Peppered bacon wrapped lemon pepper chicken

This chicken is super easy and has great flavor. Great if you're looking for something different to do to chicken!

Peppered bacon wrapped lemon pepper chicken

What you'll need:

4-6 boneless chicken breasts
1 bottle lemon pepper marinade
1 pkg peppered smoke hickory bacon
(Yup thats it!)

What to do:
Rinse chicken breasts; pat dry and tenderize. Sprinkle with some sea salt and garlic salt. Wrap each chicken breast with one piece of bacon, securing with toothpicks. Place in large container or use a casserole pan, and cover with marinade; reserving some for basting. Refrigerate at least 4 hours.

Grill until cooked through! Thats it!

This post is linked to Tempt my Tummy, and Tasty Tuesday

Chicken Alfredo Biscuit Casserole

Source here

Sorry; no picture of the actual meal! I'm not good at taking pictures while I"m cooking! I just don't think about it. But doesnt it make you feel better to see a picture?! That's not EXACTLY what it looks like, but hey, I thought there didnt to be some kind of picture here. I will try better to take my own pictures! ha

Chicken Alfredo Biscuit Casserole

What you'll need:

1 Tbl butter

1 Tbl melted butter

1/2 cup minced onions

1 Jar Alfredo pasta sauce

1 can cream of chicken

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 cups chopped cooked chicken

1/4 tsp. basil

1 Tbl garlic salt

1 can buttermilk biscuits

pasta- I use ziti or other tubular pasta

some Italian breadcrumbs/panko

What to do:

*Heat your oven to 375, and spray a square baking dish with cooking spray.

*Boil and cook your noodles. Meanwhile, melt 1 Tbl butter in a large/deep skillet or pot, and cook your onion.

*Add onion, Alfredo sauce, cream of chicken, and heavy whipping cream to strained pasta; heat thoroughly. Stir and mix in cubed chicken. Mix in seasoning.

*When all mixed together, pour in casserole pan.

*Open can of biscuits and break each biscuit into fourths. Top casserole with torn biscuit pieces; drizzle with melted butter, then sprinkle with Italian breadcrumbs. (sometimes I also sprinkle with garlic salt for an extra zing! Love me some garlic)

*** my family really likes the pasta with the biscuits, so I make another can and bake them separately, and add more baked biscuit pieces when Im serving the pasta.

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday and Tempt my tummy

Chicken Pockets

Chicken Pockets

The chicken pockets shown in picture above, are in a small tuberware. They look like they're huge, and filling up a casserole pan!

I've made and posted these before, but I've changed up the recipe. My kides Love these! Let me know if you try them!

What you'll need:

6 oz cream cheese
4TBL melted butter
about 4 chicken breasts; cooked and cubed
4 TBL milk
1/4 cup chopped onions
2 8oz cans crescent rolls
1/2 cup mozerella cheese
1 cup seasoned croutons (chopped/blended)

To do:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Blend the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Mix in a dash of salt and pepper, the milk, chopped onions, and moz cheese. Mix until blended. Stir in the cooked, cubed chicken.
3. Roll out cresecent rolls, one can at a time, on a cookie sheet (I use 2 cookie sheets). Place 2 triangles together and press the seems to form together. Spoon some of the mixture in the middle, and fold dough to form small rectangle. Press down seems so mixture doesnt excape when being cooked.
4. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with crushed croutons.
5. Cook on an ungreased cookie sheet for 25 minutes.

Chicken Parmesan

Here's a moderately easy recipe for chicken parmesan! I hope you try it, and like it! My family did!

Chicken Parmesan

What you need:

4-6 boneless chicken breasts; pounded very thin (or sliced in half; lengthwise)

1 1/2 cups flour

4 eggs; beaten with 1 TBL water and some salt and pepper

2 cups panko bread crumbs.

1 cup oil

mozzarella slices

parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

spaghetti sauce

Prep:

Place flour in a large bowl (large enough to dip chicken in it!) and set aside.

Place eggs in a large bowl and set aside.

Place bread crumbs in a large bowl and set aside.

