Easy Peasy Minus the Peas

This week Publix had Kraft Fresh Takes on sale for Buy One Get One Free plus I had a coupon. 

They're normally $3 each and I would NEVER pay that price, but with a coupon, I got 2 for $2.  I didn't realize how this little package could make a meal so easy.  It contains Italian bread crumbs on one side of the package and shredded Parmesan cheese on the other side.  You pull the seam apart in the middle of the package and mix the contents.  Wet the boneless skinless chicken and place one piece of chicken in the bag at a time and coat.  Sprinkle the remaining mixture on top of the chicken on the baking sheet and cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  It comes out looking like this (see below).

It's moist and juicy and oh so yummy.

Another Make ahead Breakfast Idea

Here's another idea to make your mornings easier!

Pancake Cups

Spray your muffin tin or silicone cups with Pam or use paper cups.  Use your favorite pancake mix.  Pour into muffin tins, add fruit, nuts, ham, sausage, bacon, etc.  Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 min. Let the pancake cups cool before you remove them.

The 2 back left have blackberries in them.  The 2 back right contain bacon.  The 2 front left have pecans in then.  The 2 front right ones are plain.

Make Ahead Breakfast Idea

The hubby had his first shoulder surgery after his accident.  Now he will have to be one handed for six months until he can have his next surgery.  Then he'll be one handed again.  I am having to leave his eats and drinks pre-made for the day before I go to work.  I feel better knowing he won't starve to death while I'm away.  I made half of the frittatas for him and half for me so I can grab, heat, and eat on my way out the door.  The nice thing about this recipe is you can individualize each one to each person's taste.  The hubby has ham and cheese in his while I have ham, cheese, broccoli, mushrooms, and onions in mine.

Grab and Go Frittatas

6 large eggs

1/3 cup half  and half

¼ tsp salt

dash of pepper

Assorted mix ins (shredded cheeses, broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, onions, cooked and chopped bacon, ham, or sausage)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Spray your 12 cup muffin tin with Pam or you can use the silicone cupcake cups.  The frittatas stick to the paper cups.  Put your veggies, meats, and cheeses in each cup.

Whisk your eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper together in a bowl.  Pour the mixture into a measuring cup and pour the mixture into the muffin cups.   Bake the frittatas until they are puffy and the edges are golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes.  If you used a muffin tin to bake them in, you may need to run a knife around the edge of each one to loosen them.  Makes 12 little frittatas.  You can microwave 2 frittatas for 1 minute before heading out the door.

Jewelry Party

Some friends came over today for a jewelry party.  It was nice to catch up with them and order beautiful jewelry too!  I made a few snacks for us to munch on while we designed our new necklaces.  I made the same fruit dip I made for last weekend's shower to dip strawberries in (and they were SO good), chocolate chip cookies, individual cheese balls and crackers, and a cucumber appetizer.  Sometimes I make the cucumber appetizers and take them in my lunch.  I got this recipe from my daughter who made them for a shower she gave.  They are EASY to make and good for showers, snacks, or munchies!

Cucumbers with Cream Cheese

1 or 2 cumcumbers
Garden vegetable cream cheese
Dill weed

Cut the ends off of the cucumbers and cut the skin off with w vegetable peeler.  Slice the cucumbers and spread garden vegetable cream cheese on top.  Sprinkle with dill weed.  Chill and serve.

Baby, Baby, Baby

Today we had a baby shower for my niece.  She's been on bed rest for 3 weeks so she was excited to have people to talk to.  She had LOTS of people to talk to today.  We are all excited for her little one to arrive.  Several of the guests asked for the recipes for the individual cheese balls (you can find these under appetizers) and the fruit dip.  The broccoli salad is also under salads.The only difference is that I added pasta to today's salad.  I also dipped cookies in melted candy melts and sprinkled a few sprinkles on each end in hopes to make them look like rattles.  They didn't really look like rattles, but they were cute.  I put fruit in baby food jars and topped each one with a fruit dip.  It was yummy.  The dip is actually addicting so don't say I didn't warn you!

Fruit Dip

1 8 oz. cream cheese
1 can sweetened condensed milk
a sprinkle of cinnamon
1/4 tsp of lemon juice

Bring cream cheese to room temperature.  Add sweetened condensed milk and mix well with a mixer.  Add lemon juice and cinnamon.  I didn't measure the cinnamon.  I just sprinkled a little on the top and mixed it in a little more.

Chicken and Dumplings for Two (or Three)

I was talking to my mother on the phone on my way home the other night.  She was eating chicken and dumplings as we talked.   When she told me what she was eating, I wanted some.  I haven't been able to get past this craving since the words left her mouth and entered my ear.  Tonight I made some for the hubby and myself.  It made enough for 3 bowls.  I plan to take the third bowl for lunch Monday.  Isn't it funny how we can hear a food and then feel like we must have it?

Chicken and Dumplings

1 large can of canned chicken or you can boil a chicken and cut it up

2 cans of chicken broth

2 tsp. chicken bouillon

½ stick of butter

salt and pepper to taste

1 small can of biscuits

Mix everything together except the biscuits.  Bring to a boil. 

Roll out biscuits until they are flat.  Cut biscuits up into small pieces with a pizza cutter.  Drop the pieces into the boiling water and let cook for about 10 minutes.