Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas #Recipe @PegCochran

 

 

This yummy recipe comes from Skinnyish Dish with a few tweaks.  The original recipe calls for chicken breasts but I used boneless thighs instead.  For the fajita seasoning, I mixed regular paprika with smoked paprika.  Smoked paprika gives it a wonderful "cooked over the grill" smokiness but also adds a bit of heat and hubby is sensitive to that.  My air fryer is on the smaller side so I cooked my vegetables first to get them nice and charred, put them in a serving dish, then added my chicken to the air fryer.  Then I added the onion, which I realized I'd forgotten!  It still turned out great!

1 lb. chicken breasts or tenderloins (I used boneless thighs) cut into thin slices

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 red onion

2 to 3 bell peppers green, yellow, red or a combination

3 tsp oil divided (2 tsp for chicken, 1 tsp for peppers/onions)

Cooking spray   

salt and pepper, to taste

juice of one lime and cilantro optional

 

Fajita Seasoning

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1½ tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp smoked paprika (or regular paprika for less spice or a combination)

 1/2 tsp oregano

 1/4 tsp pepper

 

Mix fajita seasoning and set aside.

 

Slice peppers into thin strips.  Dry chicken on paper towels and slice.

 

Add peppers and onions to a bowl and add fajita seasoning.  Mix well (use your hands.)

Add chicken to bowl with peppers and onions and mix again so all the ingredients are well coated.

Spray air fryer with cooking spray and heat to 400 degrees.  Add chicken and vegetables and cook 10 to 12 minutes, shaking the basket half-way through.  

Serve with warm tortillas.

 

 

 It's Here!

 A Berry Suspicious Death is now out!

 

    AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE    

 

Weddings are murder in the new Cranberry Cove Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Peg Cochran!

The cranberry bogs at Sassamanash Farms have never looked more festive than when Monica’s half-brother celebrates his wedding there. It’s a genuinely joyous occasion, and even greeting a strange assortment of guests and witnessing a heated argument can’t spoil Monica’s mood. But that all changes when one of the guests is found murdered at the reception—and then one of Monica’s employees is accused of doing the deed to get his hands on the dead woman’s money.

It doesn’t take long for Monica to discover that the victim had amassed her fortune by marrying a very wealthy—and very ill—older man. What’s more, the old man’s daughters despised the scheming, gold-digging woman, and thought the inheritance money should have been theirs. That seems like motive enough for murder, but Monica suspects there’s more to this case than simple greed. With her employee in hot water and time running out, Monica will have to act fast to catch the killer, before a case that started with a family wedding ends with her own funeral . ..

 

AMAZON

                BARNES & NOBLE

 

Website

Facebook Page

 

 

Kid Approved Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets #Recipe Peg Cochran/Margaret Loudon

My granddaughter helped me make these and she gave them her sign of approval! They're easy, crispy, tasty and kid friendly although you don't have to be a kid to enjoy them.  Chicken tenders are expensive so I used chicken breasts and cut them into small pieces.  You can serve these with the dip of your choice--ranch dressing, ketchup, BBQ sauce or whatever floats your boat!  There are lots of possibilities but they are also just as good plain.  The recipe is adapted from AllRecipes. 

 

1 pound chicken tenders, cut into to 2-inch pieces

1 one-ounce package dry ranch salad dressing mix

2 tablespoons flour (regular or gluten free)

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup panko bread crumbs

olive oil spray

 

Place chicken in a bowl.  Sprinkle with ranch seasoning, and toss to combine. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.

Place flour in a resealable bag. 

Place egg in a small bowl and whisk.

 

 Place panko bread crumbs on a plate. 

Preheat air fryer to 390 degrees F  

Place chicken in the bag with the flour and toss to coat.

 

Dip chicken in beaten egg and roll in panko crumbs. 

 

 

Spray air fryer basket, being sure not to crowd them. (Air fry in two batches if necessary.) 

 

Lightly mist with cooking spray.  Cook for four minutes.  Turn chicken pieces over and cook approximately four more minutes or until done.

 

S.    Serve with sauce of your choice.

OUT NOW!

When murder taints writer-in-residence Penelope Parish’s charming British bookshop, she must follow the clues to catch a killer before tempers boil over.

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

Penelope Parish thought she’d turned the page on her amateur sleuthing days but when the owner of Upper Chumley-on-Stokes’ proposed first high-end gourmet shop is poisoned, the American novelist starts to wonder if she and her quaint British town are in for another rewrite. It turns out that not everyone was a fan of Simeon Foster’s farm-sourced charcuterie and imported pastries—many of the locals were outraged by the potential new competition.
 
With a full menu of suspects on her hands, this just might be Penelope’s toughest case yet. Luckily, her friends at the Open Book are there to help with every twist of the poisoned pen.

AND...

 Family fireworks lead to murder in the new Cranberry Cove Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Peg Cochran!