Preheat oven to 400

Heat oil in a large skillet on high; large enough for all chicken; or divide between two skillets

What to do:

After pounding or filleting chicken, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover with flour, than dip in eggs, than cover with bread crumbs, and place in hot oil. Cook each chicken breast until golden brown on each side.

Transfer to casserole pan and top each chicken with spaghetti sauce, mozzarella cheese, and about 1 TBL of parmesan cheese. Bake for 10-15 minutes.

Serve over buttered spaghetti

yum yum

Mozzarella stuffing chicken

I never liked thanksgiving "stuffing" growing up. Actually, the only time I've ever liked it was at my husband's families' Thanksgiving last year (did you get that?!), and my husband's grandmama B made it homemade. It was GOOD! SOO I was a bit surprised; yet, hopeful, that I liked this recipe. It definitely has that thanksgiving stuffing flavor, but plenty of other flavors to balance it nicely. My 8 year old really likes this, and that always makes me feel good (he's also the pickiest of the bunch)

Mozzarella Stuffing Chicken

4-6 large skinless boneless chicken breasts (depending on how many peeps you're feeding!)

Mozzarella cheese slices (I buy the pre packaged slices for sandwiches; enough slices to cover chicken)

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

salt and pepper to taste

1 cup chicken flavored stuffing mix (I'm sure any flavor and brand will suffice!)

1 1/2 sticks butter, melted and divided (1/2 stick in one bowl and 1 stick in another bowl)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour 1/2 stick melted butter in the bottom of a casserole pan. Place chicken in; place cheese slices on top (enough to cover chicken). Mix soup with a dash of salt and pepper, then pour over cheese. Sprinkle the stuffing mix on top, and drizzle 1 stick melted butter over chicken and stuffing. Bake for 1 hour, uncovered.

*Tip- When serving, I cut up the chicken (for my kiddos), and scoop up the sauce and stuffing from the pan, and put on top of the cut up chicken.

Linked up to Tasty Tuesday and Tempt my Tummy

Italian Chicken Parm

Here I am again. I cook when I can, and I dont nearly post as often as I would like. I had a friend email me, and she said she reads my blog (but doesnt comment; gasp!), so I thought I would continue posting for all you stalkers that dont comment!

Here's a super easy and fast recipe. We had it last night, and everyone likes it; I think.

What you'll need:

Chicken breasts

Spaghetti sauce

Italian bread crumbs

Parmesan cheese

Garlic Salt

Oregano

What to do:

Sprinkle both sides of your chicken breasts with garlic salt, oregano, and then dip in italian bread crumbs. Place in casserole pan and cover with Pasta Sauce. Cover pan with foil and bake on 400 for about 45 minutes.

Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook another 10-15 minutes without foil. Serve over buttered spaghetti. * Once I cut up and plate the chicken, I spoon more sauce and cheese over it (because I like it saucy!)

For personal and family news, hop over to my family blog!

Blonde Chicken Parmesan

I forgot about this blog. I'm definitely not cooking that often; although, I do try when I can. Life is busy with a 2 month old (hence the lack of posts!) We're also in the process of buying a house and its been a long and frustrating process! It's bank owned so THEY are in no hurry to dot the I's, and cross their T's so we can stinkin close! Its been put off twice already and our fingers are crossed to close this Tuesday. I'll believe it, when I see it! BUT, I can't wait to post pictures of our new home and MOVE!

I found this recipe on another cooking blog and have changed it up to suit my families taste.

Blonde Chicken Parmesan

1. Spray 9x13 casserole pan with spam. Tenderize Chicken (meat mallot or tenderizer tool), and dip breast in melted butter; place chicken breasts in pan and sprinkle with garlic salt.

2. Combine 1 can cream of chicken soup,1 small pkg cream cheese (softened), 1 packet lipton onion soup mix, and 1 cup chicken broth; blend til smooth (I use my mixer but you could use a food processor as well)

4- Poor mixure over chicken (filling pan), then Sprinkle the top of chicken with shredded parmesan cheese

5-Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Sauce will be bubbly. Stir it a little, and serve Chicken breast with more parm cheese and sauce on top.

