Baked Swiss Chicken

Here's a great, easy casserole. Our family fell in love with this one! The cheese really makes it. If you don't care for swiss cheese, try mozzarella or anything you like. The one thing I would change is to use 2 boxes of stuffing insted of 1. Enjoy!

Baked Swiss Chicken (from RealMomKitchen.com)

• 3-4 chicken breasts (just depends on how big you chicken breast are)


• 6-8 slices Swiss cheese


• 1 can cream of mushroom soup


• 1 c milk


• 1 box Stove Top Stuffing (or other similar boxed stuffing mix) -- I used two!


• 1/4 C butter melted
  

1. Pound chicken breast to even out the thickness of the chicken. I place the chicken in between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound with a rolling pin or the flat side of a kitchen mallet) Cut each breast in half.


2. Place chicken breasts in a sprayed 9 x 13 inch baking dish.


3. Top chicken with slices of Swiss cheese.


4. In a bowl, mix soup and milk until well blended.


5. Pour soup mixture over chicken.


6. Then top the chicken with the dry stuffing mix. Drizzle stuffing with melted butter.


7. Baked covered with foil at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake 5-10 minutes longer. Serves 6-8

Caribbean Chicken

This dinner was super easy, quick and delicious! The hubs loved it; and that's all that matters! Try this and I think it will become part of your repertoire.

I did add two things to this for our personal tastes: onions & garlic. I love onions, so I cut half of a large onion into thin strips from the root to the end and sauteed them with the chicken until they were browned & carmelized. I also grated 1 clove of fresh garlic into the sauce mixture. If you don't have a grater, just finely mince the garlic and add it! Enjoy!

Caribbean Chicken (from RealMomKitchen.com)

• 1 T olive oil
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (*Note: I only used 3 because they were pretty large)
• 1 1/4 C salsa (*Note: Use your favorite here. I used Pace Medium salsa and it added a kick to the sauce! Use the mild if you don't like things so spicy)
• 1 medium onion sliced
• 1 clove of garlic, finely minced or grated
• 1/2 C marmalade (*Note: I used orange marmalade)
• 1 1/2 T brown sugar
• 3 T fresh lime juice (*Note: I just used a whole lime)
• 1/4 t cinnamon
• 1/4 t ground cloves
• Cooked white or brown rice

1. While the rice is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet at medium high. Add chicken; cook and stir until chicken is no longer pink (about seven minutes). If any juices remain in the pan after cooking the chicken, drain off the juices.
2. Add the onion to the pan with the chicken and cook over medium high heat until the onions are soft and slightly brown (add salt to the onions to help them along)
3. In a medium bowl, combine salsa, marmalade, garlic, brown sugar, lime juice, cinnamon, and cloves. Mix well.
4. Add to chicken; mix well. Bring it all to a boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer five to ten minutes stirring occasionally.
Serve over hot rice. Garnish with lime and orange wedges if desired.

You may substitute allspice in place of the cinnamon and cloves.

Pesto Parmesan Quiche

This started as a concoction that I wasn't sure would work out, but it did...oh yes, it did! I've made other quiches before and they always turn out OK...but this...THIS was the creamiest, cheesiest perfect quiche. Make this as soon as culinarily possible!

Pesto Parmesan Quiche

1 9" deep dish pie crust (mine was frozen)
6 eggs, beaten (6 was almost too much...I might try 4 or 5 next time, FYI)
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 T prepared basil pesto
Salt & pepper
1 T olive oil
1 small onion or 1/2 a large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, grated or finely minced
2-3 sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
1 t italian seasoning
1/2 C mozzarella cheese
1/2 C parmesan cheese
1/2 C shredded chicken (optional, but this was our dinner so I wanted a little more substance)

1. Crack eggs into a bowl and beat slightly. Transfer to blender. Add heavy cream, pesto, salt & pepper. Blend until smooth. It should be a delicious seafoam green.

2. In a small saute pan over medium heat, add olive oil. When the oil is heated, add onions, grated garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, italian seasoning, salt & pepper. Saute until onions are translucent.

3. In a 9" pie crust (do not thaw it), add the onion mixture, chicken, and cheeses.

4. Pour the egg mixture over everything and stir around to evenly distribute the yummy contents.

5. Bake for about 30-35 minutes in a 375 degree oven until it is set and no longer jiggles like your thighs will after you eat this quiche.

