Chicken Parmesan

Submitted by: Poppy

This is one of those recipes that comes out a little differently each time I make it. I tried to write everything down exactly as I made it last night, because it turned out really good!

Make the sauce. Just sauté garlic and red pepper flakes in olive oil until softened, add 2 cans of diced tomatoes, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp oregano. 

Put a large pot of water on to boil, salt heavily.

Prepare the chicken. I bought mine already cut thin. If not, slice the chicken breasts in half. Put in a large plastic bag and pound until thin. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Prepare the parmesan/bread crumb mixture. Mix 1 cup grated parmesan,1 cup panko bread crumbs, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp basil and 1 tsp oregano. Set aside.

Prepare the milk/egg mixture. Whisk together 1 egg and 1/2 cup milk. Set aside.

Assemble the chicken. First dunk in the milk mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture. Really press the crumbs into the chicken to get as much on as possible. Do this with all of the chicken and set aside.

Once water is boiling, add noodles and cook according to package. Drain and add to sauce.

Add 2 T butter and 2 T olive oil to a skillet, heat to medium/high. When it is hot, add 1 to 2 pieces of chicken, depending on the size. Fry until each side is golden brown and chicken is cooked through. Then, put on a cooling rack (placed on top of a cookie sheet), and place in 250 degree oven. Continue process until all chicken is cooked.

Slice mozzarella and put on top of chicken pieces. It should melt in the 250 degree oven. If not, stick under the broiler just before serving.

1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts
2 T butter
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper
1 c panko bread crumbs
1 c grated parmesan
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp basil
1 egg
1/2 c milk
4 oz mozzarella

1 lb noodles
2 cans diced tomatoes
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp oregano
2 cloves garlic
2 T olive oil
pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions listed above.

Valentine's Day Rice Krispies Treats

In honor of my sweet tooth and the upcoming holiday, I decided to stick with the classic- Rice Krispies Treats and put a twist on them. It's not creative but they're always good. I used the recipe off the back of the Jet-Puffed mini marshmallows bag.

• 5 1/2 cups or 1 10oz bag of Jet-Puffed mini marshmallows
• 3 tbsp. butter
• 6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• Holiday sprinkles to decorate
• Cookie cutters

Melt butter in sauce pan add marshmallows until melted. Remove from heat and add Rice Krispies Cereal stirring until coated. Using a spatula coated in butter or cooking spray press into pan coated with butter. (At this point I will butter my hands and press the mixture down evenly once it's cooled a little bit). Wait for treats to cool. Cut out treats with cookie cutters sprayed with cooking spray. Melt chocolate chips in microwave and dip treats into  chocolate.  Lay treat flat on wax paper and add sprinkles while still warm. Enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day!! 

Spaghetti Pie

Submitted by: Poppy

First saw this recipe made on the Today Show, have made a few tweaks and now it is one of the girls' favorites! If you don't have a large pie plate, then try making it in any large casserole dish. 

Mix parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and 3 eggs in a bowl. Add about 12 oz of cooked spaghetti noodles. Mix the noodles and cheese mixture. In a skillet, brown 1 lb of ground beef and 1 clove garlic. Drain grease, return to skillet and add 1 1/2 cups Spaghetti Sauce (any kind). 

Then assemble pie. In a large pie plate or casserole dish, spray with non-stick spray, add 1/2 of meat mixture, then all of the noodle mixture, then the rest of the meat mixture. Top with 1 cup shredded mozzarella. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing. 

1 lb ground beef

1 garlic clove

12 oz spaghetti noodles (cooked)

1 1/2 c spaghetti sauce (any kind)

2 c shredded mozzarella cheese

1 c grated parmesan

3 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 

Boil noodles and cook according to package. Mix parmesan, 1 cup mozzarella, and 3 eggs in a bowl. Add about 12 oz of cooked spaghetti noodles. Mix the noodles and cheese mixture. In a skillet, brown 1 lb of ground beef and 1 clove garlic. Drain grease, return to skillet and add 1 1/2 cups Spaghetti Sauce (any kind). 

Then assemble pie. In a large pie plate or casserole dish, spray with non-stick spray, add 1/2 of meat mixture, then all of the noodle mixture, then the rest of the meat mixture. Top with 1 cup shredded mozzarella. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees. Let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing.

Garbage Can Eggs

Submitted by: Poppy

Sometimes the simple ones are the best! My mom made these garbage can eggs for us on "garbage day," and yes, they also look like a garbage can lid! Couple keys to making these, don't be skimpy on the butter or the salt, and watch not to burn them (my specialty).

