A Valentine’s Day to Remember ~ Recipes!

Ok, so yea, I am LATE at posting this…Sorry, my mistake, my blog…*smiles*
We did a low key V-day this year.  We didn’t go out to eat but rather spent the afternoon cooking together, just Zack and I.
I would much rather spend my time at home making a meal bigger than what I would receive at a restaurant,  for a lot less $$, plus I don’t have to deal with crowds (can’t stand um) and rude (sometimes) waiters. 
Don’t get me wrong we love to eat out, we just would rather spend our extra money else where.  Plus cooking together is really romantic!
What was on our menu….
Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken
Islands Fries
Applebee’s Mudslide  (the kids had milk shakes)  (this also doubled for dessert!)
Yes, I said we didn’t go out to eat, and we didn’t.  Heck I had never even heard of Islands before until I received my awesome cook book, Top Secret Recipes.  If you do not have this cook book, you have to get it!
So the recipes….
Fiesta Lime Chicken….Marinade -
1 cup water 1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup teriyaki sauce 1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 tbsp lime juice 1/4 tsp tequila
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp liquid mesquite smoke 4 skinless chicken breasts
Mix your marinade together in a large zip lock bag add chicken, allow to marinate at least 2 hours...Don't go too much over 2 or your chicken will become tough

Mexi-ranch sauce -
1/4 cup mayonnaise 1/8 tsp paprika
1/4 cup sour cream 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp milk 1/8 tsp cumin
2 tsp minced tomato 1/8 tsp chili powder
1 1/2 tsp white vinegar dash garlic powder
1 tsp minced jalapeno slices dash black pepper
1 tsp minced onion
1/4 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp tabasco pepper sauce
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp dill weed
Mix all your ingredients together and put in the fridge for the flavors to meld together. This is SO good!
1. Grill your chicken until no longer pink in the middle.
2. Preheat broiler and place chicken in a baking dish
3. Place 1/4 cup sauce on your chicken
4. Put shredded cheddar/monterey jack cheese blend on top (enough to cover the sauce)
5. Place your chicken under the broiler until the cheese is bubbly
Place crushed tortilla chips on a plate, place your chicken on top
Islands Fries
Garlic/Onion Salt
1 tbsp garlic salt
1 tsp onion salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Combine salts and pepper together and mix, set aside. Wash and slice potatoes, leave the skin on them and rinse them twice in a bowl of water. Leave them in the bowl and add ice and water. Let sit for an hour. Fry the fries about 2 to 3 minutes and pull them out, drain well and allow to cool. You will fry them again this time cooking them until they are golden brown about 5 to 7 minutes. Season with the onion/garlic salt...Serve hot!
Applebee’s Mudslide -

2 cups vanilla ice cream
2 ounces Kahlua coffee liqueur
chocolate syrup (in a squirt bottle) (make sure it’s chilled)
canned whip cream
Add your ice cream and Kahlua into a blender and blend well.  After it’s ready…Take your chocolate syrup and swirl it into the glass like pictured.  Pour in your mixture, add whip cream and add some more chocolate syrup on top and serve!  This is not a strong drink at all.  I do not like the flavor of alcohol and with this I couldn’t taste a thing!  So of course if you like a stiffer drink you can add more Kahlua.