Oven Fried Chicken Parmesan

Oven Fried Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:

2 garlic cloves - crushed

1 stick unsalted butter, melted

1 cup Italian bread crumbs

1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

½ teaspoon basil

½ teaspoon oregano

dash garlic powder

dash onion powder

1/8 teaspoon pepper

salt to taste

4 to 6 chicken breasts – pounded thin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the 2 crushed garlic cloves.
3. Remove butter from heat and allow it to cool in a shallow dish.
4. In another dish combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
5. First dip the chicken into the butter and then coat it in the bread crumb mixture.
6. Arrange the chicken 1 layer deep in a greased large, shallow baking pan.
7. Drizzle evenly with remaining melted butter.
8. Bake uncovered, 25-35 minutes until 165 degrees, or fork tender and golden brown.
9. Serve with pasta and tomato sauce and top with freshly chopped tomatoes and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Quick Pretzels

These are really quick and delicious out of the oven - no need to wait for the dough to rise! They don't hold so well so eat them up quickly!!

Quick Pretzels

Ingredients:

1 ½ cups warm water

1 package dry active yeast

1 tablespoon sugar

4 cups flour (2 white and 2 wheat if you prefer a healthier option!)

1 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten mixed with 1 Tablespoon water

coarse salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
2. Add yeast to water and sprinkle with the sugar.
3. Wait until the yeast proofs and then add the flour and salt.
4. Knead for 3 minutes. Dough will be smooth and elastic.
5. Shape into pretzels of the same size.
6. Put on a cookie sheet, brush with beaten egg and water mixture and sprinkle with coarse salt.
7. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15 minutes.

Chinese Chicken Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

Salad:

2 split chicken breasts – grilled, cooled and chopped

1 bunch asparagus – trimmed and cut into 1 ½ inch pieces

2 carrots - cut in matchsticks

1 red bell pepper – seeded and cut into strips

1 cup snow peas

4 ounces dry pasta

2 scallions – white and green parts, sliced diagonally

1 Tablespoon white sesame seeds, toasted

Dressing:

¼ cup vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 ½ Tablespoons soy sauce

1 Tablespoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon honey

1 garlic clove – minced

½ teaspoon fresh ginger – grated

1 teaspoon white sesame seeds, toasted

2 Tablespoons smooth peanut butter

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Grill, cool and chop the chicken breasts.
2. Cook spaghetti according to package directions, in the last minute through in the carrots and asparagus. Drain and rinse with cold water until cool.
3. Combine the chopped chicken, snow peas, peppers, cooled pasta, asparagus and carrots.
4. Whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour over the salad.
5. Add the scallions and sesame seeds and season to taste.
6. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Shortcake

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 sticks butter, at room temperature

1 ½ plus ¼ cups sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup milk

3 to 4 cups quartered strawberries

1 cup chilled heavy cream beaten with 2 Tablespoons sugar

powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease and flour a baking pan – preferably a Mary Ann Cake Pan. If you use a 9x13 inch pan - after baking cut out a rectangular well in the top to set the whipped cream and berries into.
   
3. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
4. Beat the butter on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes, until smooth and creamy.
5. Add 1 ½ cups sugar gradually while on low speed.
6. Increase the speed to medium high and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Make sure to stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl.
7. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
8. Beat in the vanilla.
9. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour.
10. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean – about 30 - 40 minutes.
11. Transfer pan to a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes.
12. Carefully turn the cake out and cool completely, at least 1 hour.
13. Meanwhile in a nonreactive bowl, combine the berries and ¼ cup of the sugar.
14. Cover and refrigerate until the berries have released their juices, 1 to 2 hours.
15. Just before serving pour the berries through a sieve reserving the juices. Brush the well of the cake with the juices.
16. Reserve ¼ cup of the whipped cream and spoon the remaining whipped cream into the well, spreading it to the edges.
17. Arrange the berries on top of the whipped cream and then top with the reserved whipped cream.

Caramelized Butternut Squash

2 med. butternut squash, 4-5 pounds total
6-8 Tbl. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/4 C. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1/2 - 1 tsp. pepper
dash of cinnamon (optional)
walnuts (optional)

*Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with tin foil for easier cleanup.
*Cut off ends of squash and discard; peel squash; cut in half lengthwise and discard seeds.
*Cut squash into 1.25 inch cubes (large and uniform is good).
*Combine melted butter, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Add to squash and toss to coat evenly. *Add a dash of cinnamon for extra flavor.
*Spread all out in a single layer on baking sheet.
*Roast 45-55 minutes, until squash is tender and glaze begins to caramelize.
*Turn squash a few times while it's roasting to be sure it browns evenly.

Serves 4-5

This is light and delicious, and even those who say they don't like squash will really like this!

Kylie's Cranberry Orange Scones

Kylie's Cranberry Orange Scones

Ingredients

Scones:
2 cups flour
7 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon orange zest
1/3 cup butter (cold)
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup orange juice (heavy or medium pulp)
1 egg
1 cup craisins
Heavy cream to brush top of scones

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 - 2 tablespoons orange juice

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Mix flour, 7 teaspoons sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, orange zest in large bowl.
3. Cut in cold butter until mixture becomes coarse crumbs.
4. In a separate bowl mix together cream, orange juice, egg then add craisins.
5. Pour liquid mixture into crumb mixture, mix together until it becomes a soft dough.
6. On a lightly flour surface knead dough 6 - 8 times.
7. Press into two 8 inch circles and cut each into 6 wedges. Place on baking sheet that has been lightly sprayed with Pam.
8. Using 1 tablespoon heavy cream, brush tops of scones and sprinkle remaining 3 teaspoons of sugar over the top.
9. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Mix glaze and pour over the top of scones once out of the oven and cooled.

Granola

Granola

Ingredients:

3 cups oats

½ cup sunflower seeds

½ cup flaked coconut

¼ cup wheat germ

2 Tablespoons flax meal

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup honey

1/3 cup oil

½ teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup dried craisins

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Combine all dry ingredients except craisins and almonds in a large bowl.
3. Add honey, oil and vanilla and mix well.
4. Spread on a lightly greased baking sheet and place in oven.
5. Cook for 5 minutes and rearrange granola on sheet.
6. Add almonds and continue to cook for 5 to 7 more minutes until the granola is starting to turn golden brown. It will darken slightly as it cools. If you add the almonds at the beginning of the cooking period they may burn.
   
7. Add dried fruit to still hot granola and allow it to cool.
8. Once cool, store in an airtight container.