Blog Hopping: Quick & Easy Dinner

Miranda (of Narrating Life) and Hannah (of Sherbet Blossom) asked me to participate in the kick-off of a new series they're doing called 'Blog Hopping'. Each month they will feature several different bloggers posting on a theme to introduce us all to some great blogs. I'm flattered and thrilled to be participating.

This month's inaugural theme is 'Quick & Easy Family Dinners'. I immediately knew what I was going to share, but I cannot take any credit for the recipe. Although, to be fair, I never come up with my own recipes. I consider myself to be a good cook, but I am not skilled enough to invent my own recipes. The best recipes I have often come from my grandma and other family members. I can take it as a guarantee if Denise, Michelle, my mom, or grandma has made it. This recipe is another one of those family recipes that I remember growing up with. When one of us was wondering (and possibly whining) about what to make for dinner, Denise purportedly said:'Parmesan Chicken, duh!' It's that kind of recipe. 

Now this is not your typical parmesan chicken smothered in marinara and cheese. Its lighter, easier, and much, much faster than that.

Gather your ingredients. The original recipe calls for:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 c. fine dry breadcrumbs
1/3 c. grated parmesan
1 1/2 t. salt
3/4 t. pepper
1/4 c. melted butter
2 T. lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
minced parsley
paprika

(I was out of lemon so I substituted lime. Also it should be noted that while I will buy generic parmesan, I stick to good, name brand butter.)

 I made it even easier. I nixed the salt, pepper, and parsley and substituted seasoned breadcrumbs for the plain breadcrumbs. So to be clear, I used:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 c. seasoned dry breadcrumbs
1/3 c. grated parmesan
1/4 c. melted butter
2 T. lemon juice
1 clove garlic, minced
paprika 

Blend breadcrumbs and parmesan in one bowl. Combine butter, garlic and lemon juice in another.
Dip chicken into butter mixture, then crumb mixture, coating well.

Roll chicken and place seam-down in an 8x8” baking dish. Pour any remaining butter mixture over the chicken and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. 

(My oven in hot so it takes more like 40 minutes.)

When I made this the other night I chopped some sweet potato fries that cooked in the oven while the chicken baked, and microwaved some frozen snow peas. Easy! Brown rice also goes great with this, but I'm the only brown rice-lover in my household.

(We always eat on salad plates.)

This is a perfect chicken dish to make when you have nothing else planned or when you need to take dinner to someone. It's easily doubled, and quite the crowd-pleaser so just go ahead and double it when you make it. You'll want leftovers.

Now hop over to these other great bloggers and their easy family dinners:

Hannah 

 Miranda
Cathy

Dianna
Jaime & Emily

Jessica

Lindsey

Thanks for playing along, and thank you Hannah and Miranda!

Utah: Family

One of the best parts of this visit was time with Emily! (Or 'Llamaly', as those in the inner circle know her.)

I have to say, Emily is just one of my all-time favorite people. (As are her mother Denise, and her sister Charlotte) Isn't it fortunate when you can say that about your family? I love that I love my family. (The women especially) I love that I count them among my chief inspirations, examples, and friends.

So back to Emily. I've loved Emily since she was a little girl. We are ten years apart, which is how far apart Michelle and I are, so I have lots of memories of her as a girl. I visited Denver annually, and lived briefly with Grandma a couple of times and have many fond memories of her. She has grown into one of the most splendid people I can imagine! She is equal parts entertaining, charitable, hard-working, intelligent, tasteful, stylish, and plain good company. She is easy and enjoyable to have around.

Simply stated, I was really glad I got to see her as much as I did. I didn't mean for that to turn into an Emily gush, but there you have it. If you know her, you get it.

We baked a lot while she was there, specifically these Samoas bar cookies, Peanut Butter Cup Caramel Shortbread Bars and these wonderful cookies of Michelle's. Incidentally, should any of you endeavor to make either of the bar cookies, may we offer a piece of advice? Make your own caramel. It probably should go without saying, but homemade caramel will really be your best bet. Both recipes call for melted Kraft caramels, but we unanimously agreed once hardened, they are way too tough and chewy in a bad way. Once again, homemade trumps all.

