Home Maid Simple

Tag: kitchen

Garlic Parmesan Baked Chicken {Foodie Friday}

Hosted at
Home Maid Simple
and
Simple Living and Eating

Garlic Parmesan Baked Chicken
Print Recipe

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts

1 cup flour

1/4 cup grated parmesan

1/4 cup bread crumbs

salt and pepper to taste

2 eggs

1 can Progresso Creamy Roasted Garlic

Sliced smoked gouda

Directions

Whisk eggs in a shallow dish.

Combine flour, parmesan, bread crumbs and salt and pepper in a separate shallow dish.

Soak chicken in the eggs, and then coat with flour mixture.

Pan fry about 5 minutes each side, and place in a casserole dish. Pour the Progresso over all the chicken. Top each piece with some smoked Gouda.

Bake at 350 F for about 30-40 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.

~This weeks Features~

This Chicken Biryani has some yummy looking flavors!

from Simply Sweet n Savory

Who knew? Crockpot Applesauce would have saved me a lot of time last week

from Chocolate, Chocolate and more

I love the healthy and seasonal ingredients for this Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpking Chili. It’s like leftover Thanksgiving

From Run DMT

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October 26, 2012
Back on Chocolate! and a Menu Plan

Do you recall me saying I was going to skip chocolate for the month of October? I give up. I’m taking back my chocolate, and completely enjoying it! Here’s what I learned in my attempt to go without chocolate –

– I don’t eat a lot of it on a daily basis. But when you take away my small doses, like a few chips in a cookie, thten later I binge on a nice big dense chocolate energy bar (Space Food Stick). They taste like Resen’s, so of course, I couldn’t stop at just trying one. Nope I had to go back and have another. I told you, binge!

– Chocolate actually does help keep me sane. I had a couple bad mommy days, where I just couldn’t handle things. I let my emotions rule. Afterwards, I ate a small piece of chocolate, and the smooth creamy goodness, brought me back. So when I got whacked pretty good in the eye with a Minnie Mouse doll, I was able to keep my cool.

– Finally put it all together, and I learned that like most things, chocolate in moderation is good for you. I don’t have a chocolate addiction. I just enjoy chocolate, and will continue to enjoy it, in moderated amounts.

Fyi, you can win some Space Food Sticks of your very own! Just come join the MomPact Twitter Party this Thursday October 26th at 6pm Pacific/9pm ET. Use the hashtag #mompactLNO

Plus there will be lots of other prizes as well. RSVP HERE

So on to this week’s menu

Monday – Pasta

Tuesday – Breaded Parmesan Chicken

Wednesday – Cowboy Chili

Thursday – Hamburgers

Friday – Enchiladas

Saturday – Leftovers

October 22, 2012
Caviar Limes {Foodie Friday}

Hosted at
Home Maid Simple
and
Simple Living with Diane Balch

I don’t have a recipe to share with you this week. I’ve been spending time trying out all the wonderful recipes linked up each week! There are some really great ones out there!!

Before I get to featuring those, however, I wanted to share with you this new fruit I’ve been introduced to.

Caviar Limes

aka Finger limes

You choose which name sounds better to you.

My mom teaches at an elementary school. Two days each week the school provides a healthy vegetable or fruit snack. My mom was telling me about some of the strange fruits she’s seen, and how fun they can be to eat. Some are so foreign to our area, that they have to be taught how to eat them!

One of the days, they were given Caviar limes. I kid you not, these elementary school kids were given limes for a snack, but not just any limes, Caviar Limes! Just the name sort of puts me off, and then there’s their look

They look almost like tiny cucumbers, and somewhat finger like. I’m sure that is where the name Finger Lime came from. The insides are absolutely amazing though. You cut them in half, an squeeze the lime out, getting a very Caviar looking pulp. So obviously where that name came from.

Well mom was given some to take home, and I am so glad she was! These definitely have your lime flavor, with a bit of lip puckering going on. However, I was able to eat one by itself and not feel it was too overboard bitter.

What I really love though is the look. I’ve got visions of cupcakes with “caviar” garnish, cheesecakes, and pies, and ice cream and puddings. Oh the possibilities! These limes are going to make some elegant desserts that even the kids will love.

