Family Day Recipes from Inside Guelph

Crunchy Chicken Cannon Balls

Here is a different way to serve up chicken that is easy to pick up and dip. Kids can’t keep their hands off them and they can help make them too!

1 cup (250 mL) 1 % cottage cheese

1 egg

2 tsp (10 mL) mild curry paste or powder (optional)

1/3 cup (75 mL) seasoned breadcrumbs

1 pkg (500 g) lean ground chicken

3 cups (750 mL) corn flake cereal

Mango chutney, ketchup or ranch dressing (optional)

In a large bowl, using a wooden spoon stir together cottage cheese, egg, curry paste and breadcrumbs. Add chicken and using your hands mix together to combine evenly.

Using a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon, roll chicken mixture into balls and set aside on parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Place cereal in large resealable bag and seal. Using a rolling pin or your hands crush to make fine crumbs. Shake chicken balls into mixture until coated and return to baking sheet. Bake in 425 F (220 C) oven for about 15 minutes or until no longer pink inside.

Serve with chutney, if desired.

Makes about 56 meatballs.

Tips: Bake the chicken balls ahead of time and freeze for up to 2 weeks and reheat in oven until hot. Or refrigerate for up to 1 day and warm through in a hot oven.

Maple Apple Berry Crisp

The taste of maple is a wonderful sweetener for apples and berries in this family favourite dessert. Choose local apples like empire, Cortland or honey crisp for great texture and flavour.

5 large apples, peeled, cored and sliced (about 1 ½ lbs)

2 cups (500 mL) frozen blueberries

1/2 cup (125 mL) pure maple syrup

2 tbsp (25 mL) all purpose flour

1/2 tsp (2 mL) vanilla extract

Oatmeal Topping:

1 cup (250 mL) large flake oatmeal

3/4 cup (175 mL) all purpose flour

1/4 cup (50 mL) finely chopped walnuts (optional)

1/4 cup (50 mL) butter, softened

1/4 cup (50 mL) pure maple syrup

In an 8-inch (2 L) baking dish, combine apples, blueberries, maple syrup, flour and vanilla.

Oatmeal Topping: In a bowl, combine oatmeal, flour, walnuts, if using and butter. Drizzle with maple syrup and stir to combine. Sprinkle mixture over fruit to cover. Bake in 375F (190 C) oven for about 45 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.