Emily treated us all to giant fountain drinks: Coke Zero for me, of course.

 (A staple where Emily is concerned.)

I took this picture for Timm to show Emily's pathetic version of a wand. I know what some of you are thinking- any version of wand is pathetic for someone over the age of 10. However, among this Harry Potter-loving sect, it is not unusual to have a wand commissioned and handmade by Timm. I know Charlotte has one. So I found this knobbly little twig a sad excuse for a wand, especially when she has a wand maker in the family. Timm: take note.

Happy Emily at Cafe Rio, with only one final to go the next morning.

I was also able to see Michelle's in-laws Mim and Bob, who as Jill put it, might possibly be the nicest people on the planet. I love seeing them! They have always been so supportive and sweet to me, and they are only my sister's in-laws. Within a few minutes Bella started calling them Grandma and Grandpa, so apparently they make everyone feel that accepted and loved. 

Every trip to Utah's just full of people to see!

Utah: Places to Go

I have 3 weeks of travel to blog about, but it's always hard to know where to start with so many photos and so much time to cover. So I am going to start with the places we went. When I go back to Utah there is a flexible list of destinations that I expect to go. Here are a few, as well as a couple of new places.

Neither Michelle or I had ever been to this quilt shop in American Fork, but I was on the hunt for some wool felt for a project I wanted to work on. While they didn't have the wool felt, it was a charming storefront with lots of enviable supplies and fabrics.

While not terribly exciting, we did have to go to Harmon's, and I found Eva's expression hilarious and familiar. (3 girls to a cart does not make for 3 happy girls.)

I was very happy that Shell and I got to go to the Provo temple together. I haven't even been to our temple in Columbia, SC since we moved here. It's only about 2 hours away, but Timm's work schedule + child care + finances have made that difficult. I vow that we will go before the end of the summer however. Nevertheless, Michelle and I were able to go and do sealings together, which was very cool. I've never done sealings before and it was a very neat and memorable experience.

(Primroses on the temple grounds. I love primroses.)

An unexpected blessing of going to the temple was seeing this:

That's right- a car with eyelashes. I noticed the car right off but couldn't for the life of me figure out what it was adorned with until Michelle recognized them as, of course, eyelashes. Of course.

The Distribution Center is another must-stop to replace things not easily found in my neck of the woods.

Miranda and I went to see what all the fuss was about at Alice Lane. (More on the visit with Miranda later-)

And of course, no trip to Utah would be complete without a stop (or two) to Cafe Rio. Home of the well-deserved famed pork barbacoa burritos and salads.

And last but not least, Iceberg! Who could resist their 'mini' shakes and accompanying onion rings? Not I! It is probably for the best that I do not have an Iceberg within reasonable distance to me, although it sounds blasphemous to say.

Not pictured, we also went to the Carl Bloch exhibit at BYU, which was stunning and very touching. Michelle was kind enough to sit with the girls in the lobby while I finished going through it alone, in peace, since she had already been a couple of times. Afterward we made one of two stops to the Creamery while I was there, both of which times  I had Graham Canyon, which may have changed my life. It's made with graham cracker ice cream, people. Why didn't I know that existed? 

We went for sainthood by taking all the girls to the dinosaur museum, which Michelle photographed since I left my camera at home.

I went to DownEast Basics to get a couple (though not enough)  layering t's as well.

Overall, I felt like I hit all the stops I needed to while in Utah, was still able to get together with friends a few times, but still felt relaxed and stayed home most of the time. Just the way I like it.

 

{Our little cartoon character, just for fun.)

Now that I've broken it in a little, maybe it will be easier to delve into the rest of the photos and the rest of the trip!

In Honor

One year ago, my grandmother died.