The Fourth of July always means endless celebrations in Cranberry Cove, and this year Monica and Greg have the added pleasure of spending it with Monica’s college roommate, Kelly Cargill. When they join Kelly and her family to watch the fireworks, it’s all very exciting—until the elderly matriarch of the family dies on the spot. Then evidence comes to light that she was poisoned, and Monica promises to do what she can to catch the culprit.

Just about everyone in Kelly’s family wanted to get their hands on what was sure to be a sizable inheritance. But Monica also discovers that one of them was trying to hide a messy love affair the older woman had discovered, and that the victim’s caretaker may have wanted revenge for enduring years of mistreatment. And just as more secrets surface and the clues begin to fall into place, Monica realizes that as she’s closing in on the killer, the killer is closing in on her . . .

Includes a mouthwatering cookie recipe!

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

 

My article on the Enduring Appeal of Cozy Mysteries  

Find me on:

Facebook
My web site

 

Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas #Recipe @PegCochran

 

This dinner is quick and easy and customizable to your taste. Use whatever color peppers you like--red, orange, green--or a combination of all of them.  And if you have peppers in your garden--a bonus!  We enjoyed these topped with shredded cheddar cheese (hubby wants shredded cheese on anything Mexican or Tex-Mex) and some sour cream.  If you like cilantro, feel free to sprinkle some on as well.  Feel free to use your own fajita seasoning, but this was very good--not too spicy since hubby can't tolerate anything too hot. This is adapted from a recipe on the Skinnyish Dish.

 

1 lb. chicken breast cut into thin slices (it’s easier if the meat is slightly frozen)

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 red onion, cut into strips

2-3 medium bell peppers, cut into strips    

3 tsp oil, divided

Cooking spray

Salt and pepper, to taste

Tortillas

Juice of one lime and cilantro  (optional)

 

 

Fajita Seasoning

1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1½ tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp oregano
¼ tsp. pepper

 

Mix fajita seasonings together and set aside.

 

 

Dry chicken well with paper towels. 

 

 

Add chicken to a bowl, sprinkle with fajita seasoning, cornstarch and drizzle with 2 tsp oil. Stir to completely coat chicken.

Add peppers and onions to bowl and drizzle with 1 tsp oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir again.

Preheat air fryer (if required by your air fryer) to 400 degrees. Spray basket with cooking spray and add chicken mixture. 

 

Cook for 10-12 minutes, shaking basket occasionally to ensure even cooking.   

 

Warm tortillas in microwave covered with a paper towel.  Or grill briefly over an open flame.

Add chicken/pepper mixture to tortillas.  Top with desired toppings—cilantro, sour cream, squirt of lime juice.

 

PRE-ORDER SALE $3.99!

 

Cranberry Cove #7 is finally here!  Publication date: September 20.  

 

Monica's stepmother wakes up next to a dead man!  Did she do it?

 

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 

An unscrupulous realtor pays the ultimate closing costs in the new Cranberry Cove Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Peg Cochran!

Autumn is settling in on Cranberry Cove, but things are starting to heat up when Monica’s stepmother shows up at her back door gripped by panic. Gasping out an explanation, she tells Monica she’d been dozing in her realtor’s car when he was shot dead. Refusing to alert the police for fear that the killer will target her next—or that the police will consider her their prime suspect—Monica’s stepmother goes mute, and Monica decides to track down the culprit herself to clear her name and keep her safe.

Finding the killer won’t be so easy, though, as the victim had run afoul of buyers, sellers, and even other realtors at one time or another, and it seems that nearly everyone in the small town had a reason to want him dead. Even more puzzling is that the deeper Monica digs into the background and final days of the victim, the more the clues point to her stepmother. Then a second body is found, and Monica realizes she’s going up against a devious killer who will stop at nothing to put everyone involved out of commission . . . 

Air Fryer Pizza #Recipe @PegCochran

 

I have seen this recipe (more like instructions) in a number of places and I was dying to try it.  Toppings are up to you--I decided to keep it simple with just sauce and cheese.  I would have put some fresh basil on it but I killed my basil plant! The "pizza" was surprisingly good!  I made it for a quick lunch and really enjoyed it.  It's lighter than a regular pizza not having a heavy crust.  Don't get me wrong--nothing replaces real pizza--especially New Jersey pizza.  I may have been in Michigan for 20 years but New Jersey pizza is still my favorite.  Do you have a favorite kind--thin crust, deep dish, Detroit style, Chicago style?

I'm quite sure you could also make this in a hot oven--I saw a recipe calling for a 450 degree oven but I didn't want to heat the oven for something that would only take a couple of minutes so the air fryer to the rescue! 

Ingredients

1 10 inch flour tortilla (or whatever size fits in your air fryer)
Your favorite pizza sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese
Oregano (optional)

If you air fryer requires it, preheat to 400 degrees.

Grate cheese

 

Place tortilla in air fryer.

