Win a pair of tickets to a Smooth Jazz New York Cruise of YOUR Choice Giveaway! - 2 winners Ends 07/19

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This giveaway is now CLOSED. Thanks so much to our wonderful sponsor Smooth Jazz New York! We look forward to working with you again! The winners have been notified and upon confirmation, follower names will be posted both here and on our homepage. Remember: There are great giveaways active on the upper right hand side of the page!

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Does the idea of a warm night and cool, smooth Jazz sound good to you? New York’s premiere summer jazz series is back! This is the Smooth Cruises’ 14th year aboard The Spirit of New York, located at Pier 61, Chelsea Piers (23rd St/West Side Hwy).

Experience this one-of-a-kind LIVE JAZZ concert series as you cruise down the Hudson River taking in fantastic views of the Statue of Liberty and the breathtaking Manhattan skyline. The Cruises feature the world’s greatest jazz acts in an intimate setting, every Wednesday evening starting June 29th ending August 31st.

We are happy to be partnering with Smooth Cruises again this year, I greatly enjoyed last year's sail and can't wait to do it again this year!

Here's the Skinny:

Where: Departing from Chelsea Piers in Midtown Manhattan.

When: Wednesdays June 29 - August 31

Smooth Sunset Cruise: Board: 6:00pm • Cruise: 6:30 – 8:30pm

Smooth Moonlight Cruise Board: 9:00pm • Cruise: 9:30 – 11:30pm

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - WIN IT! - Ascending Butterfly and our friends at Smooth Jazz New York would like to provide 2 lucky Ascending Butterfly Followers a pair of tickets to the smooth moonlight jazz cruise of YOUR choice!  (You pick the date, just remember it will be for the 'moonlight' cruise only 21 years of age and older please.) Please Note: The July 20th Sail is SOLD OUT, so please do not select that cruise as your choice.

Don't you just ♥ Smooth Jazz New York? I know I do

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - How to Win: (1) You must be a PUBLIC follower of Ascending Butterfly to be eligible for this and all giveaways. Indicate in your entry that you follow (if your 'comment name/user id' differs from your profile id, please let me know what name you follow under) and (2) Visit Smooth Jazz New York and pick the cruise you would select if you won - You may select from any sail starting from July 27th all the way until August 31st. Leave us the name of the artist(s) in the comment field. (3) You must also leave your email address somewhere in your comment. (You can format it this way for security, example: ascendingbutterfly AT mail host DOT com). (If your email is clearly visible in your profile, you can just say so, that's OK!) Please follow the easy 1, 2, 3 steps to winning (or in this case, the A,B,C’s of winning!) This giveaway is open to USA who are 18 years of age or older. No PO Boxes. One entry per Household, see Ascending Butterfly Giveaway Rules and Disclosure Policy HERE.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Please follow directions or you will be disqualified! All comments are moderated, they may not appear on the site right away (comments like "I want this" or "I want to win" will not be entered). You have from Tuesday, July 12, 2011 until Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 03:00 PM (EST) to comment and be entered for a chance to win. You will have 48 hours to confirm if we do not hear from you we will be forced to move on to an alternate. (We only notify winners DIRECTLY via email, so if your profile or your comment does not have an email your entry will not be processed)

Extra Credit:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - You know how much I love finding us both win/wins right? Here's another one: Visit the Degree Women MotionSENSE App on Facebook and enter GetMoving031 in 'Enter Codes' HERE (you'll get an extra 5 MotionSENSE Miles which you can trade in for great prizes including trips, gift certificates, electronics and more!) Enter, share on your wall, and let me know you entered by linking me to where you shared it on your wall, by the way sharing also buys you extra MotionSENSE miles, win/win right? :)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Blog about this giveaway, linking to this giveaway post. Leave the URL in a comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Grab our NEW Button and put it on your Blog. Leave the URL where we can see it in a comment (if you have our old one, please swap it out, our URL address has changed!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow me @Tracy_Iglesias on Twitter (this is ascending butterfly’s editor) and give me your twitter ID in a comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @Ascending1 on Twitter (this is Ascending Butterfly's new account, we will soon be hosting twitter parties which necessitates having a second account so we can make updates throughout the entire party!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Tweet this:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ @Ascending1 + @SmoothJazzNY #Giveaway #Win a pair of tickets to a Smooth #Jazz Cruise of YOUR choice!  http://tinyurl.com/5wl4jqu