Of course, than mom and I started wondering where we could get these. We most definitely don’t have any stores nearby that carry them. Where do we go these days for info? Well, google of course! So I googled Caviar Limes, and the first site to come up, is an Organic Food Store in California that not only sells them, but ships them around the country as well. I love that. Now to convince Mark that these will be really good. I may just add them to the top of my Christmas list.

Again, sorry for the lack of a recipe. Next week, I’ll be telling you how to make and can a chunky applesauce!

~Last weeks Features~

Crock Pot Cheese Potato Soup from Happiest Mom on the Blog

My kids loved this, and so did I!

Crab Artichoke dip with Asiago and Bacon from Sumptuos Spoonfuls

With the holidays approaching this is sure to be a crows pleaser.

4 Bite Apple Pies from The Kitchen is My Playground

These are just simple brilliant. Perfect after school snack, or lunch box treat!

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October 19, 2012
Kitchen Sale – One Kings Lane

All week long, One Kings Lane is offering fantastic deals on their home and kitchen appliances!

With the holiday season approaching, this is the perfect sale to make sure you have everything you need for warm gatherings at your home. One Kings Lane has everything from elegant hanging pot racks to glassware to a classic buffet table for your dining room, all at great prices to make sure your home looks beautiful.

Plus, if you’re new to One Kings Lane, sign up today for a $15 credit for purchases of $30 or more. Head over to One Kings Lane now before these deals are over!

*This post contains affiliate links. By using them you are helping Home Maid Simple continue to grow.

October 16, 2012
Apple Cupcakes {Foodie Friday}

Hosted at

Home Maid Simple

and

Simple Living With Diane Balch

An online friend of mine challenged me to go without chocolate for the month of October. It wasn’t specifically directed at me, but she and her son made a goal to have no chocolate, and she extended the challenge to our online group of friends. I am pretty excited about this challenge, because I really need to cut more sweets out of my diet. I’m a sugar, dessert, baking loving kind of gal. I keep looking at the boxes of brownies in my cupboard, and then trying to find something else.

Princess C and I were going to make our No Bake Cookies this last week, but then I remembered the whole chocolate thing. So we made some Cornflake Cookies instead.

So look for some more healthy recipes this month here!

Anyways, while we’re avoiding chocolate, we’re not avoiding sweets! Today I’ve got a yummy cupcake and frosting for you

Apple Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting topped with Fresh Apples

(Adapted from bakedbree)

Print Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups flour

2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp nutmeg

1 cup butter softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups applesauce

2 Apples, chopped into chunks

Frosting

1/2 tub whipped cream topping

1/2 cup butter softened

1 cup brown sugar

1/4 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F

Cream together sugars and butter. Add the eggs one at a time, beating between each. Add the applesauce. Mix well.

In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients. Add to the wet ingredients, and mix well.

Pour into muffin tins, about 3/4 full.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting

Beat all the frosting ingredients together until smooth. Slowly add the powdered sugar until you have a good frosting consistancy. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes. Then top with the chopped apples. Enjoy!

My piping bag got a hole in the side, thus the crazy looking frosting job in my picture. I’m not a great froster, but I’m not usually that messy either.

~Last week’s Features~

This time of year I am a sucker for drinks like this Pumpkin Spiced White Hot Chocolate

from Chocolate Chocolate and More

(this surely can’t count as chocolate right? I may have to cheat on my no chocolate)

This Chinese Chili is sure to warm anyone up on a cold night
from Food Done Light

These Rose Cookies would be so beautiful at any holiday party
from The 21st Century Housewife

Looking forward to another great week of scrumptious recipes! Link up below.

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October 5, 2012
Foodie Friday – Basil Chicken with Fresh Mango Salsa

Hosted at

Home Maid Simple

and

Simple Living With Diane Balch

It’s not often that I create something completely from scratch, with no recipe. I was pretty proud of this creation, and I hope you will enjoy it as well!