Menu Plan Monday

So, lets be HONEST for a moment. I like to try a lot of new things when I cook and bake. I try not to try TOO many things during the week, because I'll have 4 unhappy campers if its a FLOP. Sometimes I try 2 new things a week, but I"m trying to keep it to 1. The problem is that I ENJOY trying new things, both cooking and baking; however, my husband and I discussed that my baking endeavors are usually a big fat FLOP with the fam. They would just prefer good old chocolate chip cookies and box brownies. Which, that should be easy and great right?! BUT I have JOY in cooking, and find satisfaction during the cooking PROCESS. I think my taste buds may be a bit more exotic or broad than the rest of my family. There are things I DESIRE to make and try, but I don't because I don't think my FAMILY will share in my enthusiasm. And again, let's be honest; usually KIDS don't!  So those are my thoughts for the moment. I think we all desire to please the tummies; yet, please our own CULINARY desires. I hope I can continue to find the BALANCE between the two. 

Sunday- Bourbon maple pork loin, sauteed zucchini (I sautee zucchini in olive oil, and add a dash of garlic salt, paprika, parsley flakes and either some chopped onion, or just minced onion; taste and add more if needed!), and baked red potatoes with parmesan (from last week)

Monday-Spinach and Cheese manicotti (from last week)

Tuesday- BBQ Sandwiches (easy peasy)

Wednesday- Lanthem Stew (layered casserole. I call it the poor mans dinner. My husband's favorite, but definitely not mine! ha)

Thursday-Bacon wrapped teriyaki chicken kabobs, rice, and broccoli (we LOVE this meal!)

Friday- Kids night or out to eat

Desert- Autumn Rice Krispy Treats, and/or Homemade chocolate chip cookies with eggless cookie dough recipe (so I can eat the dough!)

This post is linked to Orgjunkie

Menu Plan Monday

Anybody else have the day off on Monday?! I do, I do! My kiddos have the day off from school, so we're going to see "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs".  Here's to another week!

Monday- 

Breakfast- Sausage Parmesan Crescents (didnt get to this, last week)

Dinner- Parmesan Chicken Bake ,(did not make last week) broccoli, and Parmesan baked red potatoes (boil red potatoes until done. Put on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and cook until the top is brown).

Tuesday- BBQ potatoes (large baked potatoes topped with BBQ!)

Wednesday-Spinach and cheese manicotti 

Thursday-Crock pot Whole Rotisserie Chicken, potatoes, and sautéed zucchini (since I messed up and bought a cucumber last week! seriously!)

Friday- Out to eat, or kids night

Dessert- Homemade Carmel Popcorn (Can't wait!)

This post is linked to Orgjunkie

Menu Plan Monday

Here's what we have cookin this week!

Monday- Italian chicken casserole (didn't get to this last week!)

Tuesday-Ranch Chicken kabobs, with biscuits, served over rice

Wednesday- Kid's night

Thursday-  Grilled lemon pepper chicken, with sautéed zucchini and corn on the cob

Friday-Shrimp Scampi with angel hair pasta (recipe below)

Dessert- Whopper Cookies (to be posted on Tuesday)

Shrimp Scampi

1 lb peeled and deveined large raw shrimp

1 (12 oz) package angel hair pasta

1/4 cup butter

1/4 finely chopped onion

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 tbsp lemon juice

1/4 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

Prepare angel hair pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic and saute' three to five minutes or until tender. Stir in Italian seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to medium. Add shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, 3 to 5 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. Stir in lemon juice. Toss shrimp mixture with drained pasta and sprinkle with cheese. Serve immediately.

This post is linked to Orgjunkie

Menu Plan Monday-question about garlic!

Monday-  Bacon wrapped teriyaki skewers (we love this!)

Tuesday- Chicken Cannelloni 

Wednesday-20 Clove garlic Chicken (I've never used whole garlic cloves before. Is the whole garlic 4 cloves?!I have no idea how to do it!)

Thursday- Kid's night- If you can find it; eat it!

