Jamie's G-Free Family: Growing up is overated!

No matter how fancy and grown up you think you are, sometimes you crave a meal that would be fit for even the pickiest 3 year old. Like say...chicken tenders.

Ok, at least I do.

I mean, what little kid won't eat chicken tenders? They are classic kiddie fare.

Sure, I'm 28 years old. And I'm supposed to be a grown up.

Supposedly grown ups have grown up palettes...and I do.

Most of the time anyway...But not today!

Today I will eat chicken tenders with no shame. Because aside from their less mature palettes, we can learn a lot from kids.

Here are a few lessons we can learn from the way tiny humans live:

#1 They are ALWAYS present.

They aren't constantly worried about the state of their 401k, or what the S&P did today. Nope, right here-right now is all they know. If they are swinging on the swingset, their only goal is to pump those legs and get as high as they can. Kids rock.

#2. Simple things make them so happy.

Bubbles--kids. love. bubbles.

#3 Eternal Optimism.

They view the world with such wonder and optimism. In their minds everyone is a good person as long as they place nice and share.

I really miss finger painting. Grown ups do entirely too little finger painting.

#4 Everything is a game.

Seriously, kids can turn anything into a game. Raking leaves, sure that's a chore but at the end you can do this...

#5 They use their imagination and dream big.

The possibilities of what they can do and what they can imagine aren't boxed in by societal constrictions. And did I mention, it's OK to have an imaginary friend when you are a kid? So cool. As a grown up, not so much. And if some kid tells you they want to be a fire breathing dentist or the tooth fairy when they grow up, what do you tell them? No? Please, you smile and encourage them. I repeat. Kids rock.

So yes. Today, I will eat like a little kid. Even better (and in true kid fashion), Darren executed (brilliantly) the recipe below so I didn't even have to make my own chicken fingers. Score!

Here is my grown up, gluten free, version of a little kid favorite...

Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers

Original recipe from: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/almond_crusted_chicken_fingers.html

(modified by yours truly and mastered by Darren)

Ingredients

•Pam cooking spray

•1/2 cup sliced almonds

•1/4 cup ~~whole-wheat flour~~ use almond flour instead if you can't handle gluten and wheat

•1 1/2 teaspoons paprika

•1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

•1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

•1/4 teaspoon salt

•1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

•1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

•4 large egg whites

•1 pound chicken tenders, (see Ingredient Note)

Preparation

1.Preheat oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set a wire rack on the baking sheet and coat it with cooking spray.

2.Place almonds, almond flour, paprika, garlic powder, dry mustard, salt and pepper in a food processor; process until the almonds are finely chopped and the paprika is mixed throughout, about 1 minute. With the motor running, drizzle in oil; process until combined. Transfer the mixture to a shallow dish.

3.Whisk egg whites in a second shallow dish. Add chicken tenders and turn to coat. Transfer each tender to the almond mixture; turn to coat evenly. (Discard any remaining egg white and almond mixture.) Place the tenders on the prepared rack and coat with cooking spray; turn and spray the other side.

4.Bake the chicken fingers until golden brown, crispy and no longer pink in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.