Archive | February, 2011

Toni’s Crunchy Chicken Tenders

By on February 2, 2011 in Making Dinner, Recipes

I write a lot about home cooked versions being better than store or restaurant bought and my chicken tenders are the best example yet.   Toni’s Crunchy Chicken Tenders

Ingredients:

  1. chicken tenderloins- 2 or 3 lbs
  2. flour- 1 cup
  3. panko bread crumbs- 1 box
  4. poultry seasoning- 3 or 4 tbspns
  5. eggs- 2 or 3
  6. vegetable oil

Directions:

  1. combine flour, bread crumbs and seasoning in a large shallow bowl; mix well
  2. beat eggs in another shallow bowl
  3. heat vegetable oil, about 1/2 inch deep, in non-stick skillet over medium-high heat
  4. roll chicken first in egg and then in flour mixture
  5. fry until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes each side

Dipping Sauce:

Combine 2 parts mayonnaise to 1 part Dijon mustard and 1 part ketchup with a few shakes of Worcesthshire sauce.

What’s even better- if you have leftover chicken, reincarnate it.  If you still have plenty of chicken and want an easy main dish, simply lay chicken in baking dish and cover with marinara sauce; top with shredded parmesan cheese and bake until just warm, about 6 minutes.  Voila, Chicken Parmesan!

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Give Your Family A Little Heart For Dinner

By on February 2, 2011 in Making Dinner

Heart Shaped Dinner

I’m known at home for adding a little quirkiness to daily routines, especially dinner time: playing classic Italian music on pasta nights, serving fortune cookies with Chinese and surprise picnic dinners outside on our back lawn.

I like to think my family enjoys my annual heart-shaped meatloaf.  Why not add a little fun any chance you can get, right?

This year I made a Spinach Turkey Meatloaf; check out this simple recipe for your “heart-shaped dinner”:

Turkey Spinach Meatloaf

Spinach Turkey Meatloaf Recipe

 

My traditional meatloaf recipe is super simple and is part of my Weekly Meal Plan system.  If you’re already a subscriber to The Organized Cook, look forward to this time-saving recipe January 21st.

If you haven’t already subscribed to this valuable tool, sign up now at The Organized Cook and never worry again about what you’re going to make for dinner.  Cut your grocery shopping and dinner preparation time by up to 70%.  Take back the family dinner.

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Happy Groundhog Day!

By on February 2, 2011 in Busy Mom Living The Dream

Happy Groundhog Day everyone!

Oprah Winfrey calls it “Living Your Best Life”.  Joyce Meyer says, “Enjoying Everyday Life”.  One of my best friends, Kim, a busy mom of two toddlers, refers to it as “Living The Dream”- this best describes our busy-mom world.  Although, I can’t help but notice some slight sarcasm once in a while when she says this.

Kim also once told me that, “organization is really the key to everything”.  When she said “everything”, I’m assuming she was referring to this dream life.  So, when I begin to notice the gap between what my day is shaping up to look like versus what my “living the dream” life looks like, I can’t help but wonder how to merge these two universes.  It’s like looking at a sticky-note doodle and seeing a Renoir painting.

Is organization the key?  I’m going to find out.  Today is Groundhog Day and it makes me want to watch my favorite movie.  If you haven’t already seen the film, Groundhog Day, you’re really missing out.  There’s been a lot of philosophical debate on this movie too.  Bill Murray plays Phil, who must live one day of his life over and over again- thousands of times- until he gets it right.  In order to move on to the next day, he has to do everything perfect and learn so many lessons just to be liberated from this one day- Groundhog Day.  What rings so true for me is the idea of what could come tomorrow if I live this day according to my dream.  What’s even more important…. am I living the same day over and over and over again until I get it right?  And what lies ahead and around the corner if I do get it right?

So this morning I woke up more aware.  I used more smiles, more patience and more gratitude getting my kids ready and to school.  I didn’t scold myself for forgetting Brooke’s school picture money and needing to make an extra trip home to retrieve it.  But at the same time couldn’t help but make a mental note, that perhaps a bit more organization to this morning couldn’t have hurt.

Journey with me in my blog, “Living The Dream” while I explore if organization is really the framework for getting my Renoir dream.  And I would love to hear from each of you about living yours as well.

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