Dijon Chicken

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This has been sitting in my allrecipes.com recipe box for probably over a year now and I finally got around to trying it tonight.  It was incredible, much to my surprise!  It has a nice little zip to it from the mustard and has a great flavor combo with the parmesan cheese in the bread crumbs.  And I loved how incredibly easy this dish was, too, and I already had all the ingredients on hand.  Great for a busy night and will please the whole fam!

{What you need}

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1/4 cup evaporated milk

1/3 cup bread crumbs

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, plus extra to sprinkle on top

4, 4 oz boneless chicken breasts

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 casserole dish.  In a shallow dish, whisk together mustard and milk.  In a separate shallow dish, mix together cheese and bread crumbs.  Take each chicken breast and coat it in the mustard mixture, then coating it in the bread crumb mixture.  Place in prepared dish.  Sprinkle extra parmesan cheese on top now, if desired.  Bake at 475 for 15-20 minutes

Pumpkin Crumble Dessert

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My Aunt Lyssa brought these delectables to Baby James' blessing last week and I can't TELL you how incredibly they are!!  If you like pumpkin desserts, this will sink you.  If you don't, you'll still lurve it.  Perfect for the fall/winter weather, and could be a great alternative to traditional pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving!!  This seriously might be my new favorite dessert... And they are soooo easy!!!!

{What you need}

1, 15 oz can pumpkin puree

1, 12 oz can evaporated milk

3 eggs

1 cup white sugar

4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1, 18.25 oz package yellow cake mix

3/4 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts {optional}

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 baking pan.  In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, and spice.  Pour into greased pan.  Sprinkle the dry cake mix on top and drizzle melted butter on top.  Add walnuts on top, if desired.  Bake for one hour at 350 or until a knife inserted comes out clean.  Serves great hot or cold!

recipe compliments of allrecipes.com

Cheesy Bacon Pull-Apart Bread

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AKA "Crack Bread."  Nuff said. 

(!!!Another winner from Pinterest!!!!)

{What you need}

1 uncut loaf sourdough bread, preferably round

about 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3 oz. bag Oscar Meyer real bacon bits

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 Tablespoon ranch dressing mix

Cut the loaf of bread like a grid, without cutting through the bottom crust.  Sprinkle/pack the cheese down in the wedges and cuts of the loaf.  Do the same with the bacon bits.  Mix the ranch dressing mix in the melted butter and pour all over bread, making sure to get in the wedges and cuts as well.  Cover in tinfoil and bake at 350 for 15 minutes.  Remove the tin foil and bake for about 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.  Stuff your face relentlessly.  But try not to eat the whole loaf by yourself......

BLT Pasta Salad

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This is a nock off of a salad some friends served at their wedding.  It was delicious!  I prefer it with the cole slaw dressing.  And it makes a lot, so it's great for entertaining.

{What you need}

2 cups spinach leaves

3 cups cooked penne, cooled

1.5 cups chopped sun dried tomatoes

2 cups raw peas

2 cups raw broccoli

1 red onion, thinly sliced

2 cups cooked bacon, chopped and cooled

1 cup olives {optional}

16 oz. pepper jack cheese, cubed into cubes about the size of dice

2 cups mayo or cole slaw dressing

Put the spinach leaves aside.  Combine all other ingredients in a large bowl and toss.  Add spinach last and toss.  Serve chilled.

Turkey Rice Soup

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My beautiful MIL made this for dinner the other night and I couldn't help but have two bowls.  And I STILL woke up and weighed less than the morning before.  So filling, but still so light.  And so EASY!!

{What you need}

about 32 oz. cooked shredded turkey

5 carrots, sliced

1 stalk celery, sliced

1 onion, chopped

2 quarts water

4 chicken bouillon cubes

1 {10 3/4 oz} can cream of chicken soup

1 teaspoon basil

pepper to taste

2-3 cups uncooked rice

In a large pot, boil rice, veggies, bouillon and water together for 20 minutes.  Add turkey.  Add cream of chicken soup, basil, and pepper and bring to a boil again.  Cook 5 more minutes and you're set!


Adapted from this recipe.


{6 WW Points Plus per cup}

Cake Batter Pancakes

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Happy birthday to the love of my life, John William!!!  The big 2-5.  Here is a festive and fun way to wake up your birthday boy or girl on their special day.  Yields about 12 pancakes.

{What you need}

1 1/2 cups flour

2/3 cup yellow cake mix

1 tablespoon sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

pinch of salt

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-2 cups milk

1/2 tablespoon sprinkles

{glaze}

1 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 tablespoon sprinkles

Combine flour, cake mix, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl and whisk it together until thoroughly blended.  Add just one cup of milk, the eggs, and the vanilla.  Whisk until well blended, adding a little milk here and there until you reach the consistency of regular pancake batter.  Fold 1/2 tablespoon sprinkles in batter right before cooking.

Preheat a skillet on medium heat.  Spray non-stick cooking spray on the pan if you need to, and measure out 1/4 cup batter per pancake.  Cook until the up side of the pancake bubbles, about 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook the other side, about one minute more.  Serve with vanilla glaze!

For the glaze, combine everything and whisk together until it forms a syrup-y consistency.  You may want to add a tablespoon or two of milk at a time until it gets to the thickness you prefer.

Happy Birthday!!!

Eyeball Truffles

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These were a MAGOR hit at a recent Halloween party.  They are great for other occasions, too, if you leave off the blood-shot veins and pupils. . . and add sprinkles or something:)

{What you need}

1 package double stuff oreos {make sure they are double stuff!}

1, 8 oz. cube cream cheese

24 oz. white chocolate chips

4 tablespoons vegetable shortening

2 lil' tubes of red cake decorating gel

dark colored m&m's

Crush all the oreos in a food processor and add cream cheese until a thick dough forms.  Form small balls from the dough and place on a wax paper covered cookie sheet.  Place in the freezer until they become firm enough to handle.  While they are in the fridge, melt the chocolate and shortening together.  Dip each oreo ball in the chocolate and place back on the wax paper.  Use the red gel to make "veins" coming out of the center of each truffle.  Place an m&m in the intersection of all the "veins" and see the eyeballs come to life!  Keep in the freezer until you are ready to serve.  These are absolutely DELICIOUS!!