Why this blog??

Why this blog?? I often find myself stressing over what to make for my family for dinner. We live a busy life and some meals need time to prep, cook and let's not forget shopping for everything you need. I love cookbooks and websites, but there are so many recipe's at times it is overwhelming. The recipe's I will be posting are things I actually made. I will tell you if they are easy or more time consuming. I will also tell you if they are good. Most of these are recipe's I have made for years and continue to make because they are easy or quick and my family loves them and i know yours will too! I will also try to at least once in a whlie try a new recipe I've found on line or in a book and honestly rate it. I always encourage others to send me their favorite recipe's as well! I am a mom... not a chef. But I am a mom who enjoys cooking for her family and making a somewhat healthy meal (some days more healthy than others:) ) In each recipe I will share how I recommend serving it, any substitutions I can think of that are also good, or ways to prepare ahead of time to make the cooking part seem quicker! I am not a photographer, as you can see... most of these pictures are taken from my phone camera, so may not be the best! I love to hear from others who have made these recipes and what they have done to change the recipe... please post comments! Thank you! To "like" me on facebook, go to this link... It's What's Cookin

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Chicken Roll Ups

This has been one of my favorite recipe's since my roommate made them for me in college. I've spruced them up a bit since then and they were one of the first things I made for my husband. He still says it's one of his favorite dinners. We always serve these with mash potatoes and my cheesy rolls. Other good sides are corn on the cob, a salad, or whatever veggie your family likes! They are easy and delish!

*1 lb chicken tenders (Sometimes I use thin breasts and cup them vertically into tenders)
*1 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs
*1/4 cup fresh grated cheese (my fav is Parmigiano-Reggiano)
* Seasonings (I use 1 T italian, 1 tsp of black pepper and 1 tsp of Nature Seasoning)
*1/2-3/4 stick of butter
*1 lemon
*toothpicks


Preheat oven to 375
Use two medium bowls. In first bowl melt butter and squeeze half of lemon into. In second bowl mix bread crumbs, cheese and seasonings- stir well.  Dip each chicken tender first into lemon butter and then into the bread crumb mixture. Roll each and stick a toothpick through. Place all chicken rolls in a baking dish. Poor any remaining butter over. If there is no remaining butter, squeeze rest of lemon over top of chicken and put a little butter slaps around edges and in corner of baking dish.
Bake for 40 mins. They will be crispy on the outside and moist on inside.

We serve directly on top of our mash potatoes. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!



Italian Bread Crumbs, Shredded cheese and seasonings

Two bowls

Roll each and stick a tooth pick through

Place in baking dish and put some butter and lemon in pan with them .

Bake till golden and crispy

I put mine right on top of potatoes

So does the hubby:)


Fourth of July Fruit Kabobs

I make these every year for the 4th of July. They are so festive and fun! Sometimes I add red grapes, sometimes I drizzle them with white chocolate... you can get creative!
What are some of your favorite Holiday recipes??

*Wooden Skewers
*Assortment of goodies (Strawberries, Blueberries, Marshmallows (I cut the big ones in half, but i've used small ones before too, brownie bites, red grapes... Whatever you think would be good as long as you have some red, white and blue on them!)