Fajita-Style Chicken Tenders with Corn & Black Bean Salsa

2 tsp olive oil
1 lb chicken tenders
1 pkt (1.12 oz) fajita seasoning mix
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed
1 can (11 oz) whole kernel corn
1 cup salsa
3 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Note: Serve with lime wedges and tortilla chips or warm flour tortillas.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet. Add tenders and cook over medium-high heat, turning once, 3 minutes or until lightly colored. Sprinkle with fajita seasoning and 2 Tbsp water; toss over medium heat 1 minute until coated and chicken is cooked through.

While tenders cook, combine beans, corn and salsa in a medium saucepan or microwave dish. Heat until hot. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Serve along with the tenders.

Emperor’s Shrimp

1/4 cup Spicy Sesame Sauce (see below)
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1 pound medium raw shrimp, shelled and deveined
4 tablespoons canola oil
1 tablespoon loose green tea, preferably gunpowder
1 medium green bell pepper, cut into 2-inch-long matchstick-size strips
2 medium red bell peppers, cut into 2-inch-long matchstick-size strips
1 medium white onion, cut into 2-inch-long matchstick-size strips
6 tablespoons cashew nuts, toasted

Combine sauce and cornstarch in a bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a nonstick wok or cooking pan over medium-high heat and swirl to coat pan. Add the tea and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the shrimp and stir-fry until pink, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove and place in a bowl.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons oil in the wok. Add the bell peppers and onion and stir-fry until peppers soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Return the shrimp to the wok and stir-fry until heated through. Stir in cashew nuts. Serve hot

Eggplant Parmesean

4 eggplants, sliced 1/2″ thick
dash salt
2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups spaghetti sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

Sprinkle salt on slices of eggplant. Let sit for 30 minutes, blot moisture from eggplant slices.

Dip each slice of eggplant in egg then in bread crumbs. Fry in a small amount of oil until browned on both sides. Drain on paper towels.

Put one cup of sauce on bottom of 13×9″ baking dish. Layer eggplant slices, top with sauce then cheeses.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 or until cheese is bubbly.

8 Servings

Crispy Sesame Chicken

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup fine, dry breadcrumbs
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 (3 to 3 1/2 pound) broiler-fryer, cut up
1/2 cup butter, melted

Combine first 3 ingredients in small bowl. Dip chicken in butter; dredge in breadcrumb mixture. Place chicken in 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until done.

Crispy Fried Chicken Cutlets

3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cutlets – thinly sliced
2 cups bread crumbs, Panko Japanese bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 1/2 quarts vegetable oil, for frying

Sauce: Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside until serving.

Chicken: In large glass bowl, whisk buttermilk, pepper sauce, mustard, egg and 1 teaspoon oregano. Add cutlets; turn to coat with marinade. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours. In shallow dish, toss together bread crumbs, remaining oregano, salt and pepper. Set aside mixture. In deep pot, heat oil until 350 degrees on deep fat frying thermometer – or until crumbs sizzle when dropped into the oil. One at a time, remove cutlets from marinade, dredge in seasoned bread crumbs and set aside for 15 minutes to rest. Fry until golden brown and juices run clear.