Honey Curry Chicken

How do you feel about sidewalk chalk?

My boy is into it. Big time. Sometimes he colors himself, but most of the time he places requests so I can test out my artistic prowess. Or, as the case may be, my lack thereof. "Mama," he says, forcing chalk into my hand and guiding it to the sidewalk. "Draw NASCAR."

Yep. He's a car guy.

Now, along with many NASCARs in hues of pink, yellow, and blue, our back patio is littered with renditions of Indycars, fences, and air conditioners. Because I am realistic about my capabilities, I say in all honesty...they look terrible. I can't draw worth a lick.

I mention this because I took pictures of today's recipe on my back patio. That was the only place I could find decent lighting at dinner time. So I plunked my casserole dish on top of the chicken scratch and snapped away.

Honey Curry Chicken is simple and delicious. A marinade of pantry staples doubles as a rich sauce. Bonus points because it looks fancy when you top it with vibrant green cilantro.

And I think you'll agree...it's a good thing I can cook better than I draw.

Honey Curry Chicken
Adapted from Baked Bree
Serves: 4

1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup grainy mustard (or substitute Dijon)
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon curry powder
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

In a gallon-sized Ziploc baggie, combine honey, mustard, soy sauce, and curry powder. Mush the bag together until everything is combined. Add chicken breasts and mush the bag around again until they're evenly coated. Refrigerate the chicken overnight.

When you're ready to cook dinner, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9" x 13" baking dish with cooking spray. Dump the marinated chicken and the sauce into the prepared dish and cover with foil. Bake covered for 20 minutes. Uncover and use tongs to flip the chicken over. Continue to bake until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees, 10-15 minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve chicken with additional sauce poured over top.

P.S. In case you're looking for a complete meal idea, I served Honey Curry Chicken with Coconut Rice, Sauteed Broccoli, and Pineapple.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins

I loved experimenting with pumpkin in a savory recipe when I made Pumpkin Black Bean Chili, but I had to return to my first pumpkin love: pumpkin muffins. Scented with warm spices and studded with mini chocolate chips, these muffins will brighten up even the dreariest fall morning.

And if you haven't reached pumpkin overload yet, check out these pumpkin recipes, too:

• Pumpkin Spice Granola
• Low-Fat Cranberry Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Spice Muffins
• Pumpkin and Ricotta Pasta
• Gooey Pumpkin Bars
• Pumpkin Streusel Cake 

Aren't you glad it's pumpkin season?

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins
Makes 48 mini muffins
Adapted from this pumpkin bread recipe

2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour*
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
4 egg whites
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt**
2/3 cup water
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
1 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a mini muffin tin*** and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, pastry flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, stir together sugar, brown sugar, eggs, egg whites, oil, yogurt, water, and pumpkin. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips.

Fill prepared mini muffin tins so each cup is full to the top. Bake for about 14 minutes, until the muffins spring back when you gently press down the top or a toothpick inserted into a muffin comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes in the tin, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely

Notes:
*If you don't have whole wheat pastry flour, don't let that stop you from making this recipe! You can absolutely substitute all-purpose flour. (Use 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour.)
**I used non-fat vanilla Greek yogurt because that's what I found in my fridge. Feel free to use regular (non-Greek) yogurt or plain yogurt in place of the vanilla Greek yogurt.
***Not in the mood for mini-muffins? This recipe makes 24 standard muffins or two loaves of bread if you prefer. Bake standard muffins for 23-25 minutes and bread for about 1 hour.


P.S. This recipe is linked on the Archives Friday link party!