Prep: 15 min; Cook: 20 min
Serves 4 - 6
This is a streamlined recipe - it is easy to make, goes with almost anything and is a treat.
2 large whole boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 - 1 1/2 pounds total)
2 cups dry bread crumbs (can be seasoned with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired) - you can also use plain flour
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, or cooking oil of your choice
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups Italian tomato sauce like plain tomato sauce, or tomato sauce with oregano (or use your favorite prepared sauce)
1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced or grated
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Equipment: Skillet, oven-proof dish; oven with broiler.
Directions:
TRIM and carefully slice the chicken breasts in half.
OPTIONAL, for thinner cutlets: with the flat side of a cleaver or a heavy skillet (you can also use a roller or even a wine bottle), pound or roll the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap to the desired thickness (usually about 1/4").
SPREAD the bread crumbs on a flat plate.
PREHEAT oven to 400 degrees F.
SET the tomato sauce on low heat to warm (it will spread more easily).
THOROUGLY coat cutlets with bread crumbs (press down firmly while coating with bread crumbs).
ON medium-high heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Sautee the breaded cutlets until they are deep golden brown on both sides. Remove to paper towel spread over old newspaper to drain.
PLACE 1/2 cup of the warm tomato sauce in the bottom of a baking dish large enough to hold the cutlets in one layer. Add the cooked cutlets to the baking dish; cover with the rest of the tomato sauce of the warm tomato sauce and the sliced/grated mozzarella.
COOK the chicken parmesan in the oven for ten minutes. If the cheese has not melted/browned you can slip it under the broiler for a minute or so - keep an eye on it so the cheese does not burn.
VARIATION: For a thicker 'crust' bread the cutlets by dipping them first in flour, then in a beaten, raw egg before the breadcrumbs and sauteeing, which gives a thicker crust. You will want to move each one to the hot skillet when breaded so they don't get soggy.
SERVE with grated Parmesan cheese. Goes great with a side of pasta and a green salad and or French/Italian bread, or garlic bread.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars - from Nyree
Ingredients:
6 cups Rice Crispy cereal
1 bag of white marshmallows (I use the small sized marshmallows –easier to melt and mix)
3 tbl butter
1 cup chocolate chips (can substitute in butterscotch chips for different flavor)
3/4 cup peanut butter (you can eliminate this if there is a peanut allergy, just add another 1/2 cup of choco chips in that case)
Non-stick cooking spray (or just some more butter)
Directions:
Melt the butter in a no-stick pan and add the whole bag of marshmallows. Stir over a medium heat until the marshmallows have completety melted. Add the cereal and mix well. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 pan that has been greased/sprayed/buttered. Use a ziplock sandwich bag or waxed paper and smoosh the mixture until it’s flattened.
While that is starting to cool, heat up the chocolate chips and peanut butter (honestly the original recipe said to heat on the stove, but you have to have that pot where you can put water in the bottom and it has a 2nd pot that is removable –can’t remember it’s name— well, I don’t have one of those… so….) I melt them in the microwave. Depending on the strength of your microwave depends on how long it takes to nuke them. My old microwave would take about 7-9 minutes on a medium level. My new microwave can do it in 4-6 mins on a medium level. In a microwavable bowl put in the choco chips in for a couple minutes, take them out and stir up. You may have to do this once or twice to start getting them at that really gooey and melty consistency. Then you add the peanut butter, mix, and nuke again for another couple of minutes. Do not cook the PB for too long, otherwise it smells like it’s burning (not fun), so you want to add that as close to the end as possible. Once that mixture is pretty smooth (and usually fairly hot –so watch out!) slather over the rice crispy mixture in the pan. Take a knife or spatula and smooth out.
Normally I would cover and pop this whole thing into the frig and let it cool for a few hours before cutting it up into the bars. I have also seen other family members cut it up while the chocolate was still setting (like 15 mins later) and serve it while the chocolate is still kinda gooey. I hate that kind of mess so I let it set in the frig.
Depending on the size of the bars cut, serves anywhere from 12 – 24 people.
6 cups Rice Crispy cereal
1 bag of white marshmallows (I use the small sized marshmallows –easier to melt and mix)
3 tbl butter
1 cup chocolate chips (can substitute in butterscotch chips for different flavor)
3/4 cup peanut butter (you can eliminate this if there is a peanut allergy, just add another 1/2 cup of choco chips in that case)
Non-stick cooking spray (or just some more butter)
Directions:
Melt the butter in a no-stick pan and add the whole bag of marshmallows. Stir over a medium heat until the marshmallows have completety melted. Add the cereal and mix well. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 pan that has been greased/sprayed/buttered. Use a ziplock sandwich bag or waxed paper and smoosh the mixture until it’s flattened.
