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Melinda's books

I Am Watching You
The Maid
Hopeless
It Ends with Us
Unmissing
The All New Ball Book Of Canning And Preserving: Over 200 of the Best Canned, Jammed, Pickled, and Preserved Recipes
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
Jurassic World: The Official Cookbook
Halo: The Official Cookbook
Ugly Love
Verity
Where the Crawdads Sing
The Moonlight Child
Becky: The Heartbreaking Story of Becky Watts by Her Father Darren Galsworthy
Freed
Drowning in Stars
Behind Her Eyes
The Girl in the White Van
Regretting You
Defending Jacob


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CopyCat Del Taco Chicken Tacos

Living in Arizona for 13 years of my adolescent life I grew up loving Del Taco. My parents would get take out there often. My sister, Michelle, that was her favorite taco out. If we did take out one night, Michelle always wanted Del Taco over anything else. She loves the chicken tacos. Now that I live in Ohio, Del Taco is not really out here. I have found 1 or 2 but they are some distance away from us. So, I decided to try and make that for my Sunday Family Movie night pick. Tonight, is my pick and I drew Mexican food so why not give it a try.  Marinade: 3 Large Chicken (I used thin chicken breast), diced 1 Lime, juiced 1 tbsp Taco Seasoning  1 tbsp Soy Sauce 1 tsp Garlic Powder 1 tsp Onion Powder 1 tsp Chicken Bouillon Powder 1/4 tsp Paprika Place all ingredients above into a ziplock, shake well and marinade for 30 minutes to an hour. I found the longer the better flavor.  White Sauce: 1 cup Mayo 1 Lime, juiced Whisk together in a bowl until smooth, set aside until ready for assembly.

Soft Pretzel Bites

Pretzels are a known as "America's Favorite". Buying processed foods, as many of you know, is not something I do or really allow my family to do. I make sure anything that we 'could' buy processed, we can make homemade. Honestly pretzels are the most easy dish to make. When you use whole some ingredients, organic ingredients, the dish then becomes 'good'. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah I know... these are still a side dish that you have once in awhile, maybe for a football party or birthday party but oh boy! They are amazing and simple to make up! Grab your apron, children, dishes and ingredients and get in the kitchen! This fun recipes is sure to knock your socks off and kids love making them! Mine kids LOVE being in the kitchen (my little protege).

You Will Need:

2 tbsp Organic Brown Sugar or Agave
4-6 Cups Organic All-Purpose Flour
1 Organic Pasture Raised Egg
2 1/4 tsp Active Yeast
1/2 Cup Baking Soda (Bob's Red Mill)
1 Cup Warm Water (may need more)
2 tsp Salt
3 oz. Organic Pasture Raised Butter, Melted


Either in your stand mixer or a big glass bowl, add butter, water, sugar (honey or agave), and yeast


Sprinkle the yeast on your warm water mixture (test the water first! If it is not 115 degrees pop it in the microwave first before adding yeast)


Looking good my yeast friend! It will bubble and smell very yeast-y... like bread! YUM


Add flour and the salt

Start mixing with a wooden spoon, then move to your most amazing tool (your HANDS!)


Knead the dough until it comes together and springs back when touched


Place the dough ball in a greased, with either coconut oil or butter, bowl and cover with BPA-free plastic cling. Place in warm area to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size


Grab a BIG pot and fill it with water, about 3-4 quarts of water. Add 1/2 cup of baking soda and bring to a rolling boil


Once your dough has risen, punch down and knead the bubbles out. Divide the dough into 8 even pieces. Roll one of the pieces into a thin snake like shape (not too thin but thin enough for bite sized pieces) 


Cut the dough with a sharp knife again bite size pieces


Once the pot is boiling, add roughly 15 pieces (at a time) and boil 1 to 2 minutes, remove and drain. Place on a baking sheet, brush tops with egg wash (1 egg mixed with 1 tbsp of water or milk) and bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes. 


Here they are! Either dip them in cinnamon-sugar or make some homemade nacho cheese! These are crispy on the outside and super soft in the middle! 


Had lots left over, dough wise, so I have a bun! YUM!


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