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Roni

Food, Savory

Jalapeno and Cheese Stuffed Panko-Breaded Chicken

Some people laugh at me when I say cooking is therapeutic. I kind of let myself go head first into it and just focus on the task at hand, and think about nothing else. On the off days that things are really bad and you just want to hit something, stuffed chicken is kind of a saving grace. Not because it’s easy, but more because you get to beat the heck out of the meat. Hey, it’s cheaper than paying for a kick boxing class.

So when I was having an off day about a week ago, I decided I’d take a little extra time in the kitchen – mallet in hand. Turns out you can make a pretty delicious meal when you put some extra elbow grease into it. Spicy, cheesy, and accompanied by peas and mashed potatoes. Really, could it get any better than jalapeno and cheddar stuffed chicken?

Jalapeno and Cheese Stuffed Panko-Breaded Chicken

Gather
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded
2 whole chicken breasts
Flour
2 eggs, beaten
Panko bread crumbs
Black pepper
Salt
Garlic Powder

Preheat oven to 375.

Slice chicken breast length wise into thirds. Using a mallet or a rolling pin, beat and pound out the chicken until about 1/4 inch thick. Line chicken with a sprinkling of jalapeno peppers and cheddar cheese. Roll and pin with toothpicks.

In three seperate bowls, place flour, egg wash, and Panko breadcrumbs. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to panko bread crumbs, just a sprinkling of each. Dredge chicken in flour, then into egg wash, and then roll into Panko bread crumbs. Place in a sprayed, glass baking dish.

Bake, uncovered, for 35-40 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and browned.

Remove, serve, and enjoy.

July 11, 2014 by Roni

Food, Sweet

Bosenberry Croissants

This one was an accidental creation. See, my brother showed me a bosenberry tree that needed picking. Ok, not so sure about “needed” being picked, but it sure as heck was only seeing action from the birds in the area. They were already started chomping away at the fresh fruit, so we figured it wouldn’t hurt to take a few more. We actually weren’t sure what kind of berries they were. (I was a good sister and tested them. Harmless.) We kept thinking it was a blackberry tree, but the more I looked at the berries, the more I knew it wasn’t a blackberry tree.

The berries were too long. So we Googled,and I found that it was most likely a bosenberry tree. So we picked a bowlful, and figured what better thing for breakfast than croissants. And I think I made it look way more complicated than it was. You can basically do the same thing with just jam or preserves, but why not make something from semi-scratch and make memories.

Bosenberry Croissants

Gather:
1 package of Pilsbury Crescent Rolls
1/2 cup of bosenberries, washed and destemmed
2 teaspoons of Splenda

Preheat oven to 350.

In a bowl, mash bosenberries into a jam consistency. Add Splenda and fold into berries.

On a cookie sheet, unroll the crescent rolls. Spoon berry mix onto crescent rolls, then lightly spread it from the wide end to halfway up the triangle. Roll closed, starting at the wide end, and ending at the top of the triangle. Fold in ends of corners if you wish.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until crescent rolls are puffed and golden brown. Remove from oven, let cool, and enjoy.

July 9, 2014 by Roni

Life In General

Dream Pants

Every so often, I go into my wardrobe and pull them out. I look at them, try them on, and say, “just a few more pounds.” They’re my dream pants. This year’s model is a linen pair, with the most adorable blue pattern. And I know if I never sat down, I could wear them.

Yes, I can button them. I can walk around in them, heck, I’m so close I’ve almost walked out the door in them. But it’s not good enough for me to wear them an entire day without being angry at myself for not waiting.

I know others who have had “dream dresses” or an even more common one, a “dream bikini.” It’s the item we want to wear so badly that we use it as a motivational tool. But when we don’t get close, we give up, throw in the towel and say, “next year.”

I’ve made a promise to myself that this pair will make it. I will get to wear them soon. Because if I can wear these pants, I can certainly fit into a bikini for my summer trip to Maine. I mean, I even have a Pinterest board made for my this-will-fit goal. It’s filled with mostly bikinis and dreams of having a model-perfect look, but hey, I still would love any of those items.

So, what’s your “dream” item(s)?

July 8, 2014 by Roni

Food, Life In General

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Started my day at the baseball field with my dad and brother. Which totally reminded me that I should have kept playing softball. I forgot how much I really do love hitting a ball around the field and playing catch. Just to be clear, today my brother was the one batting, I spent the morning jogging around the outfield trying to snag the baseballs coming at me. Good Old American Baseball, can’t have the fourth without it, right?

But we did get spoiled at lunch time when I got to visit my Aunt Maryann. Oh, and did she ever surprise us with fantastic red velvet cake (to die for and all decked out in red, white, and blue sprinkles) and pulled pork and ribs to which I heard she got up at 4 a.m. this morning to work on. Did I tell you that she’s the best cook? I just hope my meals come out to be half as good as hers. Maybe she’ll let me make a cookbook with her some day. I’d probably game about 20 pounds in the process from eating everything, but it would be so worth it!

Happy Fourth of July

Anyway, last night we set off fireworks, so instead of hanging around the park with a ton of families, I’m going to a concert! Styx and Foreigner, here I come! I’m already preparing my oh-so-sentive ears for this. (I’m the person that has my TV down at volume 14 and still says it sounds loud at night. Crazy, I know.)

So, I hope you all got in some BBQ, tons of sweets, and fireworks! Share with me your meals! Anyone else have any red, white, and blue treats?

July 4, 2014 by Roni

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