Buffalo Chicken Panini

This recipe is good but a little bit bland...I'm not sure what it needs, maybe some lettuce or spice added to it. But, since the boys all love buffalo chicken and its a very simple and quick recipe, I thought I'd add it. I'll try it again sometime and try to "spice" it up a little.

1/4 cup hot pepper sauce or buffalo wing sauce, divided
1 lb chicken breast tenders
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (or gongonzola cheese)
6 Tbsp mayo (or you can just use blue cheese dressing)
8 slices Italian or Sourdough bread

Preheat broiler. Coat broiler pan with cooking spray. Combine 2 Tbsp hot pepper sauce and chicken tenders in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Arrange chicken in a single layer on broiler pan; broil 4 minutes on each side or until done. Place chicken in a clean bowl, toss with remaining 2 Tbsp sauce. Combine cheese and mayo. Spread 3 Tbsp cheese mixture on each of 4 bread slices; top each with 1/4 of the chicken tenders and 1 bread slice. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Arrange 2 sandwiches in pan, Place a heavy skillet on top of sandwiches and press gently. Cook for 3 minutes on each sie or until bread is toasted (leave skillet on sandwiches while they cook). Repeat procedure with remaining 2 sandwiches. Yield: 4 servings

I didn't use all of the chicken tenders in the sandwiches and saved the leftover chicken for a buffalo chicken pizza a couple of nights later which was a big hit with Casey.

Tamale Pie

4 cups chili (leftover or canned)
1 bag Frito chips
2 cups cheese

Grease a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Layer half of chili, fritos and cheese in pan. Repeat. Bake at 350 until heated through and cheese is bubbly

Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

This is a great dish for a day when you really don't have time to cook. Just throw everything in a crock pot in the morning and when you get home in the evening, dinner is almost ready.

4-6 6oz frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 16oz bottle of BBQ sauce (your favorite brand)
1 cup water
2 dozen hamburger buns or Hoagie Rolls

In the morning, place frozen chicken breasts in crock pot. Pour barbecue sauce and water over top and cook all day on medium or low heat. Before serving, shred chicken with two forks to pull it apart and mix in sauce as well. Spoon onto buns or rolls.
This recipe can be adjusted for the number of people you are serving...just use more or less chicken and sauce.
Also, you can make this recipe with pork as well for pulled pork sandwiches.

Clam Spaghetti

2 cans chopped clams, drained but juice preserved
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp chopped parsley
2-3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 lb thin spaghetti

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain. Saute garlic in olive oil until brown. Add parsley and stir. Add clam juice. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half. Add clams. Add spaghetti and parmesan cheese and toss, adding additional olive oil as needed to coat spaghetti. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Yield: 8 servings

Basil Linguine

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup fresh chopped basil
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp pine nuts, toasted (you may substitute slivered almonds)
1 lb linguine

Cook linguine accordin to package directions. Drain. Mix together remaining ingredients. Toss linguine with olive oil mixture. Serve immediately.
Yield: 6-8 servings