Friday- Homemade Mac and Cheese

Desserts- RootBeer Cookies, with a light and fluffy rootbeer icing

Recipes

Chicken cannelloni

1 pkg cannilonni/or manicotti

16 oz ricotta cheese


1 large egg


1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed


1/2 clove garlic, - minced


1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese


1 teaspoon salt


1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper


1 lb cooked chicken breast, finely chop

1 cup fontona cheese

1 jar (16 oz)  mararina sauce

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Boil manicotta noodles in a large sauce pan, until fully cooked. In a large bowl, Combine ricotta, egg, Parmesan, basil, garlic, salt and pepper. Whisk together well. Fold in chicken and 1/2 cup of Fontina cheese. Set filling aside.

Grease a 9x13 baking pan with olive oil. Spread 1/2 cup of Marinara across the bottom of the pan. Fill pasta with mixture. Top rolls with sauce, covering each completely. Sprinkle the other 1/2 cup of Fontina over the cannelloni.

Bake for 30 minutes until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

 20 Clove garlic chicken

3-4 pounds chicken (breasts)

1 large onion diced

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 teaspoons paprika

1 teaspoon pepper

20-40 garlic cloves, peeled, but intact

Using a slow cooker, place onion slices on the bottom. In a large mixing bowl, toss chicken with olive oil, salt, paprika, pepper, and all of the garlic cloves. Pour into slow cooker, on top of the onion. (Do not add water.)

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 4-6. 

Macaroni and Cheese

1 ½ cups uncooked elbow macaroni

5 TBL butter

3 TBL flour

1 ½ cups milk

1 cup (4 ounces) chedder cheese

(2 ounces) velvetta cheese

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. pepper

2 TBL dry bread crumbs

Cook macaroni according to box. Drain, and place in a greased baking dish (1-1/2 quart); set aside. In a saucepan, melt 4 TBL of butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk; bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes; reduce heat. Stir in cheeses, salt and pepper until cheese is melted. Pour over macaroni; mix well. Melt remaining butter; add bread crumbs. Sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered, at 375 for 30 minutes. 

As always, this post is linked to Orgjunkie

Bacon wrapped chicken, stuffed with spinach and ricotta

Bacon wrapped chicken, stuffed with spinach and ricotta (recipe originally from allrecipes)

Ingredients-

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1 (10 ounce) bag washed fresh spinach

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

2 teaspoons Italian seasoning

salt and pepper to taste

8 slices thick sliced bacon

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly oil a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until it begins to brown. Quickly stir in spinach, and continue cooking until the spinach has wilted. Put into a bowl and set aside.

Slice through the chicken breast horizontally to within 1/2 inch of one long edge, then open the meat like a book. Place each opened chicken breast in between two pieces of plastic wrap, and pound with a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch.

Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, and onion powder into the cooked spinach until blended. 

Evenly divide this mixture among the chicken breasts, then roll each into an oblong shape, like a burrito, tucking in the ends. (I had an extremely difficult time cutting the chicken and stuffing it! It was my first time, so it didnt turn out so great!)

 Season to taste with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Wrap each breast with 2 strips of bacon, and secure with toothpicks. Place into the prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven until the bacon is brown and crispy, and the chicken is no longer pink, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving

This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday and Tempt my tummy Tuesday

Menu Plan Monday-4th of July!

I hope everyone had a great weekend, and is looking forward to a great Fourth of July weekend! My parents are coming to visit for the 4th, so I'm sure we'll have a great ole time (how many times can I type great in this post?!) 

 I did really good last week, and made everything I set out to! That doesn's mean everything tasted and turned out well, but I at least attempted my menu plan. Here's what we have cookin this week!

Monday- Lemon Garlic Tilapia, rice, and broccoli 

Tuesday- Grilled lemon pepper chicken (chicken breast marinaded in lemon pepper marinade, then grilled), mashed potato balls (recipe below), green beans

Wednesday- Homemade mini corn dogs (recipe below)

Thursday- Lasagna (mom and dad arrive!)

Friday- Parents here; might be going out to celebrate Kai's birthday; which is the following weekend! 

Saturday- Marinaded pork loin, homemade baked beans (recipe below), cream corn casserole (recipe below)

Dessert- 4th of July cupcakes! 

