Chicken Parmesan Bake

I posted my recipe for chicken Parmesan earlier in my blog.  It is probably one of my favorite recipes and  it is my boyfriends favorite meal.  I found a pin that talked about a chicken Parmesan bake and I had to try it.  I thought it was going to be with pasta and everything else but boy was I wrong.  This dish was awesome, it tasted JUST like chicken Parmesan if not better, and it was so much easier to make!

Ingredients

• 1 pound of chicken cut into strips
• 1 26 oz jar of marinara sauce (or whatever other sauce you prefer)
• 1 bag of mozzarella cheese OR mixed italian (I used the mixed italian)
• 1 bag of Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup of basil
• Crushed red pepper flaces
• 2 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 bag of garlic and cheese croutons

Directions

1. Spread olive oil on bottom of 9 x 13 casserole dish make sure it is entirely coated
2. Place your garlic on top and make sure there is enough to cover the bottom of the pan
3. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top of garlic, the more you use the more spicier it will be so I do not suggest a lot 
4. Place your cut up chicken strips on top of garlic make sure the entire dish is covered with chicken
5. Place all of your sauce on top of chicken
6. Top the chicken with half of your mozzarella cheese and then  half of your Parmesan cheese
7. Place the croutons on top of cheese
8. Cover with the remaining cheese
9. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes
10. Let sit for AT LEAST 10 minutes

Final Product

 This is the product when it came out of the oven I did not let it sit long enough so next time I will make sure it is at least 10 minutes

Pizza Quesadillas

As one can probably tell I really enjoy pizza, and pizza related things.  I recently got a quesadilla maker and have been dying to try a new quesadilla.  I saw a couple of different recipes for different kinds and the one that stuck out the most was a pizza quesadilla.  I decided to try making my own and it was awesome!  I will definitely be making these again!

Ingredients

• 2 tortillas for each person eating I had 3 people, so I used 6 tortillas.  Make sure to get the large tortillas
• 1/2 pound of deli pepperoni
• 2 bags of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 16 oz jar of pizza sauce 
• Italian seasoning

Directions

1. Over medium high heat place pepperoni in frying pan and fry until crispy (about 2 minutes)
2. Once crispy place on plate with paper towel, and drain excess grease
3. Turn on quesidilla maker, or leave your stove on medium high
4. Spread pizza sauce on one toritlla, make sure there is not too much that it will drip off.
5. Place mozzarella cheese on top of sauce, top with pepperoni and Italian seasoning and more cheese.
6. Spread pizza sauce on another torttilla and place sauce down on top of cheese.
7. Place in quesadilla maker for about 5 minutes, or until top is a golden brown.  If you are doing this in pan do each side for 3 to 5 minutes MAKE SURE TO GREASE PAN
8. Serve with pizza sauce.

Final Product

Broccoli,Beef and Potato casserole

You can never go wrong with broccoli, ground beef or potatoes.  Putting all three together makes an amazing combination.  There are a lot of recipes out there, but they tend to be pretty bad for you.  I found a variation of one on pinterest and tried it and it was really good.  My friend so it reminded her of shepards pie but the potatoes were crispier!

Ingredients

• One and a half pounds of ground beef
• 6 cups of broccoli (I used a bag of frozen broccoli florets)
• 4 cups of non fat milk
• 2 tablespoons of oil
• 1 large onion ( I used a bag of frozen chopped onions)
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder 
• 1 and 1/4 teaspoons salt 
• 1/3 cup cornstarch
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 cups frozen shredded hashbrowns
• 1 large egg beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• Paprika
•  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Brown ground beef and onions.  Add the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and salt,set aside.

1. Whisk cornstarch and milk in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and continue to whisk until thick.  Remove from heat and stir in cheddar.  Continue to stir until all of the cheese is melted.

1. Combine potatoes, egg, pepper and salt. 

1. Spread the beef mixture on the bottom of a casserole dish.  Top the beef mixture with broccoli.  Top the broccoli with your cheese mixture.  Add the potato mixture to the top and spray with cooking oil.
2. Place in the oven and cook for about 40 minutes or until the mixture is bubbly.
3. Remove from oven and let sit for at least 10 minutes.

Final Product

 

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches

This is yet again another crockpot recipe.  Buffalo seasoning is one of my favorite things, but sometimes I am just not in the mood for wings.  This recipe was really simple to make and it was really good.  It was a little spicy for me but everyone else eating it said it was the perfect hotness.

Ingredients

• 2 Pounds of frozen boneless chicken breasts
• 1 packet of ranch dressing
• 1 and a quarter bottles of franks hot sauce (or your favorite brand)
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• Ranch/Blue seasoning for sandwich if desired
• Cheddar cheese for sandwich if desired
• Sandwich rolls of your choice

Directions

1.  Place the frozen chicken in the bottom of crockpot
2. Place the hot sauce on top of the chicken
3. Mix in ranch dressing packet so it is not in large clumps
4. Place on low for 6-7 hours
5. After 6-7 hours shred the chicken and add butter
6. Leave on for another hour and serve

Final Product

Crockpot Beer Chicken

I am obsessed with my crockpot and am always looking for new recipes and fun things to make.  I found a couple recipes about putting beer in a crockpot with some chicken and I had to try it!  Here is my version it was simpe and absolutley delicious.


