Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken and Green Beans

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken is fairly similar to Parmesan Pork Chops, except it's chicken and the base is different.  When an excess of Dijon mustard showed up in my pantry and no Puerto Rican steaks (the coveted pork chop) in the freezer, this recipe was born.  It turned out delicious, but when is frying something not delicious?  It's a wonder that I'm not 500 lbs given the way I like to eat.  So if you also enjoy all things fried, be sure to try out this little recipe...

Dijon Crumb Coated Chicken
2 eggs
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup instant garlic mashed potatoes
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1-1/2 tsp onion powder
4 chicken breasted
3-4 Tbsp of cooking oil

• In a small bowl, beat together eggs and dijon mustard. 
• In a separate small bowl combing bread crumbs, instant potatoes, parmesan, and onion powder.
• Flatten chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness.
• Dip in egg, then bread crumb mixture.
• Place each breast in hot cooking oil for about 8 minutes per side or until juices run clear.

And since you already have out the Dijon mustard, you might as well make the green beans in the picture.  Here's the recipe for those little guys...

Dijon Green Beans
4 cups fresh green beans
2 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp olive oil
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dill weed
1/2 tsp pepper.

• Boil green beans to your desired tenderness. Drain.
• Add remaining ingredients, and simmer on low for 5 minutes.

That's it.  Two recipes in one day.  I'm exhausted. Be sure to check out the Cheesy Biscuits to round out this meal.  Again, it's amazing I'm not 500 lbs. 

Happy Cooking!!!

Cheesy Biscuits

You can go ahead and thank me now.  I'm about to share the recipe to the most amazing biscuits brought to you by my mom.  I'm about to share the Cheesy Biscuits recipe. 

{Moment of Silence}

Cheesy Biscuits are mouth watering deliciousness.  Make them tonight.  Make them tomorrow night.  Heck, make them every night.  You'll be loved all the more for it.  I will, however, not be responsible for any weight gain you acquire from the cheesy bicuits.  Your biscuits (booty cheeks) will get bigger from the biscuits.  You must eat at your own risk folks.

Cheesy Biscuits
2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup melted butter
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• Mix all ingredients together. 
• Drop spoonfuls on a greased baking sheet.
• Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

So sorry for the ghetto picture!  I was headed out to teach gymnastics, and the biscuits were finishing up.  So ya' know...I just threw open the oven and snapped the pic.  Photography at its finest. 

Lazy Lady's Chicken Pot Pie and Pull Apart Rolls

I'd love to slave in the chicken to reproduce the most delicious straight from the prairie Chicken Pot Pie, but let's get real.  That's not going to happen.  Ever.  So when this recipe came from my Simple & Delicious magazine a few years back, I carefully placed it my plastic sleeves, not to be soiled, and then kissed it over and over and over and over.  So run.  Get yourself some plastic sleeves so you can show this recipe an equal amount of love.

Lazy Lady's Chicken Pot Pie
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp all purpose flour (I used whole wheat flour)
1 tsp granules of chicken bouillon granules
1/8 tsp pepper
3/4 cup milk
1-1/2 cubed cooked chicken breast
1 pkg (about 10 oz) frozen mixed veggies, thawed
cresent dough (I used half wheat flour, and half white flour)

• In a large saucepan, combine mayo, flour, granules, and pepper.  Gradually stir in milk to avoid clumping of flour.  Stir until smooth.
• Bring to a boil.  Cook and stir for about 2 minutes until thickened. 
• Add chicken and veggies.  Cook 3-4 minutes longer.  Now is the time to roll out the dough.
• Sanitize your counterspace.  Throw down some flour and get to rollin'.  Thin, but not see through thin...

{Little Man and Chunky Monkey, my sous chefs, were ready to eat}

• 
  
  Pour chicken mixture into a greased 8 x 8 baking dish.  Take rolled out dough and place on top of chicken mixture.  Cut and/or fold extra dough until it covers the entire mixture.  Using a knife, cut little X's in the dough.
• 
  
  Bake @ 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.



{Not pretty, but I had some hungry kids}

Because it would be absurd to make all that dough for a little pot pie, you MUST have pull apart rolls to go with this homestyle meal.

Pull Apart Rolls

• 
  
  Using the dough recipe, take a little smaller than golf ball sized balls and stuff three into a muffin pan.
• 
  
  Let rise for 3-4 hours, covered with waxed paper or a thin kitchen towel (preferably a clean one).
• 
  
  Bake @ 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
• 
  
  Top with butter and honey.

Happy Cooking!!!

Roasted Garlic for Dipping Bread

Just for the record, my fingers STILL smell like garlic this morning.  Do you know what it feels like to wake up and wonder, "Why does it smell like garlic in here?"  Only to realize you only smell garlic when your hands are near your face.  Then you smell your fingers to realize you never rinsed them with lemon juice to help with the stinch.  So, me and my stinky fingers are typing this post for you.  So your fingers can smell like garlic.  So you too can have some yummy Roasted Garlic with EVOO and seasonings.  You can thank me later.  Not for your stinky fingers, but for the dip. 

Roasted Garlic Dipping Oil
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)
4 large cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
2 Tbsp Baslamic Vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
Salt to taste

• Take about a Tbsp of the evoo, and heat it in a sauce pan (doesn't take long). 
• Add minced garlic to pan.  After about a minute, stir constantly to prevent burning.  Allow the garlic to become golden, but not brown.
• Pour out contents of a pan on a paper towel and allow the garlic to 'dry' out.
• While garlic is 'drying', pour the remaining evoo onto a small plate.  Add Baslamic Vinegar and gently blend in with a fork.
• Add garlic and seasonings.
• Serve with toasted bread.  (I used French Bread toasted in the oven @ 400 degrees for 5 min.

I would have taken a picture, but one taste led to another.  You know how that goes.  Maybe next time.  Maybe.

UPDATE!!!  Here's a pic for you!

Happy Cooking!!!

Homemade Crescents

This recipe is from my Aunt Pam. She makes these every Thanksgiving and everyone eats them up. You would think she spends all day preparing the dough, but it's very simple.

Aunt Pam's Homemade Crescents

1 pkg yeast
1 cup very warm water
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs, beaten well
2/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 tsp salt
4 1/2 cups flour

• Dissolve yeast in 1 cup of very warm water
• Add sugar and all other ingredients at once
• Mix well
• Place in a greased bowl overnight in the refrigerator

• Separate dough into 3 sections
• Roll out on a floured board 1/4 inch thick. Cut 6-8 pizza slices
• Roll large end to small end and curve into the shape of a crescent
• Place on greased baking sheet. (Each crescent can touch)
• Let rise for hours
• Bake @ 400 degrees fro 8-10 minutes

Happy Cooking!