Still Alive and Kickin

So I haven't dropped off the face of the earth...I really haven't. Just in fact I saw Julie and Julia and was quiet inspired to cook and write about it. This story really touched my heart to try and really step up what I cook for the family. But let's be real here cooking w/two screaming kids doesn't always make the best environment for trying new things but I have a few stand by's I would like to share

One of my go to meals for the mid-week i.e. I am so flipping tired I am lucky to have my eyes open enough to turn on the stove dinners. I like to keep frozen chicken breast in the house, the one's from Costco that are already packaged in sets of two and nicely sealed up so you don't have to. I just pat them dry. I take a large handful of almonds and grind them up into dust add them to about 3/4 c of panko bread crumbs, mix it up and put it on a plate (I like to use pie plates), then I make up my wet in another pie plate. I put in one egg, 1 Tblsp of mustard (any kind on hand), salt n pepper. If I have an orange I add juice from half of it and the zest from the entire orange.

Turn on the oven to about 300 and then dip your chicken in the wet stuff and then to the dry. Get a nice coating of the bread crumbs and put in on a wire rack. Put a little EVOO in a non-stick skillet and brown on both sides. Then put them in the oven to finish up the cooking and then you can get the rest of dinner done!

If you go to serve the chicken and it feels a little soft or it's not quite done for your liking, just zap it in the micro for a minute...my kids love this.

Kitchen Bytes:
To get kids to eat veggies you may want to try what my Mom called "Secret Sauce"...yeah it's just some mayo and a bit of mustard mixed together for dipping. It works great on Broccoli!