Garbage Can Egg

1 egg

1 piece of bread (I prefer white bread)

1 scant T butter

salt

Use a glass or round cookie cutter to cut the middle out of the bread. 

On medium heat, melt a good tablespoon of butter in a pan for one egg, or make lots at one time on a griddle and use lots more butter!  Place the bread in the pan, soak up some of the butter and flip it over right away. Then move it around to soak up the rest of the butter, then add egg, and salt. Flip once the bottom side is toasty and golden. 

It is done when the egg is done to the desired doneness and the bottom is toasted. If the pan is big enough, toast the round middle piece while the egg is cooking. If not, throw it in the pan awards and toast it then. Place the lid on top. 

Simple, tasty and I wish I had made more than one! 

Yum. 

Chicken Enchiladas

Submitted by: Poppy

Easy, yummy, creamy! These are not my husband's favorites, because he's not a big fan of cream cheese. He is out of town, SO, we are having them tonight! My daughters and I love these.

This is my sister's recipe and they always taste better when she makes them, not sure why? Until she can make them for us again, we'll have to settle with mine.

8 medium sized Flour Tortillas

3 Chicken Breasts (can use rotisserie chicken!)

2 small cans Green Enchilada Sauce (or 1 big one)

1 can Diced Chiles (not jalapeños, unless you like them HOT)

1 package Cream Cheese

3 cups shredded cheese (I used a mix of Monterrey Jack and Cheddar)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut chicken breast into bite sized pieces. Cook chicken in a large skillet, doesn't need to be browned, just cooked. Once cooked, add cream cheese and chiles. 

Spray a 9 x 13 pan, and add 1 small can of enchilada sauce. Then spoon the chicken mixture into tortillas, roll, and place seem side down in pan. Continue until all the chicken mixture is gone. Top with the other can of enchilada sauce and press down to make sure all tortillas are covered. Cover with shredded cheese. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes, until bubbly. Enjoy!

Lasagna Soup

Submitted by: Poppy

Lasagna in a soup? Yes! This soup is kind of a mixture of my mother-in-law's Italian Soup and my mom's Lasagna. It's as delicious as it is easy!

* Oregano not pictured *

The Soup

1 lb Jimmy Dean Sausage (regular or Italian)

2 cloves Garlic

1 box Chicken Broth

1 tsp Oregano

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/2 lb cooked noodles (any kind will do)

Bullion (if more flavor is needed)

Cheese Topping

1/4 c grated Parmesan (freshly grated, if you have it)

1/2 c Ricotta

1/2 c shredded Mozzarella 

pepper to taste

Boil water in a large pot, be sure to salt the water. 

Brown sausage in a different pot, drain grease, add back to pot. Add minced garlic cloves to sausage and cook until garlic is softened a bit. Add chicken broth, oregano, and garlic powder and simmer. In boiling pot of water, cook noodles according to package. Drain and add noodles to soup.

Combine ricatta, parmesan and mozzarella. 

Serve soup with a dollop of cheese mixture.  

Finger Steaks

Submitted by: Poppy

Finger Steaks. You can find them on menus across Idaho, but not many other places. Why, just why not? I am not sure, but once you try them, you'll love them. The first homemade finger steaks I had were made my mother-in-law, and they were and will remain the BEST! Here is my attempt at replicating hers.

It seems like lots of steps, but the hardest part of this recipe is cleaning up the stove afterwards!

Step 1. Mix 2 Eggs and 1 c Milk in a large bowl.

Step 2: Add 3 c Flour, 1 tsp Salt, 1 tsp Pepper, 1 tsp Garlic Powder, 1 tsp Onion Salt to a 

large brown grocery sack (I double sack mine).

Step 3: Generously salt and pepper cubed steak. Cut cubed steak into finger sized strips. 

Cut against the tenderized grain. 

Step 4: Soak steak in milk/egg mixture. Then place steak into the flour mixture, shake bag.

Step 5: Fry the flour drenched steak in a cast iron skillet, or in a frier. I always use shortening and heat to medium/high. They do not have to cook for long, just until each side is golden. A couple minutes on each side. 

Step 6: Drain steak on paper towels or brown grocery sack. 

SALT right after taking out of fryer. 

Step 7: EAT 'em. I like mine with fry sauce 

(equal parts ketchup and mayo, and a shake or 2 of seasoned salt)

This made 1 1/2 lbs of finger steaks. It fed our family of 5 little piggies! 

There was enough milk mixture and flour to make at least another pound of steaks. 

1 1/2 - 3lbs Cubed Steak

2 Eggs

1 c Milk

3 c Flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion salt

Appx 2 c Vegetable Shortening for frying 

               (depending on size of skillet)