Chicken Parmesan

This recipe for chicken parm is a well-loved family favourite. My youngest daughter came home for break lamenting that her college doesn't make it the way Mom does, so of course I had to put it on the menu for her time home. It comes out so moist and delicious.

Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:

    

        3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, 

        ½ cup Parmesan Cheese, plus extra for topping

        2 Eggs

        1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs

        1 cup Italian Style Bread Crumbs, or Panko

        1 tsp Garlic Powder

        24 oz Marinara Sauce

        1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

        Fresh Basil Leaves

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Pound chicken to 1/2 inch thickness without breaking the membrane, cut in half to make 6 breast halves.
3. Pat chicken dry and season well on both sides with salt and pepper.
4. Add eggs to a shallow bowl and beat well. 
5. Add breadcrumbs, parmesan and garlic powder to another shallow bowl and stir to combine.
6. Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, and then press into breadcrumbs, coating on both sides.
7. Spoon a thin layer of marinara sauce into a 9x13’’ baking pan, to cover the bottom of the pan.
8. Place breaded chicken on top.
9. Add a spoonful of marinara sauce over the chicken, followed by a sprinkle of mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
10. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly and chicken is cooked through (165 degrees).
11. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.

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Enjoy!

            Ingrid

Dressed Up Kraft Mac 'n Cheese

My family members are huge Kraft Mac and Cheese fans. That's fine. I mean, who doesn't like to go back to their childhood comfort foods every now and then. Other than the occasional tuna we tended to eat this dish as prepared from the box as a side dish. I decided to do something different and dress it up a little. This was a huge hit and everyone requested that I make it more often. It's so easy and so yummy!

Dressed Up Kraft Mac 'n Cheese

Ingredients:

        2 boxes Mac 'n Cheese

        2 cans Tuna, drained

        1-1/2 c Broccoli Crowns, cut up

        1-1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

        4oz Gouda, shredded

        1 c Bread Crumbs

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. Cook and Prepare Mac 'n Cheese according to box directions by returning to cookpot.
3. Mix in tuna. Make sure to save the juice for any kitties you may have.
4. Stir in broccoli and garlic powder. Mix well.
5. Combine the Gouda with the mix.
6. Top with bread crumbs.
7. Cook for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and bread crumbs have a golden brown colour.

Enjoy!

            Ingrid

Mom's Chicken and Dumplings

I posted my Mom's Chicken and Dumplings recipe a while ago and realized I had missed a couple of crucial ingredients in my transcription. I removed that one and am sharing the revised version. It's so much better with this correct version. I do apologize for that but I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does. This recipe took me a while to figure out, since my Mom wouldn't allow anyone in the kitchen while she cooked. Eventually I did come up with this version.

Mom's Chicken and Dumplings

Ingredients:

        2 lbs Bone-in Chicken Breasts

        10 Cups Water

        1 tsp + 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

        1 tsp + 1/2 tsp Black Pepper

        2 Carrots, chopped

        2 stalks Celery, chopped

        2 cloves Garlic, or 1 tsp Garlic Powder

        1 medium Onion, diced

        1 Bay Leaf

        2 tsp Oregano

Directions:

1. Place chicken breasts in a large Dutch oven (I use an 8-quart). 
2. Pour water into the pot.
3. Add the first teaspoon of salt and pepper. 
4. Cook on medium-high until the meat can easily separate from the bone (about an hour). 
5. Remove the chicken from the pot.
6. Allow the chicken to cool. 
7. While the chicken cools, chop the vegetables.
8. Add the vegetables to the broth. 
9. Add the bay leaf, oregano, salt, and pepper to the broth. 
10. Cook on medium-high until the vegetables are tender. 
11. As the vegetables cook separate the chicken from the bone.
12. Shred the chicken in a bowl.
13. Add the chicken to the broth/vegetable mix. 
14. Warm the chicken for about 15 minutes before adding the dumpling batter.

For the Dumplings:

        2 cups of Bisquick Baking Mix

        3/4 cup Milk 

        (You may substitute homemade, but this is my Mom's recipe so it's comfort food to me.)

1. In a bowl mix until well blended. 
2. Drop by tablespoons into broth. 
3. Turn down temperature to a strong simmer (3 on the average electric stove).
4. Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
5. Cover and cook 10 more minutes until dumplings are cooked. You can test this by using a spoon to scrape the top layer of the dumpling. The inside should not be moist.
6. Spoon into bowls and enjoy.

Serves 8. 

Enjoy!

            Ingrid