Sweet and Savory Chicken Bites

Thank you all so much for sharing your hearts with me and for trusting me with your prayer requests. I wrote every single name on paper, tucked them in my Bible, and lifted each name up in prayer every day throughout the holidays.

Thank you also to those of you who joined me in lifting each concern up in prayer, and for praying for me. The holidays are always rough, no matter how many years go by. The loss of someone you love doesn’t go away. Feelings change, but they don’t go away. New Years Eve is still my least favorite day of the year. But I got through it and now we are moving forward and welcoming a new year.

God Bless each and every one of you! I am praying that His love reaches out to you in very real and tangible ways this year. AMEN!

Thank you for your patience as I navigate my way through a new system. I have finally figured out how to include photos from my old program on this site now that I have switched to an iMac. Whew!

Since this is the start of a new year, I thought the first post should be an appetizer

This is one of my favorite appetizers. I have made them for several different types of occasions. I recently made them for a holiday gathering. Some of you may remember that I was auctioned off at a fundraiser to raise money for a precious friend who needs a lung transplant. The sweet, sweet couple who “bought me” had a party during the holidays and my Sweet and Savory Chicken Bites were on the menu. I couldn’t make them fast enough! They disappeared as quickly as I pulled each batch out of the oven. In fact, I noticed that someone put several on a plate and then HID THEIR  PLATE so no one would find them. Seriously… they were hoarding them!

They cayenne in this recipe isn’t overwhelming so don’t be afraid. I don’t like a lot of heat. These have just the right amount and the cayenne balances the sweetness.

These little treats are messy to make, but are well worth the mess. They are loved by men and women and kids and dogs

Enjoy! And Happy New Year!

Sweet and Savory Chicken Bites

Ingredients:

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
• marinade (see below)
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1 ounce container chili powder
• 2-3 teaspoons cayenne powder (according to taste)
• 2 pounds bacon, each slice cut into thirds

Marinade:

• 1 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon five spice powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/2 cup toasted sesame seeds

Combine all marinade ingredients and pour over cubed chicken. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

When ready to assemble, combine brown sugar, chili powder and cayenne in a shallow dish.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Remove chicken from marinade. Wrap a piece of the bacon around each chicken cube and secure with a toothpick. Coat evenly with the brown sugar mixture and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until bacon is crispy and brown. Serve immediately.

Sweetest Blessings,
LeAnn