Tenderize the Chicken: Place the chicken halves between two pieces of plastic wrap and gently pound them with a meat mallet to an even thickness.
Season the Chicken: In a small bowl, mix 1 tsp “Slap Ya Mama” seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Sprinkle evenly over both sides of the chicken breasts.
Make the Marinade:
Mix Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
Marinate the Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken in the marinade and let sit for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours in the refrigerator).
Prepare the Dredging Station:
Mix Dredging Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the flour with the remaining 1 tsp of “Slap Ya Mama” seasoning.
Dredge the Chicken: Remove each piece of chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off, then coat thoroughly in the flour mixture.
Fry the Chicken:
Heat the Oil: In a large skillet, heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
Cook the Chicken: Fry the chicken for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oil and let drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
Assemble the Sandwich:
Prepare the Buns: Lightly toast the sweet Hawaiian buns in a pan or oven.
Build the Sandwich: Spread a generous amount of chicken dipping sauce on both halves of each bun. Place a piece of fried chicken on the bottom bun, add a few slices of pickles, and top with the other half of the bun.
1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped (optional for heat)
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
4 cups chicken broth
1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
1 can (14 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup frozen corn
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and black pepper to taste
For garnish:
Fresh cilantro, chopped
Avocado, diced
Sour cream
Shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack)
Tortilla strips or chips
Instructions:
Prepare the Base:
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, jalapeño (if using), and red bell pepper. Sauté until the vegetables are soft and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
Add Spices:
Stir in the cumin, chili powder, and paprika. Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Simmer the Soup:
Pour in the chicken broth and crushed tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
Add the Main Ingredients:
Add the black beans, corn, and shredded chicken to the pot. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Final Touches:
Stir in the lime juice and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve:
Ladle the soup into bowls and top with tortilla strips, diced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, shredded cheese, and fresh cilantro.
1 pound ground beef (you can substitute with ground turkey or sausage for variety)
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 large egg
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Cook the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until it is just shy of al dente (about 7-8 minutes). Drain and set aside.
Make the Sauce:
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat.
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet and cook until the onions are translucent.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
Mix the Cheese Filling:
In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, 1 cup of mozzarella, and half of the grated Parmesan. Mix well.
Assemble the Dish:
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked ziti with the tomato sauce. Then add the cheese mixture and stir until everything is well mixed.
Transfer the ziti mixture to a greased 9×13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
Bake:
Cover with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
Serve:
Let the baked ziti cool for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.
1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning (or a similar Cajun seasoning)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 small can tomato sauce (about 8 ounces)
2 cups macaroni noodles
2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar works well)
1 quart chicken broth
Instructions:
Prepare the Ingredients:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion and sauté until it becomes translucent and slightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
Cook the Beef:
Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef to the skillet.
Break the beef apart with a spatula and cook until it’s browned and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes.
Season the beef with salt, black pepper, Slap Ya Mama seasoning, and garlic powder. Mix well to combine all the flavors.
Add Liquids and Noodles:
Pour in the tomato sauce and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the macaroni noodles. Stir well.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the skillet. Let it cook for about 12-15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
Add Cheese:
Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the shredded cheese until melted and well incorporated.
Serve:
Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
Serve hot, garnished with extra cheese or fresh herbs if desired.