 

Top with sauce of your choice

Sprinkle on the grated cheese and a pinch of oregano

 

Air fry for approximately four minutes--timing may vary slightly depending on your air fryer.  

 

 

You can certainly add other toppings of your choice--sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.

 

OUT NOW!

Book #3 in the Open Book Series

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

A murder in her quaint British bookshop drops American Gothic novelist Penelope Parish into her deadliest caper yet.

Penelope Parish is ready to close the book on her amateur sleuthing—from now on, The Open Book’s writer-in-residence will be sticking to villains of the fictional variety while she puts the final touches on her new novel. But when an author is murdered inside the bookshop, all of Upper Chumley-on-Stoke goes on high alert.
 
Now it’s up to Pen and the quirky citizens of Chumley to stop a killer and protect the charming British town she’s begun to call home.

 

 

 Book #1

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

    Book #2

Follow me on Facebook

Instagram

My website

Crunchy Buttermilk and Almond Chicken #air-fryer #gluten-free

By MARY JANE MAFFINI

 

Santa came early to me this year and brought something to be thankful for!  Okay, Santa might actually look a lot like me but, never mind, at the heart of the story is a new gadget that is a big hit here.  An air fryer!   We had sworn off getting new gadgets because they often have ‘big feet’ and create storage issues, but we finally caved in and got one.  We are totally hooked.  The ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ nature of the air fryer makes it ideal for two distracted people who otherwise could set the house on fire.  Plus, there are so many recipes for this gadget, which is really just a form of convection oven with great results.  

 

We’ve tried something different in it every day but decided to share this recipe with you because it is delish, fast and easy plus low-carb and gluten-free if you pick the right sides for it. .We served it with orzo and peas but we will go low-carb next time.  And there will definitely be a next time.

This recipe was adapted from Taste of Home Everyday Air Fryer.

Crunchy  Buttermilk and Almond Chicken

Ingredients

1 large egg

¼ cup buttermilk

1 ½ tsp garlic salt

½ tsp pepper

½ tsp paprika (we used Penzey’s half-sharp – nice and spicy)  or ¼ tsp cayenne

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup slivered almonds, finely chopped *

4 chicken cutlets – the original recipe called for 2 chicken breasts but the cutlets cook faster

 

Directions

Preheat air fryer to 350.

In the meantime, whisk the egg, buttermilk, garlic salt, paprika, Parmesan and pepper in a shallow dish.  

Chop the almonds and place in a second shallow dish.   

Dip the chicken pieces into the egg mixture and then into the almonds.  

 You may have to press some almonds on.  * We will use 1 ¼ cup of almonds the next time.  Some recipes call for ground almonds but we liked the crunchiness 

Spritz the heated pan with cooking spray or oil.  Add chicken in one layer.  

 Cook for about 12 minutes (you will need to make sure the chicken is cooked through).

 

 

Serve with your favorite side and if you have a sauce or jelly that you like  why not? I used Ranch Dressing as recommended.   So how about you: do you have a quick meal or a gadget that saves dinner for you? Let’s hear it!

 

 Hope you enjoy it!

Mary Jane Maffini is the award-winning author of three and a half mystery series: the Camilla Maffini mysteries, the Fiona Silk capers and the Charlotte Adams organizer mysteries – number six coming soon! With her daughter Victoria Maffini, MJ collaborated on The Book Collector Mysteries as Victoria Abbott. Victoria Abbott spent several happy years on Mystery Lovers Kitchen. MJ  is very glad to be back and Victoria is waving at you all!

The first five Charlotte Adams are being reissued by Beyond the Page Publishing. Recipes have been added and of course, the organizing tips continue! The Charlotte Adams books have recently been optioned for television films.  The pooches on the covers look a lot like guest posters Penny and Ivy.

Organize Your Corpses was re-released as an e-book and a trade paper on May 18. There's a great deal for the e-book.   You can order it HERE!

The Cluttered Corpse was reissued on June 15th and Death Loves a Messy Desk arrived on July 13th. 

Closet Confidential was out in August.

AVAILABLE NOW!

THE BOOK COLLECTOR MYSTERIES BY VICTORIA ABBOTT aka MJ and Victoria Maffini

Jordan Bingham has a tough time: she's the first person in her large family to go straight. She has learned some useful skills from her crooked relatives but she's trying to hang on to a legit job working for a curmudgeonly book collector. But of course, the bodies keep piling up.  There's lots of fun in the book collector series from Victoria Abbott.

Don't forget to check out MJ's Canadian books:  Camilla MacPhee features a fortyish widowed lawyer who runs an advocacy agency for victims of violent crime, in Ottawa, Canada's capital city. Life would be easier if she didn't have the world's worst office assistant, the world's bossiest sisters and, arguably, the world's greatest stubborn streak. If you like your mysteries a bit edgy with a side order of humor, these could be for you.  

Keep up on the news!  You can sign up for updates about MJ and Victoria plus fun and prizes through our newsletter HERE