(Leave a comment with the tweet’s url so you can get a valid entry (click on the time your tweet was sent to get the direct URL and then copy and paste it here). You can Tweet TWICE per DAY. If you Tweet more than that, that entry will be disqualified.)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ – ‘Like’ (and don't forget to write on their wall that Ascending Butterfly sent you! I'm sure they'd also love to know what sail/cruise interests you most!) Smooth Jazz New York on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow @SmoothJazzNY on Twitter HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Digg about this giveaway and leave your digg username in your comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Fave this blog on Technorati and leave your Technorati user name in your comment

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - One Time Per Giveaway, Not Daily: Vote for Ascending Butterfly on: Fuel My Blog

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow/Like Ascending Butterfly on Facebook HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Follow Ascending Butterfly on Networked Blogs HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Join Ascending Butterfly's NEW Community/Real Time Chat, Group HERE

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Subscribe to receive Ascending Butterfly emails using our Feedburner widget on the upper right hand side of the page below the follower thumbnail pictures! (If you are already a subscriber you will still receive extra credit!)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Have you entered another active giveaway on Ascending Butterfly? Let me know which one and you’ll get more extra credit!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Have you commented on a non-giveaway entry? Let me know which one here and you’ll get more extra credit!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - NEW! Press the button below and join, you get an extra entry for this giveaway and a shot at more great prizes, lets win together! (one time extra credit, will be verified before entry can be accepted)

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FTC Disclosure Info for this Giveaway: This is not a paid insertion. This is a non-compensated post and all opinions regarding the products are expressly my own experiences. I was provided tickets to facilitate my review and for the giveaway. The sponsor is fulfilling directly to prize winner(s), this in no way influenced my opinion of the product. Once a winner is selected and their information has been forwarded to the sponsor, the responsibility of prize fulfillment rests with the sponsor.

Amp Up Your Summer Style with a D&Y Floppy Hat!

Because I lost my Great-Aunt (who was also my Godmother) to skin cancer, it's an issue that is near and dear to my heart. I learned from her the importance of skin cancer prevention. Aside from making sure I use sunscreen daily (and I do mean daily, including winter!) I also make sure my summer style includes functional fashion (I hate compromising style, but I want to stay safe!), and one of my favorites in summer is the floppy hat.

The folks at David & Young (D&Y for short) have transformed the Floppy Hat, keeping it fashionable, but 'high tech'. The D&Y Sun Collection Series has been certified by an independent laboratory to have a rating of UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) 50+. Unlike SPF that measures only UVB rays, UPF measures both UVA and UVB rays. UPF 50 is considered the ultimate in UV sun protection. These carefully crafted, form-fitting, high fashion hats can be worn as part of a regimen to protect against the effects of the sun, including premature wrinkling and sunburn!

This is definitely NOT your grandma's big floppy sun hat!

The D&Y Sun Collection Series

I received the Blue Hat featured on the lower right hand side of the photo collage above, and I love that it's easily packable, I love the black ribbon detailing, and I love that it is keeping me protected from the sun. It's often times overlooked, but your scalp is extremely vulnerable to the sun, and really should be protected. If you have thin hair and don't want to add additional product to it to protect yourself from the sun, these hats are pure genius!

My apologies butterflies we didn't have a chance to run a giveaway with this post, but would love to have D&Y back in the near future to do so!

In the meantime, make sure you visit D&Y on Facebook, tell them Ascending Butterfly you!

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FTC Disclosure: This is a NON-Sponsored Post. I received a hat for editorial consideration to facilitate my review, no compensation was received in exchange for this post. Skin Cancer is a very serious issue!

Crystal Light Mocktails - Light Up Your Summer! And win Prizes too!

Did you know that there are only 51 days left! That's right Mocktail Season is ending soon! But there is still time to get in on the fun!

As you guys know I've lost 26 pounds so far, and with summer always being a time where I'm on the go, it's super easy to cheat. And let's face it, at the parks, beaches and pools, there is usually nothing but a proliferation of fried or otherwise bad for you foods!

When I'm super thirsty, nothing beats plain water, although it does sometimes get boring! And alcohol is basically empty calories (albeit fun empty calories), but alcohol is the last thing you want on a hot, sunny day, it just makes you more hot!

That's where Crystal Light comes in, their new limited edition Mocktails are set to take your summer by storm! Call it a cooler, colada, spritzer, blitz, julep or non-tini, the “mocktail,” a non-alcoholic cocktail bursting with flavor is shaking things up!

