Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Last night my Grandparents came over for dinner. We like to get together once a month to eat, and play games or watch a movie. Last night we hosted the monthly dinner at our apartment and I decided to make Chicken Parmesan one of my favorite meals. Here is the recipe if you're in the mood for something quick, easy and delicious! 

The first thing you'll need is boneless skinless chicken breast. In this case all I had were tenderloins so I used those instead. I flattened each tenderloin with a mallet and then cut each piece in half. I have found that cutting the chicken in half makes it easier to manage later on.

The recipe calls for one egg slightly beaten but I used two (because I was making more chicken then the recipe called for) and I beat the heck out of them. I don't think it matters either way.

Next you'll need seasoned bread crumbs. I just used a bag of croutons I had in the pantry and I chopped them up in our blender. It worked like a charm. The amount of bread crumbs you need will fluctuate with the amount of chicken you use, in this case I used an entire bag of croutons.

You'll need butter. Lots of butter. In my case I used an entire stick. This is what you fry your chicken in. I used two tablespoons at a time and melted the butter in the pan under medium heat. 

Now what you are going to do is take your chicken, dip it in the egg,  cover it in the bread crumbs (so messy!!), and put it in the pan with the melted butter. Brown both sides of the chicken. If your chicken isn't cooked thoroughly after this step toss it in the oven for a couple minutes.

While your chicken is baking fill the pan with a cup of spaghetti sauce (I used two). Cover it and let it simmer for ten minutes.

Next you're going to sprinkle the sauce with parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and fresh parsley (If you have it.) Cover and let it simmer for five minutes. 

The chicken is finished after a few minutes in the oven and it's ready for the sauce!

Now smother you're chicken in this delicious sauce and enjoy! To complete the meal I made a caesar salad and garlic bread. For dessert we had brownies and cookies and cream ice cream. You can, of course, use whatever sides you like. Those are just a couple of suggestions.  

Chicken Parmesan 

4 boneless, skinless, chicken breast halves (I used chicken tenderloins)


1 egg, slightly beaten


1/2 c. seasoned bread crumbs


2 T. butter
1

1 c. spaghetti sauce


1/2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded


1 T. Parmesan cheese, grated


1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped

Using a mallet flatten chicken to an even thickness. Dip chicken into egg then into crumbs to coat. In skillet over medium heat, in hot butter, brown chicken on both sides. ( After I browned the chicken they were not done yet...so I put them into the oven for a few minutes). While the chicken is baking add spaghetti sauce into the pan. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses and parsley. Cover and simmer 5 minutes or until cheese melts.  

Deltaco, InNOut, and Pizza Hut. Let the cravings begin!

You know those times where you'd do anything short of murder for a pizza and some sweet tarts? Well right now is one of those times. I made homemade taco soup, ice cream, and brownies but it's not enough. I need some freaking pizza and maybe some Deltaco with an InNOut burger on top.

I am so glad InNOut moved to Texas. I don't know how I'd get through pregnancy without them. They make me feel better even on my worst days. I don't know who invented InNOut. We took a class field trip to an InNOut factory when I was in 4th grade (or was it 3rd??) and they gave us the history along with a free lunch (that I'm sure our parents had to pay for ahead of time). This is one of those field trips that I feel would have been better to take in High School. How is a 4th grader supposed to remember all that stuff? All I remember is the "free" lunch and t-shirt.

Speaking of 4th grade... I remember we learned about covered wagons and Missions in the History portion of that grade. I remember we had to build a mission out of sugar cubes or a covered wagon from scratch in order to pass the history portion. I don't know how you expect a fourth grader to build a freaking covered wagon from scratch but that is what was expected. My mom built the entire thing out of popsicle sticks and hot glue for me. It took her hours but she was determined to get me a good grade. I feel bad for those kids whose mothers didn't build their covered wagons. I got an A but I know of others who got C-'s and D's because their work was 4th grade work.

School isn't fair. It's rather silly. You could literally drop out of school in 7th grade and when you're 18 enroll in College as a freshman and do just fine. You may have to take an express remedial algebra course with Professor Turnbow at Collin College but after that you'd be just fine. 8th-12th grade is stupid. They don't teach you anything new. Sure you'll miss a few important things that happened in History but you'll get a refresher course when you're a Freshman. Believe me.

I wish I had a pizone right now. That is one of those little pizzas that they fold in half and don't put pizza sauce in because you get to dip it instead. It's only 5 dollars at Pizza Hut. Colin and Kyle work there that is how I know. Bethany used to work there to but now she works at Palio's again. She wasn't pizza making material. She quit of her own "fruition." (Inside joke between Brady and I. I used to think that fruition meant "of your own free will" but it didn't so now we use it in sentences it doesn't belong in because we think we're funny.)

I really like my husband. He makes me laugh everyday. Speak of the devil. He is now making me examine a zit on his back. This is what you do when you're married. You examine each others pimples and dig out ingrown hairs. Brady plucks my eyebrows and shaves my legs for me now. He's a good husband. He doesn't complain when I ask him to do weird things for me. Usually I dangle the money factor in front of him and that helps too. What is the money factor you ask?