I can easily say, without hesitation, that she was the greatest influence of my life. I have never known of a more supportive, non-judgmental, unconditionally loving person. In life she was one of my greatest friends, confidantes, advisors and champions. When she died, it felt like a great light went out in the world. It is no small thing to lose such a person in your life- the one who rallied and loved you in a way different than anyone else ever could. Not surprisingly, her death and her funeral were some of the most spiritual and meaningful experiences of my life. In the past few weeks I have found myself thinking of her intensely almost every day, brought to tears missing her so. Her death was such a great loss to so many; truly to know her was to love her. Words simply cannot express the void that she has left for so many. And yet I know the heavens rejoiced at her homecoming, and I know that she is more able to help me now than when she was on the earth. I like to imagine that she is taking care of my baby until I can see them both again, that I have two guardian angels on my left and on my right.

We have a couple of oft-quoted stories of my young childhood related to grandma that I want recorded so my children will know them. I was born in Denver, and lived near grandma until the age of 3 when my dad was transferred to the east. When they broke the news that we were moving to grandma she replied, "Well, are you going to take Jess?!" (Incidentally, I was named after her mother, Jessie.) Another fabled  story was around the same time and grandma and I were in her room. She was putting on her makeup and complaining that she felt ugly. She said, "But honey, I'm just so old", to which I famously replied "To me you're not!". Indeed, she always exemplified all things beautiful. In fact, I believe she only increased in beauty until the day she died. How did she do that?

{Grandma and I when Timm and I went to the temple in 2004. I think she is simply ethereal in this picture.}

She also gave me the only 2 nicknames I've ever had. She always called me her 'Pritzy Pritz', from the time I was a baby and I still love it. She is also the one who first called me a badger, hence the blog name. She used to give me Frances books, and inscribed them to her 'favorite little badger', imploring me not to change.
*edited: It is true that my dad always called me 'Weirdicus Jess', my 3rd and final nickname.

In our family, we have a tradition of giving 'gifts of love' that we write out to each present member of the family on Christmas Eve. I have this one, from when I was 18 months old. I treasure it, and I want to get it nicely framed.

My mom happened to be in town today, and in discussing it we had simply planned to make a nice cake, since fabulous cakes are part of her greatest legacy. Denise had a better idea, and she decided to bake bread and take it to grandma's friends and those in need. Grandma exemplified charity, and in her declining years would often bake for people since it was one of the only ways she felt she could still serve. Plus, she was damn good at it. Michelle and Miranda also participated in what I have coined the Bread Brigade. I made my all-time favorite bread recipe, Limpa Rye, and took it to a couple of my neighbors. I was very pleased that it turned out to be a very good dough. 

Never one to miss an opportunity to make a cake, I also made Banana Cake at my mom's request since we celebrated her birthday while she was here as well. Linda had the wonderful suggestion to add pecans and coconut to the top, making it Southern-Style Banana Cake, a variation I will definitely be keeping. It's a good cake, but not my favorite simply because if chocolate or White Mountain were an option (and they always should be), why would you choose banana? But with the southern variation, very good. (Also, true to form, she changed the recipe unbeknownst to me. She added about 1/3 block of cream cheese to the whipped cream frosting to help stabilize it. Bonus.)

And speaking of cake, my mom got us these super cute signs, apropos for remembering Grandma. Here it is in its temporary placement:

{I do.}

All I can say is, I can't wait until I get to see her again.

And I strive every day to be a bit more like her.

Her influence still guides me every day.

p.s. I had planned on making something to commemorate the day and sending them to a few people, but I never got around to it. I toyed with several ideas, but decided on some printables that I am working on and will post on Sunday.

The Cupcakes

Hayden's Eagle Scout Court of Honor was last night, and Linda asked me to make a couple of things: coconut cream pie, and some kind of cupcakes. I haven't been baking much lately, so the wide open options of cupcakes to choose from had me reeling, in a good kind of way. After consulting Michelle and Miranda both, I stumbled upon a totally different recipe that had me at soon as I saw "Salted Caramel Cupcakes". Yes, please.

Prior to making these, I went a full 26 days without sugar- more on this later. However, asking me to bake these 4-step cupcakes and a fabulous coconut cream pie was like asking an alcoholic to bar tend your party. For 3 days. (I baked these over 2 days and then had leftovers for a third.) So after 26 days, Salted Caramel Cupcakes broke me.