6. Let sit for about 5 minutes before you cut into it's gooey goodness. Serve warm.

Panko-Crusted Chicken with Mustard-Maple Pan Sauce

Sounds fancy but it's so easy! This is definitely a crowd-pleaser and you will want to make it again and again. I got this recipe from Epicurious.com. Enjoy!

My notes: You can find Panko breadcrumbs in Publix near the other breadcrumbs. If you can't find them, ask - you definitely can't subsitute with regular ones! This recipe makes a lot of sauce so I double the chicken. I cut the breasts in half to make smaller pieces and pounded them very thin. I think I had 8 altogether. I also added a little more syrup than the recipe called for because when I tested the sauce it was a little more mustardy than sweet. Just adjust if necessary. This is an amazing meal! You could serve it with roasted potatoes and vegetables and a small salad.

Panko-Crusted Chicken with Mustard-Maple Pan Sauce (from Epicurious.com)

2 8-ounce skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cut crosswise in half
1 large egg
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 teaspoons plus 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup low-salt chicken broth
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
1 tablespoon chilled unsalted butter

Using meat mallet or rolling pin, pound chicken in resealable plastic bag to 1/3-to 1/2-inch thickness. Whisk egg, parsley, and 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard in large bowl. Place chicken in egg mixture; turn to coat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Dip each chicken piece in panko; turn to coat. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook until brown and cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, whisk broth, syrup, coarse-grained mustard, and remaining 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard in glass measuring cup.

Transfer chicken to plates. Add broth mixture to skillet; boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Add butter; whisk until melted. Spoon sauce alongside chicken.

Asian Chicken with Pasta

This recipe is sort of my own concoction but it turned out pretty well! I got the general idea for it from this blog. I think I will make that exact recipe at some point but last night I really wanted something hot so I changed it up a bit.

Asian Chicken with Pasta

1-2 cups ditalini or orzo pasta (use however much you want...I used 2 cups)
2 cups cooked chicken (I used half the meat from a rotisserie chicken that I had shredded and frozen earlier)
1 red pepper, chopped
1/2 a large or 1 medium onion, chopped
8 oz edamame or sugar snap peas (you can throw them in frozen)
4 tablespoons canola oil
4 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
1 teaspoon grated or minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup peanuts or almonds

First, boil some water for the pasta and cook till al dente. Rinse and set aside. Meanwhile, chop the onion, pepper and sautee it in a skillet in a little bit of oil till softened. Add in the chicken to heat up (if you're using raw chicken, cook that first, then add the onion & pepper). In a small bowl combine the oil, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes. Pour into skillet and cook for about 3-5 minutes. Add in edamame and peanuts or almonds and cook till edamame is no longer frozen. Serve! You can also sprinkle some nuts on top. Enjoy!

Chicken Parmigiana Quesadillas with Cheesy Marinara Rice

My friend Carla and I found this recipe about 2 years ago. It comes from Publix Apron's Meals and it couldn't be easier. Plus it's delicious and if you're in a hurry, it takes probably 15-20 minutes to make! This is a great meal to make if you have kids because the chicken is actually breaded chicken nuggets and what kid doesn't like chicken nuggets?! You could puree or shred some zucchini and hide it in there for added nutrition or add some chopped peppers! These are a hit as a week night dinner or as hors d'oeurves. The cheesy rice is a great addition. I use it all the time to complement other dishes too. Tip: Heat up the extra marinara sauce to dip your quesadillas in! Enjoy!

My notes: I use my favorite jarred marinara sauce (I like Bertolli or Prego, personally). I have a small George Foreman grill that I use to make these but if you don't have one, just use a wide skillet and flip once after the first side is browned & the cheese is melted. For the rice, I use Uncle Ben's 90 second microwaveable rice - it's called Cheesy Rice, I think. That is what you want for this! Again, I just use the same jarred sauce for this that I used for the quesadillas. I've used fresh & pre-minced garlic - it doesn't matter. I don't have a garlic press so I grate it into the rice or just use the pre-minced - it isn't as strong as raw garlic anyway.




