To assemble the sandwich: Toast 2 thick slices of your bread of choice, then generously spread the sauce over each slice. Layer one chicken breast and 3-4 fresh spinach leaves on one piece of toast then top with the remaining slice of toast.
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Nashville Hot Chicken
2 cups Crisco
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons hot sauce
1 whole chicken cut into 10 pieces (breasts cut in half)
2 cups vegetable oil
2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Heat oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the flour and 1 tablespoon salt. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and hot sauce. Take each piece of chicken and do a “double dredge.” A double dredge is first coat in egg mixture, then in flour mixture and do over again. Place 3-4 pieces in the oil and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side. Place each piece on a wire rack that is on top of a rimmed cookie sheet. When all of the chicken is fried, place in a 325 degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until internal temperature is 165 degrees. Remove from oven and baste with sauce.
To make sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, black pepper, salt, garlic powder and paprika. Add 1/2 cup of hot oil from fryer and whisk until well combined. Using a basting brush, cover each piece of chicken with sauce. Serve immediately.
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Brett’s Desserts
Key Lime Cream Pie
1 prepared graham cracker crust
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) container whipped cream
1/2 cup key lime juice (may substitute lime juice)
In a large bowl using a hand mixer, blend together the sweetened condensed milk and the cream cheese until smooth. Add in the whipped cream and continue to blend until it starts to thicken. Add in lime juice and blend until thickened, about 3-5 minutes. Pour into the graham cracker crust and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours to overnight.
KA Note: At this point, it’s like Suzanne and I have a mind meld. Because my grandmother—better known as the laziest cook in history (and she’d happily cop to that title)—made a version of this pie (you can find that recipe on my website under “Fake Key Lime Pie”). Of course, Suzanne, being the least lazy cook I know, makes it way better. I mean, cream cheese makes everything better, right? But then adding condensed milk? What? Stop! Lush!
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Brownie Lasagna
2 boxes brownie mix
1/2 cup water
1 1/3 cups oil
4 eggs
1 (8 ounce) block cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
1 chocolate candy bar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the brownie mix, water, oil and eggs until a smooth batter forms. Pour in a parchment lined 9x13-inch baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool completely.
To make the cream cheese frosting layer: In a large bowl using a hand mixer, blend the cream cheese until smooth then add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time until blended. Add in the vanilla extract and milk and blend until smooth.
To make the ganache: In a large bowl, place chocolate chips and heavy cream. Stir to combine, then place in the microwave for 2 minutes. Remove from the microwave and stir until all of the chips are melted. If you need additional time in the microwave, go by 30 second increments.
Building the lasagna: Cut the brownie in half widthwise then cut each piece in half horizontally making 4 layers. Place one piece of brownie on a platter and spread a thin layer of ganache on top. Spread about 1/3 of the cream cheese frosting over the ganache then top with another layer of brownie. Repeat layers, topping the final layer with only ganache. Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving. Top with chocolate shavings using a potato peeler and the chocolate candy bar.
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Chocolate Chess Pie
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 eggs
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 9-inch unbaked pie crust
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together the sugar and cocoa. Using a hand mixer, in a small bowl, beat eggs and then add to cocoa mixture. Blend in milk, butter, and vanilla extract. Pour into the pie shell and bake for 1 hour or until set. After 30 minutes, cover the crust edges with foil to prevent burning. Allow to cool before slicing.
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Hawk and KA Take a Ride
When I arrive at it, I find Hawk’s Camaro is open, so I slide into the passenger seat.
Apparently, he has some words to share with Brett, and no small amount of them, because it takes about ten minutes before Hawk slides in beside me, starts up the car, and we growl down Brett’s lane.
When we’re out on the open road, I say, “Thanks for the rescue that I didn’t really need.”
“Why do you women keep thinking this guy is a good guy?” he murmurs to himself, making zero effort to hide his exasperation. “This guy is not a good guy.”
“People are nuanced, Hawk.”
“I’m not.”
Oh, brother.
He was so nuanced, he almost nuanced himself out of a relationship with his woman due to a big, freaking nuance he was in denial about having.
“No retort?” he prods.
“You aren’t now. You’ve found the love of a good woman. So now, you’re stable financially. You do work that challenges you with people you like and trust. You’ve got friends you respect who are loyal to you. And you’ve got a beautiful family, a wife that adores you to distraction, and you get it regular, and when you do, you get it good. You’re welcome for that, by the way.”
“Thank you for that, by the way.”
“Huh,” I huff and cross my arms on my chest.
He leaves it for a beat.
And his voice is very different when he adds, “All of it. Thank you for all of it, babe.”
Oh shit.
He’s gonna make me cry.
So of course, I order, “Shut up.”
“You brought it up.”
“Okay, well, we’re shutting up about it now.”
“Now who’s being a boss?” he mutters.
“I’m not being a boss, Hawk. I’m always the boss,” I declare.
“Right,” he says.