Recipes

Creamed Corn casserole

1 pkgs corn muffin mix (Jiffy or Corn-kits are the best)

1 can cream style corn

1 can whole kernel corn, slightly drained

8 oz sour cream

1 egg

1 stick butter

Put the stick of butter in the baking pan/casserole, and put in the oven to melt while the oven is preheating. Meanwhile, mix all other ingredients; pour into pan with melted butter. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F, or until the center is set and the edge is starting to brown.

Mashed Potato Balls

2 cups cold mashed potatoes

1 egg, lightly beaten

¾ cup chedder cheese

½ cup chopped green onion

¼ cup real bacon bits

½ cup dry bread crumbs

oil for frying

Place the mashed potatoes in a bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Stir in the egg, cheese, onions, and bacon bits. Shape into 1 inch balls; roll in bread crumbs. Let stand for 15 minutes. In an electric skillet; heat 1 inch of oil to 375. Fry potato balls, a few at a time, for about 3 minutes or until golden brown. Remove with spoon onto paper towels to drain. 

Mini Corn Dogs

1 2/3 cups flour

1/3 cup cornmeal

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3  TBl cold butter

1 TB shortening

1 egg

¾ cup milk

24 miniature hot dogs

In a large bowl, combine the first four ingredients. Cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat in egg and milk; stir into dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth. Roll out to ¼ in. thickness. Cut with biscuit cutter. Fold each dough circle over a hot dog and press edges to seal (dough will be sticky). Place on greeased baking sheets. Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes. 

Homemade baked beans

• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 3 (16-ounce) cans pork and beans
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/2 pound bacon strips, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a Dutch oven, mix onion, pork and beans, mustard, maple syrup, light brown sugar, ketchup, and lemon juice. Top with the bacon pieces. Bake, covered, for 45 to 60 minutes.

This post is linked to Orgjunkie

Menu Plan Monday

I'm a little late on my menu planning today, but I'm here! It's just been a little busy. Kai and Keira arrived yesterday afternoon, after being in Austin for 5 days with their grandparents.We had a sit down family dinner for Father's day; the first time since Kade left for Disney on June 4th! Crazy. Edwin is still recovering from his surgery, so we've been moving slowly around here! Please continue to pray for his healing; as well as, a job and a move to Dallas! I'm so ready. 

Monday- Good ole Spaghetti with Chicken and garlic sausage, and garlic bread

Tuesday- Chicken Teriyaki quesadillas (left over chicken from bacon wrapped teriyaki kabobs on Father's day!)

Wednesday- Pizza and Pizza rolls from Pizza Hut. We saw the commercial yesterday and gotta try them! 

Thursday- Crispy Parmesan Chicken Bake, corn on the cob, and rice

Friday- Salmon Patties (new recipe from Edwin's mom. I'll let you know how it goes!) 

Saturday- Croissant chicken (I still haven't made this. I want so badly to make it, because I think the kids will really like it! Something always comes up though. Here's to another try!)

Dessert- Cream soda toffee cupcakes. Oh my lanta; Am I excited to make these????!!!!!!! So excited. You'll have to wait til I make them for pictures and the recipe. Yum, Yum

This post is linked to OrgJunkie

Father's day ideas/man food and gifts

I dont really think we're going to do much for Father's day (which is also my dad's birthday and brother and sister in law's anniversary!), since Edwin just had surgery this morning! He's doing well and recovering, aka; sleeping. Continue to pray for healing and his recovery, as well as for my mom (she had surgery yesterday).  If he's up for it, I'll cook some man food! Here are a few ideas for some yummy man food you can cook! 

Pan-Seared Steak with Spinach, Grapes, and Almonds

Recipe Here

Yummy slow cooker ribs

Recipe Here

Herbed Beef Tenderloins 

Recipe Here

Beer Dip

Recipe Here

Bacon wrapped teriyaki chicken skewers 

Recipe Here

Desserts

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Recipe Here

Cupcake Fun from Bakerella

Recipe Here

Golf Cupcakes 

Recipe from Martha Stewart

Need homemade gift ideas for your husband or father? Check out ideas; Here,Here, Here, Here,