Olive Garden Salad Dressing

I found this recipe out of my cookbook, Top Secret Restaurant Recipes.  It has been a favorite for years.

Dressing:
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup corn syrup
2 1/2 T. grated Romano cheese
2 T. dry pectin (like the canning pectin)\
1 1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp dried parsely
pinch of dried oregano
pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Combine all ingredients in blender and mix well.  Chill at least 1 hour before using.

Salad:  romaine lettuce, sliced red onion, croutons, peppercini, olives - or whatever you like.

Spicy Honey Chicken

My family loves this chicken.  They all ooh and aah over it every time I make it.  You can't go wrong here!  I found this at Our Best Bites.

Spicy Honey Chicken

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 2lbs

2 t. vegetable oil

Rub

2 t granulated garlic

2 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/2 t coriander
1 t kosher salt
1 t cumin
1/2 t chipotle chili powder

Glaze
1/2 C Honey
1T Cider Vinegar

Instructions:

Combine the rub spices in bowl and mix well.

Use kitchen shears (or a pair of clean scissors) to trim off any excess fat from the chicken pieces.Pat dry. Drizzle oil over chicken and rub in with your hands to lightly coat all the pieces. 

Then toss chicken with the spice rub to coat all sides well. Use your hands and get in there! Grill chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it’s not so thick. Add the vinegar and combine well. Reserve 2T honey glaze for later. Take the rest and brush on chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling.

I’m gonna warn you that this can make a hot mess, literally. It’s sugar, and it’s gonna drip. But the smelly smoke is worth it for a minute or two. Just leave your grill on for a few minutes after the chicken is done to burn off any excess glaze. It’s totally worth it once you taste this stuff.

If you don’t have a bbq, try it on an indoor grill pan or use your broiler. Just be sure to open a window in case you burn your glaze!

Drizzle the  reserved extra couple tablespoons of glaze on top of cooked chicken.

Meatloaf

Ingredients
Onion soup mix 1 pouch
2 eggs
Ketchup (tomato sauce) 1/2 cup
Italian bread crumbs 1/2 cup
Ground beef 2 lbs

Mix together and form into a loaf.  Cook in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees OR MY FAVORITE...in the crockpot on low for 2.5-3 hours.  

I like to just make a 1 lb loaf for our family.  It works out perfect!  This was a freezer meal from our group.  It freezes great!