They come in three delicious low calorie flavors: Mojito, Margarita and Appletini.

@2011 Crystal Light Facebook Page Photo

About Crystal Light Mocktails:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3 thirst quenching flavors: Mojito, Margarita & Appletini.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  5 calories per serving and 0 carbohydrates per 8 fl. oz. serving

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  no mix! (Unless of course you choose to 'spike' them)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ -  economical, one packet yields 8 servings!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Gluten Free

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Perfect for entertaining, it allows you to offer a great non-alcohol cocktail alternative for your guests!

Want a fun twist?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - If you have a SodaStream, add some 'fizz' to your mocktail or if you don't have a Soda Stream just add part club soda for fizzy fun.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Freeze Them! You can freeze this in an ice tray (try using ice trays with fun shapes) and then treat yourself, friends and family to 'Mock Pops'. The kids will love getting to eat 'Mocktail Pops', it will make them feel totally grown up!

Take the Crystal Light Flavor Over Fizz Challenge!

This summer, Crystal Light invites you to trade in your diet soda and join the movement to embrace flavor. This small change can help you drink more water and have a more vibrant, flavorful summer!

Like Winning Super Cool Prizes? Then hop on over to Crystal Light on Facebook and take the 'Flavor Over Fizz Challenge' where you have a chance to win a prize each day through September 9th! Don't forget to connect with Crystal Light on Twitter as well to stay in the loop regarding flavors, fun and promotions!

My Take:

I've been making small changes to my lifestyle all year, changes that are sustainable, that have helped me NOT feel deprived and have yielded tremendous results for me. I never want to have to say 'I can't have that, I'm on a diet'. Instead with daily portion control, increased activity and excercise, I use moderation to maintain the weight loss to date and continue to improve my lifestyle. Crystal Light Mocktails are a great way to make water more fun so I'll stay hydrated especially important in summer where I tend to increase my fluids intake due to being out in the heat for longer periods of time. I really enjoy the Mocktails and will be adding them to my arsenal of tools to help sustain the lifestyle changes I've made so far to stay healthy and get in better shape! I  hope you'll join me and take the fizz over flavor challenge too!

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FTC Disclosure Info: This is a Sponsored Post. I am a proud One 2 One Network Member and I received Crystal Light Mocktails for sampling and editorial consideration. All opinions provided are my own. The Soda Stream is an affiliate link, I am a SodaStream Affiliate.

Sunday Moment of Gratitude!

This week, I am grateful for:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Catching the NYC screening of Winnie The Pooh! It was nice to re-visit the classic cartoon, sorta feels like coming home again, no special effects, inuendos or too mature jokes, a true family movie you can take the little ones too and actually feel GOOD about!

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Despite the rainy weather this week, I've been enjoying getting out and making the most out of my summer! How has your summer been so far?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Took some time to catch up on movies I'd missed in the theaters including Wall Street, Machete, and The Social Network! Did you see them, if so, what did you think?

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What are you grateful for today? I'd love for you to write in and share what you are grateful for this week. The more you say it, the more you speak it, and the more you live in gratitude, the more you will find reasons to be grateful for, and the more reasons that the universe will send you to be grateful for. So join me on this journey of gratitude and inspiration. And you can post here daily (even though my list will be posted weekly).

Remember, attitude really does determine altitude.

It is OK to *Re-Tweet* the link to this post and You can find me on Twitter here (@Tracy_Iglesias) Twitter love: re*tweet by copying and pasting the following into your update field at Twitter:

OK to RT: @Tracy_Iglesias This Week's 'Moment of Gratitude' and Great giveaways! - http://tiny.cc/n4Thx

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Active Giveaway!

1) Ends 08/02/11 - Featured Handbag in the Spotlight Giveaway July - Elliott Lucca Drawstring Crossbody Handbag!  Enter HERE

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For those of you who are interested in keeping a gratitude journal this year, here is my recommendation and where to purchase it:

Make this Your Best Day ever, Bless and Be Blessed!

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FTC Disclosure: Journal Recommendation uses an Amazon Affiliate Link

This weekend I'm taking a trip to the 100 Acre Wood - And so can YOU!

I'll be attending the New York Screening of Winnie The Pooh this weekend, and I just can't wait! Winnie was one of my favorites, and I couldn't get enough of his adventures! Now I share that love with my younger niece and nephews.

Sometimes my nephews are much like Tigger, bouncy, adventurous, silly and fun!

While I can't take you all to the screening with me, I can leave you with some fun activities to try out with your little ones!

