Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Chicken Parmigaina w/Spaghetti Squash (Rachael Ray Recipe)

This was VERY yummy and pretty easy to make. The directions look complicated....but very easy to follow and the end result was tasty.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, divided
  • 1/4 cup chopped parsley (about a handful)
  • 2 tablespoons chopped oregano (about half a palmful)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 chicken breast cutlets, about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds
  • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided, plus additional
  • 3 to 4 cloves garlic, chopped (I cut this out since Drew is allergic)
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 small, yellow-skinned onion, finely chopped
  • 1 28-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, such as Muir Glen brand
  • 1 cup chopped fresh basil (about 2 handfuls), plus additional for garnish
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Set up three dishes on your countertop: Fill one with the flour,

one with the eggs, and the other with a mixture of the breadcrumbs,

half the grated cheese, herbs, salt and pepper.

Place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 3 turns of the pan

of EVOO, about 3 tablespoons. While the pan is heating up,

season the chicken cutlets with salt and freshly ground black pepper,

and coat each one in the flour, then in the egg, and lastly in the cheesy

breadcrumbs.

Once the oil is hot, cook the chicken cutlets until golden brown

and cooked through, 3-5 minutes per side depending on

how thick they are. Cook them in two batches, transferring

the cooked cutlets to a paper towel-lined plate while the

others, adding more oil to the pan between batches if need be.

While the chicken is cooking, place a medium-size pot on

the stove over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons EVOO,

2 turns of the pan. Add garlic, crushed red pepper flakes

and chopped onion. Cook 5-6 minutes, stirring often, until

the veggies have softened. Add the tomatoes and heat them

through, about 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and

stir in the basil, then season the sauce with salt and freshly

ground black pepper.

Layer the chicken with the sauce in a casserole dish.

Top the casserole with the remaining grated Parmigiano

and mozzarella. Brown the chicken parm casserole under

the broiler until the cheese has melted and is lightly

golden brown, about 3 minutes. Garnish with some

chopped basil before serving.


Spaghetti Squash

Ingredients

  • 1 small spaghetti squash, about 2 1/4 pounds
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped mixed herbs (basil, chives, chervil, parsley & sage)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Using a sharp knife, cut the squash in half

lengthwise and place, cut side down, in a baking dish.

Add enough water to come 1/2-inch up the sides of the

baking dish and cover with aluminum foil. Bake for

45 minutes, until the squash is easily pierced with a

paring knife. Turn squash over and cover with foil

again and continue to cook another 15 minutes,

until the squash is very tender. Remove from the oven,

uncover, and allow to cool slightly. Using a spoon,

remove the seeds and discard. Using a fork,

gently pull the strands of squash away from the peel and place

the squash strands into a mixing bowl.

Heat a skillet. Add the butter, spaghetti squash, herbs,

salt and pepper and toss thoroughly but gently to heat and combine. Serve


Here is my end result....




Monday, November 16, 2009

Tonight's Menu....

Chicken Parmigiana w/Spaghetti Squash and salad.

For dessert I am making a apple crisp in my Pampered Chef Deep Dish Baker...takes 14 minutes in the microwave. OH YEAH! I will post up recipes and pictures tomorrow. :)

Pesto Chicken w/Mozzarella

Andrew LOVES Pesto and he's allergic to the garlic and I am allergic to the pine nuts. So that doesn't leave much one would think. But I decided to make it and it tastes JUST as good. So we just deleted the garlic and pine nuts and it's amazing!

Here you go....

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Special equipment needed: A food processor OR a bullet. I do mine in the bullet because it's smaller and clean up is MUCH easier.

Combine all the ingredients in the processor or bullet and mix until a pasty texture.

Makes 1 cup.

Brush chicken with melted butter, salt and pepper and bake it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Pull chicken out, brush with pesto, sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and white onion slices and bake an additional 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

**This is super yummy by the way!**


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Homemade Feedbag -- My own recipe

Okay, so the term 'feedbag' sounds terrible. It's more like granola/trail mix (sortof).

Andrew has MANY food allergies and I can't just go to the store and buy snacks off the snack aisle. I have to purchase the whole food, organic type snacks which can get rather spendy. So I decided to make my own granola/trail mix/feedbag recipe. Here you go! :)

1 bag of Bob's Red Mill 5 grain oats
1 bag pecans
1 bag almonds
1 bag chocolate chips
1 bag dried blueberries
1 bag dried cranberries
1 bag coconut
brown sugar
honey

**I make small portions at one time. So I buy all the ingredients and mix in portions every time I make it. **

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Take bag of pecans and almonds and chop in a food processor to make smaller bits. Mix with oats, brown sugar (to your liking - I used about 1/2 a cup). Put in flat casserole dish and drizzle completely with in the honey. For food allergies use local honey. (Honey that is made in the same or neighboring cities.)

Bake for 10 minutes until crispy.

Then take mixture and put in a large ziploc baggie and add remaining ingredients and mix well. Again, I don't mix all of it together at one time. It should make about 3-4 large servings.

This is really fun to make. You can add whatever you want. More nuts, fruits, chocolate, etc. This is really healthy and has nothing he's allergic to. :) Win/Win!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Chocolate Chip Cookies -- YUMMY!

This is a super yummy recipe. I love making these. Pretty easy to make! :)

**Andrew is allergic to wheat...but he really enjoys these, so we make that exception occasionally** :)

It says it will make 4 dozen, but I make mine a little larger and it makes around 3 dozen for me.

Bake: 8-10 minutes Temp: 375

3/4 granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter or margarine softened (microwave for 30 seconds)
1 tsp vanilla
1 large egg
2 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 bag (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips (or white chocolate, peanut butter, etc.)

Heat oven to 375.

Mix sugars, butter, vanilla & egg on medium speed.

Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. (Dough will be stiff). Stir in chocolate chips.

On ungreased cooke sheet drop dogh by rounded tablespoon fulls 2 in. apart. (I put it down on parchment paper.)

Bake 8-10 minutes. Cool 1-2.


SUPER easy and very yummy! Enjoy with a glass of milk or beverage of choice.

Below is shown with white chocolate chips. :)




Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Chicken Rice Cheesy Skillet

This is a recipe I found and modified and was REALLY good! I don't have a picture of it, but you can imagine what it will end up looking like. :)

This cooks up really quick and is under 30 minutes.

1 tbsp olive oil
2 chicken breasts grilled (I cook in oven for 350 degrees for 30 minutes and cut in cubes)
White rice cooked
1 cup of red onion chopped
1 cup of green bell pepper chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I use Kraft Natural Cheese - no cornstarch)

After the rice and chicken is cooked I combine all ingredients except cheese in a skillet and grill together with the olive oil and cook on low to medium heat for about 5-7 minutes. Just to let the flavors come together. Then I add cheese on top and cook for another 2 minutes. Just so cheese gets nice and melted.

Serve and enjoy!

You could definitely skip the cheese part and have a nice chinese type dish and add a little soy sauce if you wanted. :) Also you can substitute the white rice for brown for a healthier dish.

<3

Recent baking experiments

The fall weather brings out my inner baker. Since the colder weather hit I have been dying to bake pies. So I asked Andrew what his favorite pies were. I already knew Pumpkin was one and I have made that for him before and he also said Lemon Meringue. The pumpkin I knew would be easy, but was nervous about the meringue. It's tricky to make the meringue part. But my it only took me two tries! Not bad. :) I was pretty impressed with myself honestly. I really enjoy making a great home for my husband to come home to and good food for him to eat.

Recipes for both coming soon!

Check out how pretty they are.....

Lemon Meringue:


Pumpkin:

I will update with both recipes ASAP! :) Thanks for checking in.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Trying a new recipe

Trying a couple new pie recipes. EASY ones. I will make sure to post up if they turn out yummy! :)

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

New Recipe -- My own personal creation

Krysie's Italian Sausage w/bowtie pasta & veggies

1 lb. Italian Sausage (preferably ground -- if not you will have to remove from the links)
1 package Farfalle or Bowtie Pasta (I use brown rice pasta)
1 red onion
2 green bell peppers (I like it colorful so I will use green, red and orange or yellow. Makes it pretty!)
1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce (my personal preference is Muir Glen Organic)


Cook pasta as directed on box. I usually boil for 13-15 minutes with sea salt. Drain.

Brown the ground Italian Sausage. Drain.

Cut up vegetables. I prefer slightly bigger chunks, but cut how you like them. They are in there for flavor and texture and veggies are good for you! At least my mom always said so.

In large skillet combine all ingredients with the tomato sauce. Add sauce in slow because you don't want to drench it in sauce. You just want it for flavor. When I make spaghetti I load it up with sauce, but not this recipe. Cook on Med heat covered for 10-15 minutes.

Let cool for a couple minutes, sprinkle with parmesan cheese (if you like it) then Enjoy! :)

Picture doesn't really do it justice...but you can see the finished product.


Friday, June 12, 2009

Fan Pulls

While we were in Nashville this last time, I was at this store and saw these cool looking fan pulls. Once again, thought to myself ... "I can make those!" So I have started making them. I only have a few completed at this time. More colors/styles coming soon. I will be selling these. Depending on what you may want done, colors and style the price will vary. Anywhere between $15.00 - $25.00. 

Turquoise & Chocolate...


Blue & White...



More coming soon...

Brown Bag Apple Pie

This pie is in one word - AMAZING! It's SO good. It pairs wonderfully with Vanilla Bean ice cream. :) 

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Brown Bag Apple Pie 
Filling:
2.5 lbs of Granny Smith Apples
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbs. of Flour
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon *I add 1 tbs. (I LOVE Cinnamon) 
2 tbs. Lemon Juice 

Core, peel and slice apples. In big bowl, mix all above ingredients together. Should coat the apples all over. Put in deep dish pie shell. (In freezer section at the grocery store by the whip cream.) 

Topping:
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup butter 

Cut all together. If you have a food processor that's the best way, or you will have to get the hand cutter thingy. :) Form an outer shell on top with topping ingredients. Place pie in brown paper bag and secure with paper clips. Place on cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 1 hour. 

When removing from oven don't touch the paper clips with your hands. Ouch! Also, it make steam or smell a little funny while cooking. This is the brown paper sack. Make sure when you place in oven, it's not touching any burners, or hot spots...etc. 

Allow pie to cool for a few minutes. Cut yourself some pie, put in a bowl, top with Vanilla Bean Ice cream and ENJOY! :) 

Try it and let me know if you like it!


**By the picture it doesn't look like anything really special...but it's the INSIDE that's the best! :) 

Fender Guitar Pick Earrings...

I got started making these when a couple Christmas' ago my sister in law gave me a pair that she bought at a shop in Nashville. I looked at them and thought ... "I can make that!" So started making them and some people love them. I really enjoy wearing them to concerts with my vintage Rocker Tee! *devil horns up* (That's the Rock hands for those who didn't get that.) :) 

Right now they are only available in three colors; white, purple and black. More colors coming soon. 

White...


Purple...


Black...

Welcome...

Welcome to my blog. Here I will post recipes I find and try, some I make up on my own and dishes I create from my Mother-in-law's recipes. I will post pictures of them as well. I will also post all my crafty things I make. I like to scrapbook, make jewelry and fan pulls. I am sure I will find something else I will enjoy doing and you can find it all here. 

Feel free to check back often for updates. 

Thanks!