But get this. You start with a wonderful caramel cake. I will definitely make these cakes again. Then you make a very light and fluffy buttercream. Then you make an amazing buttermilk syrup, which is really like a delightful caramel sauce. You swirl the buttercream and the caramel together to complete the frosting. Then you dip a long chewy caramel in chocolate (I chose bitter chocolate). And then, and THEN- you sprinkle- wait for it- kosher salt on top of the caramel and the cupcake itself. Kosher salt. On the cupcake.

It was amazing.

And rich.

Really rich.

Additionally, the coconut cream pie was my best so far! Always a pleasure, especially since I don't get to make them too often. Thank goodness for reliable, time-tested, family-honored recipes. Thank goodness for grandma who perfected them over the years and then passed along her wisdom to her daughters, granddaughters, and friends.

Dinner Tonight

Spring is unofficially here in the Carolinas, so last week's menu planning featured a couple of strawberry recipes. In anticipation for spring to officially be here, I bought 5 quarts of strawberries on sale. Perhaps prematurely. I combined both of those recipes for dinner tonight and was struck at the pretty sight that our table provided.

I made Strawberry Quinoa Salad (from Weight Watchers) and Timm made this old recipe for Springtime Strawberry Soup, also from Weight Watchers.

Though beautiful, I was actually really disappointed in the salad. I hardly ever dislike a recipe I make, simply because in reading it I can usually tell if it is something I will like. The degree to which I like something I've made may vary, but it is usually enjoyable and something I would make again. Not so much with this salad. I think I might not like the arugula as a base for it, which is surprising because I thought I liked arugula. 

("Aru-gu-la, it's a veg-e-table.") Timm liked it however, so maybe you should still give it a whirl. I added a diced yellow bell pepper to the recipe.

The strawberry soup however, is delicious. My mom and I discovered this recipe about 10 years ago when I was home from BYU. Even Bella ate it, if that tells you anything. And it should.

I love seasonal food. I love springtime veggies. And summertime fruit. And fall and winter veggies. As much as I love seasonal food, I think I would have a hard time eating totally locally. I like my produce shipped around the world if it means I can have bananas each morning, or lemons any time of the year. Eating locally makes me afraid of limiting my produce options based on the time of year. I'm very shortsighted like that. I've been thinking a lot about food lately, growing upon about a dozen books I've read on the subject in the last 2 years, and changes I've finally begun to implement.
I have food on the mind.

Man of the Year

Last week Timm called me from work to tell me that he was just awarded 'Teacher of the Year' at his high school. (There are about 100 teachers there-) I was so excited! I have always known that he is an exceptional teacher, and will tell anyone who will listen, but finally he is being recognized for it. This year he transferred to a prestigious new high school closer to us, which just opened this year. He was nominated by his peers, which I believe to be even more of a compliment. Even teachers recognize him as the best teacher. I could keep gushing; I'm just really proud of him. I've told everyone I encounter, even if it is not easily worked into the conversation. Did I mention he is Teacher of the Year? Cause he is. Linda was appropriately impressed when I told her, and suggested we have a dinner to celebrate. Blake and Hayden made him this sweet banner.

Paul, Linda, Blake and Hayden congratulated him on paper.

Linda prepared a typically wonderful fare according to Timm's preferences. Roast with potatoes and carrots, balsamic green beans, and a great salad. I made this awesome flourless chocolate cake, courtesy of Michelle. I didn't actually have any, but I have it on good account that it was awesome. Just happens to be flourless, so it was the perfect Gluten-Free dessert! I think I will keep this as a standby GF dessert. In your face, garbanzo bean flour!

The gang. (Sorry Sophie and Chase!)

Like I said, I've always thought of him as Teacher of the Year, but now he's being recognized for it. (Not financially, of course. Not really in any way other than verbally, but still.) It looks great on his resume, which has seen a lot of use lately, know what I mean? Also, did I mention that this is only his 4th year of teaching, and his first at this school? Cause it's true.