While that is starting to cool, heat up the chocolate chips and peanut butter (honestly the original recipe said to heat on the stove, but you have to have that pot where you can put water in the bottom and it has a 2nd pot that is removable –can’t remember it’s name— well, I don’t have one of those… so….) I melt them in the microwave. Depending on the strength of your microwave depends on how long it takes to nuke them. My old microwave would take about 7-9 minutes on a medium level. My new microwave can do it in 4-6 mins on a medium level. In a microwavable bowl put in the choco chips in for a couple minutes, take them out and stir up. You may have to do this once or twice to start getting them at that really gooey and melty consistency. Then you add the peanut butter, mix, and nuke again for another couple of minutes. Do not cook the PB for too long, otherwise it smells like it’s burning (not fun), so you want to add that as close to the end as possible. Once that mixture is pretty smooth (and usually fairly hot –so watch out!) slather over the rice crispy mixture in the pan. Take a knife or spatula and smooth out.
Normally I would cover and pop this whole thing into the frig and let it cool for a few hours before cutting it up into the bars. I have also seen other family members cut it up while the chocolate was still setting (like 15 mins later) and serve it while the chocolate is still kinda gooey. I hate that kind of mess so I let it set in the frig.
Depending on the size of the bars cut, serves anywhere from 12 – 24 people.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Cabbage Chicken Salad - from Gina
This is one of my favorites...fast, inexpensive, and tasty! The cabbage also gives it some nutritional value. :)
1 head cabbage
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup vinegar
salt and pepper
2 chicken breasts
1 package chicken ramen
2 packages ramen seasoning (buy 2 pkgs of ramen--use both seasoning packets, but only one of the noodle packages)
2 cups water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter
1. Add oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to cabbage. Mix together.
2. Dredge chicken in flour and 1 seasoning packet. Stir fry.
3. Heat water to boiling. Add ramen. Stir 2 minutes. Add last seasoning packet.
4. Pour noodles and chicken over cabbage.
1 head cabbage
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup vinegar
salt and pepper
2 chicken breasts
1 package chicken ramen
2 packages ramen seasoning (buy 2 pkgs of ramen--use both seasoning packets, but only one of the noodle packages)
2 cups water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter
1. Add oil, vinegar, salt and pepper to cabbage. Mix together.
2. Dredge chicken in flour and 1 seasoning packet. Stir fry.
3. Heat water to boiling. Add ramen. Stir 2 minutes. Add last seasoning packet.
4. Pour noodles and chicken over cabbage.
Beef & Pea Pods - from Nyree
Serves 4
3/4 lb Beef top round steak, thinly sliced - (I found Cub has some pre-sliced “stir fry” meat that works great too!)
3 tb Soy sauce (or just a couple shakes of salt work also)
1 ts cooking oil (or butter)
2 tb vinegar
2 tb warm water
3 ts Cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 cups of water
1 pk Fresh pea pods 8-10 ounces
(I know a couple ingredients have been taken out because I don’t like them…. I think like 1 clove of garlic and green onions and regular onions and some ginger. Mainly for extra flavor. But you can put them back in depending on how much you like them)
Preparation:
1. In a mixing bowl combine beef strips, soy sauce, vinegar. Stir and mix well. Set aside to marinate while you prepare your peapods.
3. Over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. When oil is hot, add the beef. Stir-fry quickly for 2 minutes. Do not overcook or the beef will become tough. Add 1 tsp of rice wine and 2 tsps of soy sauce.
3. Stir in peapod. Covered and cook on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove cover, add 2 tb warm water. Mix well, add more soy sauce if necessary.
4. Stir in cornstarch mixture and mix well. Serve over hot cooked rice.
---OR---
A 2nd way to cook it (they have both worked):
Preparation:
1) Combine beef, soy sauce, rice wine and vinegar in bowl, set aside and prepare fresh peapods.
2) Mix up cornstarch mixture.
3) Over a medium/high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil, warm, and then add the beef. Let the beef cook for several minutes until it cooked (or almost cooked), then add the cornstarch mixture & the peapods and mix well.
4) Cover, and turn the heat down to a medium or a medium low and let it all slow cook for 15-20 minutes.
Serve over rice.
As for rice – Uncle Ben’s 5 minute rice is good for the 1st way to cook everything. But I own a rice cooker, and with cooking everything the 2nd way I usually set the rice up before I start making the meal so it all gets done around the same time.
3/4 lb Beef top round steak, thinly sliced - (I found Cub has some pre-sliced “stir fry” meat that works great too!)
3 tb Soy sauce (or just a couple shakes of salt work also)
1 ts cooking oil (or butter)
2 tb vinegar
2 tb warm water
3 ts Cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 cups of water
1 pk Fresh pea pods 8-10 ounces
(I know a couple ingredients have been taken out because I don’t like them…. I think like 1 clove of garlic and green onions and regular onions and some ginger. Mainly for extra flavor. But you can put them back in depending on how much you like them)
Preparation:
1. In a mixing bowl combine beef strips, soy sauce, vinegar. Stir and mix well. Set aside to marinate while you prepare your peapods.