Chicken Parmigiana Quesadillas (rice recipe below)

10 ounces frozen breaded chicken tenders or strips
8 medium-size flour tortillas
cooking spray
1 cup shredded Italian-blend cheese, divided
1 1/2 cups tomato pasta sauce with olives, divided (I just used my favorite jarred sauce - I hate olives)

Preheat two-sided tabletop grill. Place chicken tenders on plate (may be paper). Microwave on HIGH 3-5 minutes or until heated. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Lightly coat one side of the tortillas with cooking spray. Arrange 4 of the tortillas on clean work surface (sprayed side down). Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the cheese over each tortilla, then one-fourth of the chicken. Spoon one-fourth of the marinara sauce over the chicken; then sprinkle with 2 more tablespoons of the cheese. Cover each with remaining tortillas (sprayed side out).

Place one or two quesadillas on grill (depending on size of grill). Cook 4-5 minutes or until golden. Let stand 2-3 minutes before cutting. Cook remaining quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve.Note: Quesadillas may be cooked in large sauté pan preheated on medium. Double cooking time, turning once.

Cheesy Marinara Rice

1 (8.5-ounce) pouch pre-cooked rice with cheese
1 cup tomato pasta sauce with olives
3 fresh garlic cloves
4-5 sprigs fresh Italian parsley (rinsed)

Combine rice and pasta sauce in small saucepan on medium. Crush garlic, using garlic press, into rice. Use knife to remove garlic from bottom of press. Chop parsley finely (1 tablespoon); stir into rice. Cook 2-4 more minutes, stirring occasionally, or until thoroughly heated. Reduce heat to warm; cover until ready to serve.

Chicken Marsala

If you want to impress your in-laws or your husband's boss (or your boss!), this is the meal for you. I made this for my in-laws when I first got married and my father-in-law probably would've eaten the entire dish! I also make this for my Grandpa a lot, it's one of his favorites. This is so delicious - it will definitely become one of your favorite meals.

My notes: When I make this for my husband, I don't use mushrooms because neither one of us care for them...it's a texture thing. I love the taste they bring to dishes but I can't eat them. However, when I make this for other people I add them and they're a hit. You should be able to find marsala cooking wine in any grocery store. I don't use real marsala wine, even though all the Food Network chefs say you should use real wine instead of cooking wine, but sorry, no one in my house is going to drink marsala wine. Go cheap and buy the cooking wine, it's delicious. I use dried parsley instead of fresh.

Chicken Marsala (from MarthaStewart.com)

Serves 4
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 5 ounces each), butterflied
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
10 ounces white button mushrooms, sliced
2 cups sweet Marsala wine
1 clove garlic, finely minced
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (of 1 lemon)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley


Combine flour, salt, and pepper in a large shallow dish; set aside. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour, tapping off excess; set aside. Add oil to skillet. When oil is shimmering, add chicken, and cook until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Turn over, and cook 3 minutes more. Remove chicken to a plate; set aside and keep warm.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in same skillet. Add mushrooms, and cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown and all the released liquid has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes.
Remove skillet from heat, and add wine. Return skillet to heat, scraping up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add garlic, lemon juice, remaining 2 tablespoons butter, and parsley. Cook for 2 minutes until reduced and slightly thickened. Taste and adjust for seasoning. Pour sauce over chicken and sprinkle with parsley. Serve immediately.

Chicken Souvlaki

Mmmm Greek food. This dish always makes me think of this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant near our home called "My Big Fat Greek Restaurant". I love the name and their food is phenomenol. Everything is light blue and white and their servers and employees are actually Greek. Their souvlaki is delicious and when I found this recipe, I had to try it. It's close enough to the real thing for me! And a LOT cheaper!

My notes: I've made this dish twice and haven't made the yogurt (tzatziki) sauce. I think I'm just scared of cucumbers. I really hate them. I'll try it next time. Promise! I also don't like olives so I omit those. Enjoy!

Chicken Souvlaki (from RealSimple.com)

4 pieces flat bread or pitas
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup crumbled Feta
1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 small cucumber, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh dill

Heat oven to 200° F. Wrap the bread in foil and place in oven.
In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, Feta, and olives.
In a large bowl, combine the oregano, thyme, pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the vinegar, and the lemon juice. Slowly add 4 tablespoons of the oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly until incorporated.
Pour 2 1/2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette over the tomato mixture, toss, and set aside. Add the chicken to the remaining vinaigrette, toss, and set aside.
Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer the chicken but not the liquid to the skillet and heat, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, cucumber, dill, and the remaining vinegar. Spread the bread with some of the yogurt sauce and top with the chicken. Add the tomato salad and fold.