For our full mailing address where checks of congratulations can be sent, please email me and I will happily provide it.

Way to go, Timmy!

Some Things I Love Today

Linda asked me to make her some simple and sophisticated cards, and this is what I came up with. Loving the simplicity and will probably duplicate them for myself. Adapted with my own monogram, of course.

I've been eating this vegetarian chili for lunch a lot lately. I make up a batch, freeze half of it, and portion it out all week.  It's filling, chock full of beans (4 kinds), and only 5 points, if you're counting. It's especially good with homemade bread or rolls.

Plus I love this movie. So funny, touching, and quirky. My kind of love story. Even though one of the main characters is a sex doll. Trust me.

Good times.

Just an Idea

* I've tried to link that blog several times and it just won't work, so I'll just tell you the address: www.cleanmama.blogspot.com*
I've had some help menu planning lately from this blog Michelle recommended. 

We love to make BBQ Chicken Pizza, so I thought of putting a bunch of chicken in the crockpot with BBQ sauce and then using it in various ways.

The first night we made the pizza, then tonight I made them into quesadillas- just the chicken mix, corn, black beans and cheese, served with the usual lettuce, salsa and sour cream fixins. I thought they were awesome.

I'm freezing the rest and I plan to use some for BBQ sandwiches with coleslaw on homemade buns- Southern style, you know. I love this simple fix to make 3+ easy yummy meals. 

Just thought I'd share.

Grandma's Birthday

{Bella and I sporting our Molly-made aprons}

Yesterday would have been my grandma's 84th birthday, and it's hard to believe that it has already been 6 months since she died. Emily and Denise had the fabulous idea to bake one of her cakes in celebration of her birthday every year. Perfect. I didn't know about this plan however until about 4 pm, so I madly started searching my pantry to see what ingredients I had on hand since I wasn't about to bike over to the store for a second time. I decided to make chocolate cake with White Mountain frosting, since it is my all-time favorite and I had it for at least 24 of my first 25 birthdays. (The exception being my first when my mom made a cake with whole almonds in the frosting, causing me to choke, and grandma to quite possibly have saved my life when she gave me the Heimlich maneuver.) Since my 25th birthday I have not lived with or near someone willing to make it for me. Somehow I have made it to 29 without making it for myself I don't know know why. I didn't have the ingredients for the usual chocolate cake that accompanies the frosting, so I used this amazing cake recipe of hers. It is unsurpassed.

Bella learned to sift flour.

Disclaimer: I screwed up. I am not a total idiot in the kitchen, I swear. I do some dumb-a things sometime, but overall I think I do okay. Sometimes better. I have been taught by the best after all, and I am not new to baking. Nevertheless, it was kind of a mess. First of all, I just greased and floured my pans, I didn't use wax paper. 

So this happened to the first layer I turned out:

Yikes.
Not great, but if I put that layer on the bottom, face down, no one will be the wiser. 

Time to carefully turn out the second layer:

Oh good hell.
Hell's bells.
Good hell almighty.

I thought about throwing it in tribute to grandma, but I couldn't afford the time or ingredients.

Almost an entire half of the cake was ruined.

Unsalvageable, right?

Nope.

I made it work.

I had already invited friends over to share the cake, so I was kind of stuck. I used a lot of licence in frosting liberally and creating illusions. What's a little extra frosting, especially when it's White Mountain? I had one great thing in my favor: My friend Trish had never even tasted a cake from scratch. How is this even possible? I can wrap my mind around never having baked a 'real' cake if I try- but never having tasted one??? There is so much wrong with that I can't even begin.

I didn't take a picture of the final product because everyone had been not so patiently waiting and needed to get to bed. 

It was de-li-cious.

If I don't mind saying. 

And I don't.

And I even pointed in out and logged it.

(18 points for 1/8th of the cake. Better than I thought actually.)

Happy Birthday Grandma.

I'm so thankful for all of the lessons she taught me and still does, both in the kitchen and out.
I love that I have someone on the 'inside' now, taking care of things and taking care of my baby.
I love that I can celebrate because I know I will see her again.