Lollipop Chicken with Candy Glaze
Kid’s birthday parties is the hot topic this week. I have some very fond memories of my birthday parties when I was a wee-one. My mom always (well, almost always) had a theme for the event. One particular party that really stands out was a gypsy theme. We all dressed up as gypsies, played games, danced around, and ate cake. I loved dressing up with layers of scarves and jewels dripping from my neck. I was sure that someday I would grow-up to be the same gypsy.
I am not a mom; but, did nanny for the same family for about 8 years, and lived to tell about it. Diapers, firsts, tears and laughter was involved and made for some great memories. One of the biggest challenges was coming up with creative meals that were also healthy. M was a picky eater, so meals were equally as challenging. I made tortillas into snow flakes, catsup drips into mummy blood, ham rolled into circles, hot-dogs turned into mummys, black beans became beetle bugs … every day was something new. I, did, find I if involved them or if, I made the meal “funny”, they were more likely going to enjoy it or at least try it. I mean, who doesn’t love a big bowl of monkey brains for lunch, aka …. cauliflower.
If, I was a mom, I would definitely make sure birthday parties included more then cake and ice cream. I would serve up a big bowl of chicken lollipops, with cut up carrots and celery sticks, and sweet cherry tomatoes. A little something healthy to put into their wee tummys, before they gorge themselves with cake and ice cream. I, wish, I would have come up with chicken lollipops during my nanny days, as I am sure they would have been a huge hit. It wasn’t until recently that I came up with the idea, and it was provoked after a twitter conversation with a foodie friend, who was turning chicken wings into pops for a cocktail party.
I used chicken legs for this recipe, and it is fairly easy to turn them into lollipops. I took kitchen scissors, and cut a slice about 1/4″ down from the top of the chicken leg bone. I then pulled away all of the tendons, skin, and fat, pushing down the meat to make a chunky lollipop. Lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, then baked, until golden brown. Just before serving, I used a pastry brush and glazed the legs with candy chicken glaze.
Delicious and healthy fun for your next birthday party or summer BBQ with little ones involved.
Happy Summer!
Denise Woodward believes anything can be made at home as long as you have a little patience, and time. All of her recipes are made using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her recipes have been featured on Eat Boutique, the Mushroom Channel, Saveur.com, Foodies of the World, PBS and Fine Cooking.
Denise also creates the recipes on the popular food blog Chez Us. Saveur has featured Chez Us as one of 50 Food Blogs You Should Be Reading as well as one of the Sites They Love. Be sure to read more about what they are cooking up over at Chez Us.
