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Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan
Don't let that bad picture fool you - this recipe is delicious! It is simple to make, and it does taste like pan made chicken parm! But all it takes is a few minutes of prep (no pre cooking!) and a couple of hours in your slow cooker. I actually made this one as written! SHOCKING I know. lol But with seasoned breadcrumbs and real Parmesan cheese, I didn't even need to change the spices. Ok, I did sprinkle the leftover breadcrumb mixture on the top of the chicken before cooking, as you can see below. But that is it! The leftover cooked sauce I used on pasta. Yummy!!!


I used 3 chicken breasts in this recipe - 4 would be perfect


Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan 
(this is NOT my recipe, but i don't know where it is from!)

Ingredients 
2 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 t black pepper
 1/4 t salt
1 TBSP olive oil
1 egg, beaten
 sliced or shredded mozzarella cheese
favorite jarred marinara sauce

Instructions 
Spread the 1 TBSP of olive oil into the bottom of your crockpot.
Beat the egg with a fork in a separate bowl.
Mix the bread crumbs with the seasonings and the Parmesan cheese in another separate dish.
Dip the chicken into the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture, coating both sides with crumbs, cheese and seasonings.
Place the chicken breast pieces in the bottom of the crockpot.
Layer 2-3 slices or 1-2 cups of mozzarella cheese on top, depending on how much cheese you like.
Cover chicken and cheese with entire jar of marinara sauce.
Close lid and cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3. Serve with your favorite pasta.


 

Monday, March 25, 2013

Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/25/13


 This week begins the week and a half of crazy!! My parents arrive on Thursday, then there is Easter, then they will be here for the following week, then it is NYC for my mom's birthday, then Baby E.'s SECOND!!! birthday, then they skedaddle right before my birthday. So next week there won't be a menu plan at all, I assume. And hopefully by the time I am back to meal planning, spring will be here, and not this 40 degree, snowing nonsense we have now!! Ugh. This week I am trying to use up what I have, as the rest of this month's grocery budget will be used to make E. his birthday cake - the 6 layered rainbow cake, so I will need to get some more baking supplies!

Monday:  Pasta, probably just regular pasta with sauce and cheese.

Tuesday:  Cheesy Cheddar Ranch Chicken - will serve with veggies and leftover potatoes

 Wednesday:  The kiddo and I are off to a friend's house all day, so DH will have to fend for himself!

Thursday: parents arrive, dinner out or pizza

Friday:  We are all going out to the children's museum, so we will have lunch out - that means snacking for dinner.

Saturday: who knows! We have no plans. I will probably pull something from the freezer.

Sunday: Easter! I'm going to make Baked Eggs and Cheese for breakfast, since my parents will be here, and we'll be having an egg hunt for LO. The main meal isn't until dinnertime. MIL is serving lasagne (I miss having ham at Easter). I need to make a dessert but have no clue what... any suggestions?


Dessert of the week: Whatever I make for Easter!


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Saturday, March 23, 2013

Mint Oreo Brownies with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Mint Oreo brownies with Chocolate Cream Cheese frosting


This recipe is so quick and easy. It's a great way to use Oreos, and it can be easily changed for the seasons, depending on what color of Oreo cream is on the shelves.

Mint Oreo Brownies with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
(recipe adapted from Lilluna)


Ingredients


1 Brownie Box and ingredients on box (you can totally use from scratch brownies too!)
1 package mint Oreos, divided
mint extract (optional)
1 cup milk chocolate chips
4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 bar)
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp.vanilla

Instructions




  • Make brownies as directed on box, adding in 1 to 1 1/2 sleeves of crushed Oreos. You can also add in some mint extract to make them more minty!
  • Once brownies are cooled, heat chocolate chips and cream cheese over low heat in a pan until melted. Stir to be sure they don't burn!
  • Add powdered sugar and vanilla to frosting mixture and mix well. Pour over brownies and spread evenly.
  • Crush of the rest of the Oreos and sprinkle them on top of the frosting.
  • Monday, March 18, 2013

    Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/18/13


    So... no menu plan last week. Jeff worked late Mon through Thursday then had to leave right after dinner on Fri and Sat so the kiddo and I had Panera one night, a few things from the freezer and some sandwiches for dinner! Back on track this week, though my parents will be here soon and things will get crazy!!!

    Monday: We ran errands yesterday and got home too late to make our St. Patrick's Day meal, so tonight it will be Slimmed Down Shepherd's Pie

    Tuesday: leftovers

     Wednesday:  Crock Pot Chicken Parmesan

    Thursday:  Dinner out with the in laws

    Friday:  homemade pizza (craving it!!)

    Saturday: going to a church fundraiser for lunch, dinner will be whatever!

    Sunday:  chicken enchiladas from the freezer

    Dessert of the week: I made peanut butter chocolate chip banana bread (I know, right?!!?) last week, so after that is gone I'll make my St. Patrick's Day dessert - mint Oreo brownies.


    Find more menus at Org Junkie :) 






    Friday, March 8, 2013

    Marshmallow Fluff Buttercream

    Peppermint Marshmallow Fluff Buttercream Frosting





    Oh my yum. This is such an EASY recipe, and it is also crazy easy to customize. I had to use up some candy canes from Christmas, so I made a peppermint flavored marshmallow cream frosting. If you think buttercream can be too sweet, this frosting is for you! It is not quite as sweet as buttercream but just as tasty. I put this on a cake from a cake mix to jazz it up a bit.

    Marshmallow Fluff Frosting


    Ingredients:
    • 1/2 cup butter room temp
    • 1 cup Marshmallow Fluff
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 Tbsp milk
    • 1 - 2 tsp peppermint extract to taste (or vanilla or almond or orange or...) OPTIONAL
    • food coloring (OPTIONAL)
    • candy canes or sprinkles or crushed cookies or... (OPTIONAL)
    How to Make
    1. Mix butter and Fluff until smooth on medium speed until smooth.
    2. Slowly add in powdered sugar with mixer on low.
    3. Add in milk and extract.
    4. Mix on medium speed until all combined and smooth.
    5. Color frosting if desired. 
    6. After  frosting, sprinkle crushes candy canes on frosting.



    Monday, March 4, 2013

    Menu Plan Monday - Week of 3/4/12




    Well, things have been so busy and so exhausting that I just haven't posted in between Menu Plan Monday posts. :( We are hopefully going to get the playroom set up this week, so *hopefully* the blogging will also increase. But we will see! The good thing is that I am still menu planning, and it is still going well :) This week is a regular week, the last for more than a month!


    Monday: Pizza Sloppy Joes (freezing leftovers)

    Tuesday:  Bacon Chicken

     Wednesday:  We are supposed to get  snow! Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup will be on the menu! (that links to Pepperplate... not sure if you will be able to see the recipe)

    Thursday: leftovers

    Friday: Easy Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing

    Saturday: leftovers


    Sunday:  hopefully dinner out with the in laws!

    Dessert of the week: Banana Muffins (from last week) and Lazy Cake Cookies (with Reese's mini cups!)


    Find more menus at Org Junkie