While I know it's a Tad early to be thinking Halloween, one of the activities that I thought was super cute, is a Winnie The Pooh Mask!

Winnie The Pooh Mask

No one says a Halloween costume has to be scary. Here's a cute disguise inspired by a honey of a bear who makes it his bees-ness to eat as much of the golden syrup as he can get his paws on. The sweetest part is how quick and easy this mask is to assemble.

Materials:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Winnie the Pooh Mask template

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Scissors

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Thin cardboard

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Cardstock or scrapbook paper - (two shades of golden yellow, black, and red)

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Glue stick

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Pencil

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Paper hole punch

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Craft knife

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Thin black sewing elastic
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Stapler

Instructions:

1. Print out the template (pages 3 and 4) and cut out the pieces to use as patterns. First, cut out a head from the thin cardboard and set it aside (you'll use this to back the mask later). From the lighter shade of golden yellow paper, cut a second head and a muzzle. Cut the face shadow and the inner ears pieces out of the second shade of golden yellow. Then cut out eyes, eyebrows, a nose, and a mouth from black paper and a tongue from red paper.

2. To create the mask, start by gluing the inner ears in place on the paper head. Next, glue on the face shadow, positioning the top of it about 1 1/2 inches from the top of the head. Attach the eyebrows right above the face shadow.

3. Next, glue the nose onto the muzzle. Then glue the muzzle in place so that the lower edges match up with the bottom of the head and the top overlaps the face shadow. Glue on the mouth, positioning it about 1 3/4 inches up from the chin, and then stick on the tongue.

4. Place (but do not glue) the eyes on the mask and lightly trace around them. Remove the eyes and use the craft knife to cut a hole through the head within the lines of each tracing. Don't make the holes as big as the eyes -- instead, leave a 1/8-inch border between the hole and the pencil line.

5. Now punch a hole in the center of each of the black paper eyes to create a pair of black rings, and glue them in place around the eyeholes in the mask. At this point, have your child hold the mask up to his face to make sure he can see well. If not, use the craft knife to make the eyeholes larger.

6. Place the mask atop the cardboard backing to mark where the eyeholes are. Then cut matching holes in the cardboard.

7. Cut a piece of black sewing elastic to a length that's just a bit longer than needed to fit around the back of your child's head. Knot the elastic ends and staple them to the sides of the mask backing.

8. Finally, glue the mask onto the backing, matching up all the edges, and it's ready to wear.

Not much the arts and crafts type but love to bake? Then you will definitely want to try out this fun recipe. Who doesn't want to pull something Pooh inspired out of the oven? (OK stop giggling over there, I see you! Yes YOU!)

Sweet Beehive Cake

Create some buzz at your little honey’s garden-, flower-, or bug-themed party with this simple cake and its cookie swarm.

Materials:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  - 8-inch round cake
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 6-inch round cake
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Half-sphere cake baked in a 2-cup ovenproof bowl
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 3 ½ cups yellow frosting
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 13 round cookies
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 ½ cups light-blue frosting
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 12 Twix Minis
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 12 marshmallows
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Chocolate frosting
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Large yellow gumdrop

Instructions:

1. Use a long serrated knife to trim the tops of the round cakes flat, if needed. To get the smooth look, first stack the three cakes on a wire rack over a cookie sheet. Heat 3 cups of the yellow frosting in the microwave until it liquefies, about 20 seconds (remember microwave wattages vary so you may need to adjust this). Stir the frosting, then slowly pour it over the top of the cakes, covering them completely. Refrigerate the stack for about 30 minutes to harden the frosting.

2. Meanwhile, frost 12 of the cookies light blue and place a Twix in the center of each. Use scissors to cut the ends from the marshmallows and press on these ends, sticky side down, for wings.

3. Carefully transfer the cake to a platter. To add a door, trim one edge of the remaining cookie, cover both sides with chocolate frosting, then press it onto the hive. Spoon the rest of the yellow frosting into a resealable sandwich bag, snip off a corner, and pipe markings onto the bees and hive. Top the hive with the gumdrop and arrange the bees around it. Serves 12.

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FTC Disclosure: This is a NON-Sponsored Post. Permissions have been granted by @Disney to share the craft, recipe and photos with my readers!

Today's Words of Inspiration - Are Your Gates Open or Closed?

@PotofGrass.com

This week has been trying it's hardest to run away from me, and while I get myself more caught up, I thought I'd share a motivation that I found in a not so common place!

