
• 1/3 Pound Blue Cheese, Crumbled
• 1 (6 ounce) Can Walnut Halves, Toasted
• 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup, Warmed
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons Cider Vinegar
• 1/4 Cup Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper

Method:

• Place spinach on a large platter
• Top with blue cheese and walnuts
• Warm maple syrup in a small saucepan
• Pour vinegar into a small bowl
• Whisk oil into vinegar in a slow stream
• Whisk maple syrup into dressing in a slow stream
• Pour dressing down over the salad platter and serve
• Season with salt and pepper to taste

Yield:  4 servings

Double Stuffed Potatoes with the Works

Ingredients:

• 2 Large Russet Potatoes, Cleaned and Pricked with a Fork Several Times each
• Drizzle Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil
• 2 Slices center cut Bacon, Chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 Scallions, Chopped
• 1/4 Cup Sour Cream
• 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Salt and Coarse Black Pepper

Method:

• Preheat a small, non-stick pan over medium high heat
• Rub potatoes with a drizzle of oil
• Place potatoes on a microwave safe plate and microwave on high for 12 minutes, rotating once
• While potatoes cook, add chopped bacon to hot skillet and brown until bits are crisp
• Add scallions and cook together with bacon one minute more
• Transfer bacon bits and scallions to a paper-towel lined plate to drain
• Allow potatoes to cool enough to be handled, about 5 minutes
• Preheat broiler to high
• Cut potatoes in half and scoop out the flesh in a small bowl
• Smash potato flesh together with sour cream until combined using a potato masher
• Stir in cheddar cheese, bacon and scallions and season with salt and pepper to your taste
• Scoop filling back into potato skins and place on a cookie sheet
• Place potatoes in oven and brown under broiler, 6 inches from heat, for 5 minutes

Yield:  4 servings

Chocolate-Dipped Bananas

Ingredients:

• 4 Bananas
• 8 Popsicle Sticks
• 3 Cups good quality Chocolate Bar
• 3 Tablespoons Butter, Cut up

Toppings:

• Chopped Nuts
• Toasted Coconut
• Cookie Crumbles
• Colored Sprinkles or Chocolate Jimmies
• Mini Chocolate Candies or Mini Semi-Sweet Chips
• Granola

Method:

• Peel and cut the bananas in half crosswise, so that you have 8 pieces
• Place peeled bananas on sticks
• Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper
• Place bananas on cookie sheet in the freezer, keeping them there as long as possible - at least 10 minutes
• Heat chocolate bits with butter in a double boiler over low heat until the melted chocolate and the butter are incorporated
• Dip the chilled bananas in chocolate and roll with your favorite topping
• Chill or freeze until ready to serve
• If frozen, allow 30 minutes to thaw before serving

Yield:  8 Chocolate-Dipped Bananas