If I want Brady to pluck my eyebrows all I have to say is "You can pluck them or I can pay someone else $8.50 to pluck them at a Salon every four weeks. You choose." He is a man. He doesn't like when I spend all the money. He would rather pluck them then have me pay someone else money to pluck them. This is the money factor and it works like a charm because you see I am a woman and I like to spend money but I can only spend the money if there is money to spend and that means not spending it on frivolous things like the Salon.

They just opened a new Deltaco in Mckinney. California is coming to Texas people. Get ready! I would really love to have some 89 cent Tacos with a chocolate milkshake and some fries. I just don't want to go get them. I also don't want to spend the money on fast food when I have plenty of food here at home my belly has other plans however. Oh bother.

Here is my review of the Winnie the Pooh Movie. Are you ready? It was... AWESOME. I laughed so hard. I'm going to buy it when it comes out of DVD. I'll say its for the baby but we'll all know the truth. I'm giggling just thinking about one scene and that was particularly funny ("You must be catching a cold." "I''ll probably catch it too."). Here! You have to watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRT86ZggCEk

Thanks. :) Doesn't that just make you feel all wonderful inside? I smile every time I watch it. Well I've taken up enough of your time with my droning. Have a fabulous evening and eat something yummy for me!

Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead

I was one of the lucky ones. Those girls you hate in high school because they have perfect skin and long thick hair. When I was about 18 I started loosing my hair due to an autoimmune disease. It literally fell out in handfuls and it still does at times. It's why I cut my hair short. I hoped that no one would notice just how thin my hair had become. I'm told that no matter how they adjust my medication hair loss is a part of having an autoimmune disease and once it starts it can't be stopped.

I got a zit on my chin at the end of March. I had never gotten a zit on my chin before March 2011. That's how I found out that I was pregnant. I woke up, saw the zit and knew that that was the only explanation. Now I have a fine sprinkling of little zits across the bottom of my face and hair line. Goodbye clear skin. Hopefully you'll come back someday.

What I've learned from this is not to put my faith in my looks because they could be gone tomorrow. Find a man who loves you regardless because if you don't he'll be gone when your hair starts falling out, the zits appear, and you start putting on the "I'm comfortable with you weight."

I was 100% comfortable in my skin before I met Brady, even though I was 80 lbs overweight with more stretch marks than a pregnant woman. I started packing on the weight around 16 and wasn't diagnosed with hypothyroid disease until I had gained 80 lbs (3 years later). Even though I was fat I hadn't lost a shred of confidence because my faith wasn't in my looks.

Brady met me, fell in love with me, proposed to me, married me and knocked me up all within the span of a year and a half and my weight fluctuated. Some weeks I was up others I was down. By the time I met him I had been on my meds for a year and the docs had finally found the right dosage to make it so that I could start loosing weight again. When you're dating though you don't want to diet! You want to go out to dinner and eat pasta and bread! I didn't worry about my weight so much until he proposed. My weight was down then. I decided I wanted to get back in shape for the wedding but since we got married a month later I didn't have much time. I lost about 10 lbs after we got married and before I got pregnant. For obvious reason I am not trying to loose weight now.

After watching a documentary called, "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead," about a man who had an autoimmune disease Brady and I decided we wanted to try the juice fast. The diet consists of juicing large amounts of fruits, veggies, nuts, and beans. We are so excited to start though we are going to take it slow until I deliver and then we'll kick it up a notch and really start working at getting the weight off.

Through everything he is my cheerleader. Fat or skinny he loves me just the same... he does encourage me to get healthy though (I'm a sucker for french fries and salty foods). Who isn't? I want to be a healthy Mom. I do not want to go into my next pregnancy 80 lbs overweight. It's too grueling on my frame. I want to encourage our kids to be healthy and to stay away from processed foods. It's going to be a long journey but I think we're up for the challenge.

Baby Kicks and The Bachelorette Season Finale

Availeth has been busy today! She has the cutest little hiccups. I say little because she's only 1 lb but really its enough to shake my whole tummy and anyone who has seen this tummy lately knows it's anything but little.

She started this new thing a few weeks ago where sometimes when she's kicking it feels like she's trying to tunnel her way out of my "downstairs" if you catch my drift. It feels rather odd and uncomfortable. Like a pap smear but I feel it "down there" and in my tummy too. I don't know what that means. Unfortunately my baby book says nothing so any Moms that had any similar feelings I would relish your thoughts on the matter.

Baby was really excited for the season finale of the Bachelorette! My sister felt her move during tonights episode and so did Brady. I think my girl likes the drama. I wont bore you with all my thoughts on this season. Though Ashley was not my favorite Bachelorette she definitely picked the best guy in the end.

Well Brady is pestering me about getting to bed so I'm going to sign off! Please give me your feedback Mommas!

Love you all!