Italian Chicken

This chicken is so yummy and really fast and easy to make. I got this recipe from my sister Amanda. Its really good with rice or some pasta on the side. I hope you all try it its GOOD!!

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon seasoned pepper
2 Tablespoons dried oregano
1Tablespoon fresh parsely, minced
(I used dried)
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast
3 Tablespoons butter, melted

In a shallow bowl, combine Parmesan cheese, oregano, parsley, garlic salt, and pepper. Melt the butter in a bowl and dip the chicken breast in melted butter then into Parmesan mixture coating both sides of the chicken. Place in a greased baking dish and drizzle with any remaining butter and parmesan mixture. Bake uncovered, at 425 for 15-20 minutes or until chicken juices run clear. (try not to over cook because it wont be as moist)

Easter Fun

Kid's Activities Net has a GREAT list of several unique and fun ways to decorate Easter eggs. I like their dyed rubber band and bubble wrap ideas. This website also has instructions of how to make your own dye if you'd like and more ideas of what to do with your eggs afterwards. I'm excited to try some of these ideas with Hayden. Check it out, you'll be glad you did.

Oatmeal Pancakes

If your looking for ways to get your kids to eat more veggies, give this idea a try. I blended a 1/2 can of beets and added it to the pancake mix. Hayden really liked it! Got this idea from a friend.

1 cup oats
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
5 tablespoons butter, melted

1. Whirl oats in the blender until they become a fine powder.
2. Pour oats into a bowl with dry ingredients.
3. In a separate bowl, beat eggs, then whisk in milk and sugar.
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add liquids. Add butter and blend until well mixed. let batter sit a few minutes then cook on a hot griddle.

Super Easy Tasty Granola Bars

Jed eats so many granola bars (seriously, he'll even wake up in the middle of the night and get himself a granola bar then go back to bed). So, I wanted to try making some and found this recipe that had ingredients that I normally have on hand. Turned out some really tasty chewy granola bars that we all loved. I made a couple adjustments, but the recipe is below:


3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted (I only used 1 Tbsp)
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup sliced almonds (I used an additional 1/2 cup pecans)
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips (I only used 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup sweetened dried fruit of your choice

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch pan.

2.In a large bowl, mix together the oats, sweetened condensed milk, butter, coconut, almonds, chocolate chips and dried fruit with your hands until well blended. Press flat into the prepared pan.

3.Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, depending on how crunchy you want them. Lightly browned just around the edges will give you moist, chewy bars. Let cool for 5 minutes, cut into squares then let cool completely before serving.

Credit for this recipe goes to allrecipes.com//recipe/easy-granola-bars/detail.aspx

Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup

This savory soup is delicious. Got this recipe from a friend and I'm so glad I tried it. It's become a new favorite at our home. Pair it with the Grilled Turkey Sandwich and you'll be in heaven.

Ingredients:
2 T butter
1 med onion, chopped
1/4 c all purpose flour
1/2 t salt
2 c milk
1 can chicken broth
1 head cauliflower, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 t Dijon mustard
1 c shredded cheddar cheese
1 c pepper jack cheese

Instructions:
In a 4-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook until golden, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and salt; cook 2 min, stirring frequently. Gradually stir in milk, broth, and 1 1/2 cups water; add cauliflower and heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer until cauliflower is tender, about 10 min. In blender (with center part of blender-cover removed to allow steam to escape), blend cauliflower mixture at low speed in small batches until very smooth. Return cauliflower mixture to saucepan; heat over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in mustard and 1 1/2 cups cheese until melted and smooth. Garnish soup with remaining cheese to serve.

Grilled Turkey (with Provolone) Sandwich

Sourdough bread ( I used Sourdough English Muffins)
Mayo
Pesto Sauce (found it by the spaghetti and alfredo sauces)
Tomato slices
Turkey breast deli meat
Provolone cheese

Instructions:
Spread mayo inside thinly cut sourdough bread, as well as the pesto (easy on the pesto-it's pretty strong). Then I layer like so: provolone, turkey, tomato slices, provolone. Put finished sandwich on to a medium heated skillet (spray non-stick first) and heat through or until sandwich is perfectly toasted just as you like it.

Educational Games for the Kiddos

I have to admit that some days I feel like I don't have nearly enough educational interaction with Jed. So I decided to try out a website that I got from a friend: www.filefolderfun.com/searchage.html.


It took a bit of work on my end (like coloring and cutting) but it turns out Jed really loves these games. I've been trying to work on some type of learning activity each morning and he always picks one of these folder games first. I've only tried the preschool age games, but I bet some of the others would be good as well. I took a picture of Jed working on one this morning and posted it here. So, if you're looking for something new to do with your kiddos, this might be a fun thing to try.

Single Front Twist

I found this website while browsing around the internet one day. There are tons of fun hairstyles to try here (with videos that make it easy to learn). I can't wait for Ella to grow a little more hair so I can try some of these out on her!

Most of the styles are more suitable for kids or teens, but there are a few that I've started using on my hair and the link below is one that has become a staple for me on a fast day. I use the twist with my hair down, curly, up, or basically anytime I just want to keep the front of my hair out of my face. Short Hairstyles: Single Front Twist

Seared Pork Chops with Cranberry Mustard Sauce

Sounds complicated but I promise it is so easy. This meal can be completed within 20 minutes (depending on the thickness of your pork). Suzy and I went to a cooking class recently and one of the things I learned was about how to pan sear meat and then finish it in the oven. This gives meat a nicely browned and tasty exterior while still staying moist and juicy inside. Here's the recipe:

4-6 - 6oz. center cut pork chops (I get thick cuts because thin cuts dry out too easily)

2 Tbsp - finely chopped shallots

2 Tbsp - corn oil

8oz - heavy whipping cream

3 Tbsp - dijon mustard

2 Tbsp - finely chopeed dried cranberries (craisins)

Place one teaspoon oil in heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium heat, add shallots and cook for 3 minutes or until shallots become translucent, stirring occasionally. Add mustard, stir, add cream and stir to blend mustard. Cook over medium heat stirring occasionally until cream is reduced by 1/3. Add craisins and reduce heat to simmer. Adjust seasoning with salt & pepper. Hold warm.

Pre-heat a suitable size non-stick saute pan over medium heigh heat with one teaspoon oil. Place pork chops in the saute pan, cook for 4 minutes or until side is crispy and has a seared appearance. Turn chops over to opposite side, cook for 1 minute.

Place saute pan with pork chops in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 5-6 minutes (depending on thickness of pork chop and desired doneness). Try to resist overcooking because that will dry the meat out. Remove pork from oven and let rest for approximately 5 minutes.

Serve pork lightly covered with the mustard sauce. I put the remaining sauce in a little bowl and set it on the table because it's so delicious John and I are always getting more and even putting it on our side dishes lol.

This picture does not represent the recipe (this one is a cider sauce) but I wanted to show the color of the sear that you are looking for. This is what the pork chops should look like, a nice golden brown color before you finish them in the oven.