A couple of FAMILY fav's!

As I'm starting to prepare my Christmas Menu, I thought I would share a couple of our new favorites that are FOR SURE going to be on our December meals.... 

(Pictures will be coming... don't give up on me :)) 

On Sunday I usually make a large dinner ... I don't mind. I quite like it actually.  For several reasons.  It usually means that my kids are coming home for dinner - and we will ALL be home... sit down together and enjoy family chat time.  I LOVE it! I know it is usually stated that Sunday is a day of rest - and well, most see it as a day to "rest" and not a order for preparing big meals... but for me, preparing a big Sunday dinner is just that - RELAXING. I enjoy it!  I simply do not have time during the week to do it - so I look forward to Sundays... for this and other reasons as well. 

A few weeks ago, I came down with a WHOPPER migraine headache... It hit me while at church... I had to teach my class in the room with the lights off AND my sunglasses on.  It was a bad one! Hadn't had one like that in a long time! Somehow I managed to make it all through church and as soon as I walked in the house - straight to the bathroom to change my clothes... THEN I climbed right into bed... I was out. I needed it.... apparently. 

While I was sleeping I remember running around in my dream looking for a recipe for "baked chicken".... BAKED CHICKEN???  what was I thinking.... WHY was I thinking about baked chicken. WEIRD.  I had the dream several different times... and when I FINALLY became conscious again... I was CRAVING baked chicken!  OH MY!  So, I headed straight to the computer - looked at baked chicken recipes and finally decided to take a chance on this one.... and guess what! It has now become a family favorite! We have had it 3 times since.... MMMM-MMMM GOOD!!! I challenge you to give it a try! :)

Baked Chicken

8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

 (I use chicken tenders - worked better for my family and I used about 16 pieces)

1 cup sour cream

2 TBSP fresh lemon juice 

(I had bottled and it worked just fine... I think...)

2 tsp soy sauce

2 tsp celery sale

2 tsp garlic salt

dash of pepper

1 (6 oz) pkg of chicken seasoned stuffing mix - crushed into crumbs

1/2 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish 

In a medium bowl, mix the sour cream, lemon juice, soy sauce, celery salt, garlic salt, and pepper. Dip each chicken breast in the sour cream mixture, then roll in the stuffing mix to coat. Arrange chicken in the prepared baking dish. Drizzle with the melted butter. 
(***as a side note, I have done this a couple times, and the FROZEN chicken worked best for me - the sour cream mixture "stuck" to it better than on the thawed chicken... but you can try and see what works for you ;)***) 

Bake 40 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear. 

 M-M-M.... so good!  (And the leftovers are even better! :)) 

Then... I also discovered this amazing roll recipe... I can't remember where I found it - so if it looks familiar to you, please let me know - I'd love to give credit where credit is due.... 

Parker House Rolls 

3/4 cup warm water 

1 TBSP yeast

3/4 cup scaled milk

7 TBSP sugar

3/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

4-5 cups flour

Place 3/4 cup warm water and 1 TBSP of the sugar in mixer bowl. Stir to dissolve the sugar.  Sprinkle the yeast on top of water/sugar mixture and set aside for a few minutes.  Once the yeast has become bubbly (or active) add the milk, remaining sugar, salt and oil to the yeast mixture and mix well.  Slowly add the flour, making sure that the dough remains "slightly" sticky.  Once all flour is added continue to mix for 7 minutes.  Then remove dough and place in a lightly oiled bowl and then place in a warm place and let rise for about 3 hours.

Roll dough out to just under 1/2" thickness, cut with a cup the size you prefer.  Place a slab of butter towards one side and fold the other side over being sure to "pinch" the edges closed.  Place rolls on cookie sheet and set back in a warm place and let rise for 20-30 minutes.

Heat oven to 425 degrees.  Bake rolls for 10-14 minutes.  And.... just try to not SNITCH one while they are hot.... I bet you can't stop yourself!  They are just divine! 

Yep- pretty sure this is the new family favorite roll.... 

And certain to be on my December meal plan! 

How is your December meal planning coming along?

On your marks...Get set....

GO!

Did you know that there are only 

9 months 3 weeks and 5 days

OR 

296 DAYS 

until CHRISTMAS REALLY COUNTS?!?!?!
(remember... new deadline 10/31/12!) 

 DID YOU!?!?!? 

(Yep - I'm a little FREAKED out right now....) 

SO....

Because I am STILL working concocting planning dreaming 

well... doing SOMETHING for my  ULTIMATE plan

to be PREPARED 

and READY to ENJOY

Christmas 2012.... 

I'm going to share my 

THOUGHT PROVOKING treat.... 

that I am COUNTING on to get my "PLAN" complete! 

(the only thing I am missing is a COKE Icee! but... it's too late, cold and dark to go out by myself to get one... at least that is what the Mr. keeps telling me... so it's his fault that my PLAN is just not FALLING into place! HIS FAULT! :)) 

Any way...

BEST BROWNIES EVER!

(here's a BBE for your BFF!!!!  hee hee hee!!!) 

oh...it must be gettin' late.... 

Brownie Layer:

2 cups sugar
5 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 stick of butter PLUS 6 TBSP butter - melted 

(yes that is 14 TBSP butter total!  

(in my opera singing voice.... WORTH IT!  I promise!)
1 cup flour
2/3 cup baking cocoa
1 tsp salt

In a mixing bowl, beat together sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Add butter, mix well.  Combine dry ingredients; add to batter and mix well.  Pour into a greased 9×13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. (You don’t want to over bake them or they will be dry… Every oven is different, but mine took the full 30 minutes maybe a minute or two longer… just watch closely from 27 minutes on.  Insert toothpick in center to determine if done or not…)  Cool completely before frosting.  though!!!

Mint Creme Icing:

½  cup butter (1 cube), room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 TBSP heavy whipping cream

green food coloring

Beat all ingredients together until smooth, adding desired amount of food coloring.

(may need a little more cream, just depends….)

Chocolate Icing

½ cup butter (1 cube) room temperature

3 TBSP cocoa

3 TBSP heavy cream

1 tsp vanilla

2 ½ - 3 cups powdered sugar

Whip butter on high speed for 5 minutes.  Add cocoa, cream and vanilla to whipped butter and whip for about 3-4 minutes until smooth.  Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and whip each cup until smooth and creamy. (You may need to add more cream or less powdered sugar) Get to spreadable consistency.  Spread over the mint layer.  Place brownies in the fridge until about 30 minutes before serving…. Cut and serve… YUMMY! 

yeah...yeah...yeah.... I know LOTS of buter!!! 

BUT-ter (but they are) so good!!!!! 

I promise - you won't EVEN think about it when you bite into one....

(Let me know if you do though, I'll send a doctor over to check on you!) 

I know... not the BEST picture - 

But I wasn't claiming it to be...

Only claiming .... BEST BROWNIE EVER! 

Trust me...

HURRY to your kitchen and whip em' up!

I'm willing to bet ya - they won't be there too long! 

Now..... back to my PLAN! 

As soon as I have it all ironed out - 

I'll be back to share...

Until then...

ENJOY your 

CHOCOLATE

THOUGHT

PROVOKING

TREAT! 

mmmmmm-mmmmmmm!

Oh... PS- This recipe came from my great grandma!
And the recipe actually said "FRESH CHURNED BUTTER"...
But, I'm feeling a bit lazy today and decided to settle for the
"FRESH MARKET"... nope.... Kirkland Butter! That's what it was
Kirkland Butter!  :)