Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets

 I never knew how easy it was to make a healthy version of chicken nuggets until I stumbled upon this recipe from Annie's Eats.  The recipe calls for baking the chicken instead of frying and using panko bread crumbs to make the chicken nuggets crispy.  I tweaked the recipe a bit because my kids did not like the taste of Dijon mustard and thyme nor do they like anything spicy. 

I usually cut the chicken in bite size similar to chicken nuggets rather than long strips.  It's easier for my toddler to eat since she tends to gobble everything in one bite.  With two kids helping me out, the total time for this recipe is around 60-70 minutes.  I have never made this dish by myself, but I can imagine it would take half the time.

Ingredients

2 cups panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp. canola oil  (I use olive oil)
1/2 cup of grated parmesan 
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. garlic powder
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (I omitted this)
3 large egg whites
1 tbsp. water
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard (I omitted this)
1 tsp. minced fresh thyme or ¼ tsp. dried  (I omitted this)
Cooking spray
1½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into ¾-inch wide strips

Directions 

• Preheat the oven to 475˚ F
• In a large skillet, toss the panko with the oil.  Toast over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 8-10 minutes. 
• Transfer the toasted crumbs to a bowl.  Add 1/2 cup of grated parmesan into the same bowl.
• In a second bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, salt, and cayenne pepper. 
• In a third bowl, whisk together the egg whites, water, mustard and thyme.
• Spray a wire rack lightly with cooking spray and place over a rimmed baking sheet.  Working in batches, dredge a few pieces of the chicken in the flour, then the egg whites, and finally the breadcrumbs to coat, shaking off the excess between each step.  Lay the coated pieces on the prepared wire rack and repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Spray the tops of the chicken pieces lightly with the cooking spray.  Bake until the chicken is cooked through, 10-12 minutes.

Things you can do with your little ones

My two little ones enjoy making these crispy baked chicken nuggets.  I usually prep everything ahead of time so 3 bowls are placed on the dining table like an assembly line.

•  1 bowl for the dry ingredients 
•  1 bowl for the wet ingredients
•  1 bowl for the toasted crumbs with grated parmesan cheese

I prefer my kids to handle the bowls with dry ingredients while I handle the bowl with the wet ingredients. With a spoon,  I have my kids toss the bite size chicken pieces in their bowls until it is properly coated.  This is done in small batches. Then the coated chicken pieces are tossed to the next bowl until it makes its way to the wire rack.  My kids get a kick out of seeing  a plain cut chicken slowly looking like an uncooked chicken nugget.

Mini Tortilla Pizzas

My two kids absolutely LOVE cheese pizza.  If they can eat it for a whole week, they would. As I was looking for ideas what I can make for their lunch, I found this fun recipe for cute mini tortilla pizzas on tablespoon.com. These mini tortilla pizzas are the perfect size for my toddler and preschooler.

Not only are they a hit with my two kids, they are so easy and fun to make.  You can have your little one help you out too.  They only take 25 minutes to make if you are making them and 45 minutes if you have your little ones helping you.  The recipe below makes 12 mini tortilla pizzas.

Ingredients

3         four tortillas  ( I use the Mission Brand )
1         can Muir Glen can  Muir Glen™ organic pizza sauce (15 ounce)
1 1/2   cups mozzarella cheese shredded

1/2      cup mini pepperoni (I just put 3 pieces on each mini pizza, but you can put more)

Directions

• Preheat oven to 400°F. 
• You can use a round cookie cutter.  If you don't have one, you can use the pizza sauce can to cut the tortilla crust.  Open the can of pizza sauce, empty the sauce from the can, and rinse the can out. 
• Using the cut edge of the pizza sauce can or round cookie cutter, cut four rounds from each tortilla. Press each round into a lightly-greased cupcake pan.
• Place a tablespoon of Muir Glen™ pizza sauce into the center of each tortilla round.
• Sprinkle cheese on top of the sauce on each tortilla round.
• Top each pizza with mini pepperoni rounds.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. 
• Remove and let it cool before using a fork to transfer mini pizzas from cupcake pan to a serving plate.

Things your little one can do 

•  If you are using a cookie cutter you can have them cut the round tortilla crust.
•  Give each of them a tablespoon to put pizza sauce into each of the tortilla rounds
•  Have them sprinkle the cheese and top each pizza with mini pepperoni rounds.
•  If your kids LOVE veggies, you can add chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives!

Cooking with kids is fun.  You can make it into a learning session.   With my little ones I would ask how many pizzas they have made, what color is the pizza sauce or cheese, what shape is the tortilla crust, etc...  The number of questions are endless.  Not only are they helping you cook, they are also learning!