Baked-not-Fried Pickles {and a few other snack ideas}

Don't cha just love fried food? Don't cha just hate that it's so bad for you?! I'm always looking for healthier alternatives to my favorite "bad" foods. That's why when I saw this recipe for baked "fried" pickles in Prevention RD's cookbook, I knew I had to give them a try.

The bad news is that I ate almost all of them by myself. The good news is they were not too bad for me, so it's okay :-) I think I shared a few with my girls. My 5 y/o wasn't interested in a breaded, hot pickle...he thought I was nuts! He didn't appreciate me messing with his beloved dill pickles. 

Oven-Fried Pickles from Prevention RD

20 oz jar Claussen Kosher dill burger slice pickles (about 16 slices) *I used the regular dill pickles slices by Mt. Olive
2 eggs
1/3 cup flour
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp hot sauce
1 tsp garlic powder *I reduced this to about 1/2 tsp
1 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp pepper
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

• Preheat oven to 450 F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk eggs and flour together. 
• Add Worcestershire, hot sauce, garlic powder, Cajun seasoning, and pepper to egg mixture. Blend well.
• In a shallow dish or plate, add panko crumbs. 
• Dip each pickle slice into the egg mixture, than coat with the panko bread crumbs until both sides are well coated.
• Place coated pickles on a sprayed baking sheet. Bake for a few minutes on each side (2-3) or until lightly browned on each side. 

Serve warm with choice of dressing for dipping. We used ranch! These would make a great addition to your New Year's Eve party tray, along with these....

Baked Mozzarella Sticks 

Sausage Balls

Hot Ham Dips on Homemade Slider Buns

What are your plans for New Year's Eve? {Insert song burst here *what are you doingggg, New Year's.  New Year's Eveeeee*} I'll be fixing a few appies and try to stay awake to watch the ball drop. My kids might invite a couple of friends over and that's about as exciting as I am planning on things getting around here. I'm getting so old.