3. Over high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil. When oil is hot, add the beef. Stir-fry quickly for 2 minutes. Do not overcook or the beef will become tough. Add 1 tsp of rice wine and 2 tsps of soy sauce.
3. Stir in peapod. Covered and cook on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove cover, add 2 tb warm water. Mix well, add more soy sauce if necessary.
4. Stir in cornstarch mixture and mix well. Serve over hot cooked rice.
---OR---
A 2nd way to cook it (they have both worked):
Preparation:
1) Combine beef, soy sauce, rice wine and vinegar in bowl, set aside and prepare fresh peapods.
2) Mix up cornstarch mixture.
3) Over a medium/high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil, warm, and then add the beef. Let the beef cook for several minutes until it cooked (or almost cooked), then add the cornstarch mixture & the peapods and mix well.
4) Cover, and turn the heat down to a medium or a medium low and let it all slow cook for 15-20 minutes.
Serve over rice.
As for rice – Uncle Ben’s 5 minute rice is good for the 1st way to cook everything. But I own a rice cooker, and with cooking everything the 2nd way I usually set the rice up before I start making the meal so it all gets done around the same time.
Rocky Road Crescent Bars - from Kathy
1 can 8oz Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
3/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped
1 bag (6oz) semisweet chocolate chips (1cup)
1. Heat oven to 375. Unroll dough and separate into 2 long rectangles. Place in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan or 13x9-inch pan; press over bottom of pan to form crust. Press edges and perforation to seal.
2. In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar and peanut butter until smooth. Add corn syrup, vanilla and egg; blend well. Pour peanut butter mixture over crust. Sprinkle with marshmallows, peanuts, and chocolate chips.
3. Bake 18-22 minutes (15x10x1-inch pan), or 25 to 30 min (13x9-inch pan) or until filling is puffed and edges are deep golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 9 rows by 4.
These are not as hard to make as they look and are delicious!
1 package (8oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/2 cup miniature marshmallows
3/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped
1 bag (6oz) semisweet chocolate chips (1cup)
1. Heat oven to 375. Unroll dough and separate into 2 long rectangles. Place in ungreased 15x10x1-inch pan or 13x9-inch pan; press over bottom of pan to form crust. Press edges and perforation to seal.
2. In medium bowl, mix cream cheese, sugar and peanut butter until smooth. Add corn syrup, vanilla and egg; blend well. Pour peanut butter mixture over crust. Sprinkle with marshmallows, peanuts, and chocolate chips.
3. Bake 18-22 minutes (15x10x1-inch pan), or 25 to 30 min (13x9-inch pan) or until filling is puffed and edges are deep golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into 9 rows by 4.
These are not as hard to make as they look and are delicious!
Mexi-Corn Dip - from Lindsay
(2) 8 oz bars of cream cheese
(1) can Green Giant Mexi-Corn (do not drain)
(1) small can chopped black olives
(1) red pepper (diced)
Jalapenos (diced- to taste)
Mix everything together and eat with your favorite chips.
(1) can Green Giant Mexi-Corn (do not drain)
(1) small can chopped black olives
(1) red pepper (diced)
Jalapenos (diced- to taste)
Mix everything together and eat with your favorite chips.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Tuna Cakes - from Gina
Stovetop stuffing and tuna sound like a really weird combination...but it's so good! Salmon can be substituted for the tuna.
Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 26 min
Makes: 6 servings, two tuna cakes each
2 cans (6 oz. each) light tuna in water, drained, flaked 1 pkg.
(6 oz.) Stovetop stuffing mix for chicken
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish
3/4 cup water
MIX all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 10 min (or as long as 1 hour).
HEAT large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. For each tuna cake, shape 1/3 cup lightly packed tuna mixture into patty. Add patties to skillet in batches.
COOK 3 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides, turning over carefully.
A couple more suggestions:
Save 60 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving by preparing as directed with 2% milk reduced fat cheddar cheese and light mayonnaise.
Other substitutions: Substitute 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup chopped green onions and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice for the cheddar cheese, carrots and pickle relish.
Prep Time: 10 min
Total Time: 26 min
Makes: 6 servings, two tuna cakes each
2 cans (6 oz. each) light tuna in water, drained, flaked 1 pkg.
(6 oz.) Stovetop stuffing mix for chicken
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish
3/4 cup water
MIX all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate 10 min (or as long as 1 hour).
HEAT large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. For each tuna cake, shape 1/3 cup lightly packed tuna mixture into patty. Add patties to skillet in batches.
COOK 3 min. on each side or until golden brown on both sides, turning over carefully.
A couple more suggestions:
Save 60 calories and 8 grams of fat per serving by preparing as directed with 2% milk reduced fat cheddar cheese and light mayonnaise.
Other substitutions: Substitute 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup chopped green onions and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice for the cheddar cheese, carrots and pickle relish.
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