Yet how simple heaven becomes when we realise that it is not a location but a feeling. Heaven is in the heart. Heaven is what we experience when trust replaces anxiety, love replaces resentment, fear gives way to faith. The gates of 'a kind of heaven' are open to you now! ~ Via Jonathan Cainer

The not so common place? One of my favorite Horoscope sites! I'm not going to allow this to become an astrology debate thread as that is so not the point of sharing the quote. I firmly beleive we can find inspiration EVERYWHERE. It's just a matter of being open enough to allow ourselves to be inspired. And I believe that if you think those gates will open to you then they will. And if you don't give yourself the permission to be happy, the permission to perceive those gates (or opportunities) as open to you, then they will slam shut, and remain that way until YOU are receptive to them.

So today, are your gates 'open' or 'closed'?

And yes, true, to my social media nickname as the 'Twitter Party DJ' I am spinning a virtual tune while writing this post, what you might ask? Creed's 'Arms Wide Open'.

Notifications will be going out Friday to our California Wine Club and Carolina Pad giveaway winners, apologies for the delay! Winner Announcements will post next week!

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Healthify Your Summer with Fage!

Last week yours truly had the opportunity to attend a hands on afternoon of cooking at the International Culinary Council in New York City thanks to Fage Greek Yogurt! Ascending Butterfly alongside many fantastic New York City Bloggers had the chance to learn how to make simple recipe substitutions to favorite recipes, making them a whole lot leaner and much healthier! As you guys know I am down 26 pounds this year and when presented with the opportunity to make my favorite recipes even healthier you know I jumped at the chance.

I want to share with you each recipe that I prepared that day, since there were quite a few, I'm going to present you guys with one per week until I've shared them all!

I'm going to start with a summertime favorite that I'm sure many of you enjoyed over the Independence Day Holiday Weekend, Fried Chicken. Yes I know what you are thinking because I thought the same thing, Fried Chicken + 'Healthy' = I don't think so, right? But you can make substitutions to make this recipe a lot more heart AND hips friendly!

FAGE (pronounced “fah-yeh”) is known for Total, the authentic Greek strained yogurt. This summer, Ascending Butterfly and FAGE Total takes you on a mouthwatering journey from plainly plain to plain extraordinary!

FAGE FRIED CHICKEN

Serves: 4 – 6

Directions:

Marinade Ingredients:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 cups FAGE Total

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/2 teaspoon Ground Cumin
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 teaspoon Salt
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Two 3 ½ - 4 pound Chickens

In large mixing bowl, combine all marinade ingredients.

Remove wing tips and backs from chickens. Cut each chicken into 8 pieces for 2 legs, 2 thighs, and each breast half-cut into 2 (breast/wing and breast). Combine chicken with marinade and marinate 6-12 hours.

Ingredients:

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - Marinated Chicken pieces – wipe until as dry as possible
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 cups All-Purpose
Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1 teaspoon Dried Basil

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 teaspoons Ground Cumin

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 teaspoons Salt

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/2 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 1/2 teaspoon Ground Allspice

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ - 2 cups Canola Oil

Directions:

Mix all dry ingredients, then combine with the chicken pieces in a large bag and shake to coat thoroughly. Remove from bag and shake off excess flour.

Preheat oven to 350*.

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Oil should be about an inch deep. When oil is shimmering, carefully lower the legs and thighs into the hot oil. Cook slowly until golden brown, turning to give the chicken an even golden color. When well browned and cooked, 8 – 10 minutes, remove and drain on paper towels.

Then place on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven for 15 minutes to complete cooking.

When finished with the dark meat, repeat procedure with the breast pieces.

Check pieces for doneness and serve hot from the oven.

Oven Fried Option:

Replace All-Purpose flour with Panko bread crumbs. Season and “bread” the chicken pieces as described.

After coating chicken pieces with bread crumbs, place on a foil lined baking sheet. Spray chicken pieces with a “Pam-like” spray or an oil mister. Bake at 350* for 15 minutes, turn pieces over, re-mist and return to oven for 10 – 15 minutes. Check for doneness and serve hot from the oven.

Recipe created by Edward Magel on behalf of Fage Total Greek Yogurt

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FTC Disclosure Information: I attended a hands on cooking session at the International Culinary Council as a guest of Fage Total Yogurt, I was taught how to make the recipes I am sharing on my blog, I am under no obligation to do so. This is a non-compensated post. This is a non-sponsored post.