Ingredients.

• 1- 1.5 pounds of boneless chicken breasts
• 1 can or bottle of beer (I used a bottle of st paulies girl)
• 1/2 tablespoon of garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon of onion powder
•  1/2 tablespoon of basil
• 1/2 tablespoon of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper

Directions.

1. Place the bottle of beer on the bottom of crockpout
2. Place the chicken on top of beer
3. Add the seasonings 
4. Cook on high for 5 hours or low for 10   

The chicken falls apart, and there is also a lot of juice so you could serve it as a sandwich.  I served mine with some homemade cheesy bread and broccoli and it was great!

Final Product

Crescent Pepperoni Pizza Roll Ups

I have tried recipes like this quite often, and I have to say that this is definetly my favorite altertanitive pizza recipe.  It was really easy to make and it was a huge hit.  There are many variations going around on pinterest so I kinds just made my own and will make them again in the very near future.  I am really trying to get this blog going so I am going to start to take more pictures.  If there are any other suggestions people may have let me know! I doubled this recipe is because there was a couple people for dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 can refrigerated 8 count crescent rolls
• 1/2 pound of peperoni slices from the deli ( or you can use 2 prepackaged bags)
• 4 pieces of mozzarella/provolone string cheese cut in half
• Italian seasoning 
• Garlic powder
• Pizza sauce
• I used spinach in some of mine but feel free to put whatever other topping you may like in yours.

 
Directions

1.  Separate the crescent rolls into 8 triangles and lay them on a baking sheet
2. Unwrap your string cheese and cut them in half because your hands will be to greasy if you wait to unwrap them.
3. Place 5-6 pieces of pepperoni on the top of the crescent roll (if you are using other topping place them on top of the pepperoni)

 4.  Place half of the string cheese on top of the pepperoni and roll it up and do this for the rest of the crescent rolls.
 5.  Spray a baking pan and place crescent rolls on the tray.  Shake a little bit of garlic powder and italian season on the tops of the crecent rolls.

 6.  Let bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes or until they are golden brown.  While the rolls are cooking heat your pizza sauce up and use for dipping.

 Final Product

Enjoy =)

Cajun Alfredo Pasta

I love pasta, and I am always looking for some new recipes with pasta.  I came across on Pinterest different posts about Cajun alfredo.  I decided to try my own and it turned out really well.  There is one thing that I would change and that is next time I would make my own sauce, instead of cooking creme.

Ingredients

• Half a pound of chicken, I used chicken tenders
• 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning
• 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons of Garlic powder
• 2 tablespoons of Wegmen basting oil (this is an olive oil with thyme and basil in it)
• 1 bag of pepper and onion mixture (you can use fresh vegetables as well and use a cup of onions, cup of green and red pepper it was just easier to use already chopped ones)
• Half a pound of hot Italian sausage
• 1 tub of Philadelphia  savory garlic cooking creme ( next time I would use my own sauce but it was quick and still tasted great)
• 1/4 cup of whole milk
• 1 box of penne pasta

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to directions.  While pasta is cooking cut chicken and sausage into bite size pieces.
2. Heat oil over medium high heat and add chicken and sausage with Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.  Let sausage and chicken cook through, and add the vegetables.
3. Cook the vegetables until tender, once tender add the cooking creme and milk.
4. Let simmer for 2-3 minutes mix in pasta and serve

 Final Product

Puppy Chow

I live in Lancaster County where there is a lot of good home cooking… especially desserts.  Over Christmas one of my customers at my job bought in this delicious mix called “puppy chow”.  I researched the recipe when I came home and found tons of different recipes so I decided to make one of my own.  It is very simple to make and its an awesome snack and if you have kids they LOVE it.
Ingredients

• 7 Cups of crispy rice cereal squares

• 3/4 cup of peanut butter (I used more peanut butter because I personally like peanut butter a lot of recipes called for less this is your own personal choice)

• 3/4 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

• 1.5 cups of confectioners sugar ( this is something that you can add more or less of when everything is mixed to make sure all the cereal is coated)

• 1/2 stick of butter

Directions
1. In a medium sauce pan melt the chocolate and butter over medium low heat.  Once it is all blended stir in the peanut butter until the mixture is smooth.

2.  Remove the mixture from heat and add the cereal.  Add a little at time to make sure to cover all the cereal in the mixture.
3.  Once well coated add powdered sugar into a large Ziploc bag and add the cereal.  Shake the bag until the cereal is fully coated… add more powdered sugar if needed.
4.  Once the mixture is completely covered store in an airtight container in the fridge to cool down.


Final Product