Chicken Parmesan

I have been craving Chicken Parmesan for the longest time. I'm not sure why I kept putting off making it, because it is so very easy and delicious! Plus I always have leftovers and it always taste better the next day. I served this over whole wheat noodles. Enjoy!





1 egg, beaten
1Tbs milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
12 ounces pasta sauce
6 slices Mozarella cheese



Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Pour beaten egg into a shallow dish or bowl, add milk. In another shallow dish or bowl, mix together the grated Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. Dip chicken breasts into beaten egg, then into bread crumb mixture to coat.

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Add coated chicken and saute for about 8 to 10 minutes each side, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.

Pour tomato sauce into a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Add chicken, then place a slice of Mozarella cheese over each breast, and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.

I love my kitchen gadgets!

I have many kitchen gadgets, more then my husband would like, but he doesn't complain when he gets to eat delicious food! =) And he loved this ice cream. I used the basic recipe for vanilla ice cream from the booklet that came with my ice cream maker and I just changed a few things. This is a very easy recipe to make and you can change it up to your taste. This would also be a special treat for Valentine's Day!



Mint Brownie Ice Cream

1 cup whole milk, well chilled
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy cream, well chilled
1-2 teaspoons mint extract, to taste
1/2 cup chopped day old brownies

In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or a whisk to combine the milk and granulated sugar until the sugar is dissolved, about 1-2 minutes on low speed. Stir in heavy cream and mint to taste. Cover, refrigerate, and chill if time allows.

Freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. Add brownie during the last 5 minutes of freezing.

Dinner for my parents!

Finally, I have a camera to take pictures; might not be the best, but you get the point!

So my parents came to vist my husband and I yesterday; I love it when they visit. They live in Virgina and my husband and I live in North Carolina. They were on their way to Florida so they stopped over night to break up the trip since we are the best Bed & Breakfast they have ever been to! Their words not mine. =) Whenever they come to visit I always make them italian stuffed shells. The first time they came to visit a couple of years ago I made this meal and they loved it, so now you could say it is a tradition that I make it every time they visit. I served it with garlic bread and a side salad. Enjoy!




Italian Stuffed Shells

1 pound ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups hot water
1 can (12 ounces) tomato paste
1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules
1-1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 cups (16 ounces) cottage cheese
2 cups shredded part-skim mozarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg beaten
24 jumbo shell noodles, cooked and drained

In a large skillet , cook beef, onion and garlic until meat is no longer pink; drain well. Stir in water, tomato paste, bouillon and oregano; simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile in a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese, 1 cup mozarella, Parmesan cheese, and egg; mix well.

Stuff shells with cheese mixture; arrange in a 13 in. x 9 in. x 2 in. baking dish. Pour meat sauce over shells. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozarella cheese. Bake 5 minutes longer or until the cheese is melted.

Mmmm...healthy chinese food! It really does exist!

Oops, so it's been a month and a half since my first post. One of the reasons it has taken so long for my second post is because I don't have a camera to take pictures of the food. I know when I am searching for food blogs and they don't have pictures I lose interest. Hopefully I will find a camera I like this weekend. For now I found a picture online so you can get an idea of what it will look like.

I couldn't hold out on this recipe. It was SO good! I don't even like broccoli, but I ate it with this recipe, it was that good! I found the recipe in a Biggest Loser cookbook that my husband bought for me. And no he doesn't think I am a big loser. Ha! He just knows I love the show and I am always in search of healthy food that doesn't taste healthy, and this is one of those recipes. We served it over brown rice. Enjoy!

Szechuan Beef and Broccoli

One 1-pound top round steak, sliced against the grain into scant 1/4-inch-thick strips
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt, to taste
Ground black pepper, to taste
Olive oil spray
One 14-ounce bag frozen broccoli (We used fresh broccoli, it was about 5 cups)
1 tablespoon freshly minced garlic
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1/4 cup bottled Szechuan stir-fry sauce (We used regular stir-fry sauce, we aren't big into spicy food)

In a large bowl, combine the steak, garlic powder, salt and pepper and toss until well combined. Place a large nonstick skillet or nonstick wok over high heat. When hot, mist with the olive oil spray. Add the broccoli and garlic and cook, stirring for 4-6 minutes or until the garlic softens and the broccoli is heated through and crisp-tender, being careful not to burn the garlic. Transfer to a large bowl and cover to keep warm.Return the pan to high heat and add 1 teaspoon of the sesame oil. When hot, add half of the steak in a single layer and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned on both sides, 1 to 2 minutes.Transfer the steak to the bowl with the vegetables and re-cover. Repeat with the remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil and steak. Return all the steak and vegetables to the pan and remove from the heat. Add the sauce and mix well to coat. Divide among 4 bowls and serve.

My Very First Post!

Since Christmas is just around the corner, I figured sugar cookies was fitting for my first post! I have made sugar cookies a few times and most of them came out tasting like flour. I have finally found the perfect recipe!

My family and I ate them while we decorated my parents christmas tree last weekend! They hold up well dipped in hot chocolate! =)

I found the recipe on allrecipes.com (my favorite website for finding recipes), the only change I made was adding an extra teaspoon of vanilla. I like a little extra flavor!

Easy Sugar Cookies:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.