Basil Chicken with Fresh Mango Salsa

Print Recipe

Ingredients

2 chicken Breasts

Wildtree’s Basil Pesto Grapeseed Oil

1/2 cup frozen mango chunks

3 Tbs chopped white onion

1 Tbs chopped green onion

Wildtree’s Sweet Onion Spread

Directions

Pull the Mango from the freezer to begin thawing.

Heat some Grapeseed Oil in a large frying pan (enough to cover the bottom of the pan). Add the chiken and cook through.

While the chicken is cooking, chop mango into bite size pieces. It should still be slightly frozen, but not solidly frozen. Mix the mango with the onions.

Spread about 1-2 Tbs of the Sweet Onion Spread on 2 plates. Place the chicken on top of the spread, and top with the Mango salsa.

Enjoy! mmm, seriously this was oh so good! If you try this, I’d love to hear what you thought.

~Features from last weeks linky~

Chicken Bombs from Dishing with Leslie

Oh my goodness these look awesome!

Spinach Artichoke Lasagna from What’s Cooking in the Burbs

I think Mark fell in love. Spinach and artichokes!

Egg free Cookies and Cream Cupcakes from Transatlantic Blonde

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September 14, 2012
Flirty Aprons now making BIBS! plus 30% Off

You’ve heard me talk about Flirty Aprons, promote them, share their Flash Sales, the works! So I am really excited to tell you about Flirty Aprons newest product. It’s not an apron, but it’s pretty close – Bibs! Cute bibs to keep your baby clean and stylish!
I mean come one, how cute is that Bib? —–>

Today ONLY! September 12th for 24 hours ONLY you can get 30% off a Baby Bib by using coupon code bibs30

In case you didn’t catch that, this is only good for 24 hours!

In case your not interested, but would like a good deal on other items from flirty aprons, they still have 20% Off any product on their site (no you can’t stack this with the bib coupon!) using code apronsshop20

These will make some great Christmas presents!!

*This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through the links on this blog, will help support me and keep this blog bringing you awesome posts!

September 12, 2012
Berry Water {Foodie Friday}

Hosted by

Home Maid Simple

and

Simple Living with Diane Balch

This week I thought I’d bring you a very simple and healthy drink. We’re nearing the end of summer, and the hot days, but for these last few days of heat, this drink is very refreshing.

Berry Water

Ingredients

Water

Frozen Berries

Directions

Fill a pitcher up with water. Toss in your choice of frozen berries. I used some strawberries and blueberries that I had purchased fresh and then froze in plastic baggies. As you drink this the berries slowly unfreeze, and then you have some yummy berries at the end of your drink.

This did have a slightly bitter taste, so if you were to use these same berries, I would suggest some fresh lemon slices as well.

Now go check out these favorites from last weeks party

From Prudent Living an Absolutely Perfect Almond Cake

Now Things Are Cookin shared a Roasted Tomatillo Salsa with Avocado

Farm Flavor gave us a recipe for Blueberry French Toast

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September 7, 2012
Carpet in the Kitchen? – Think About it!
Hosted by

Home Maid Simple

Mumfection

Tim and Angi’s

What do you love/hate about your kitchen?

I’m trying very hard to focus on the positives. I believe life just turns out better when you do that.

But there is a big Don’t Do EVER I just have to share with you.

Carpet in the kitchen.

I don’t think this should ever occur in any kitchen.

Why? The kitchen in most homes is a major gathering place. You cook and eat your meals here. You hang out as a family, playing games around the dinner table. To keep a carpet clean in a kitchen is extremely difficult. It requires daily vacuuming, and extremely careful cooking.

At one point in time there was some kind of grease spill in this kitchen. The corner by the oven is very sticky, and uncleanable. It makes me sad, really.

So please, do everyone a favor, and do not put carpet in your kitchen. Small area rugs are fine, not something I would do, but easier to care for then full on carpet. As a side note, this rule applies to bathrooms as well. Trust me, you do not want to clean carpet in the bathroom when the toilet overflows. blech.

To end positively, I do love these old cabinets! They’re deep, and they hold a lot! I’ve got the perfect amount of drawers, which I’ve always found lacking in other homes.

Now it’s your turn! Tell us what you love or hate about your kitchen. Do you agree with no carpet in the kitchen? Or just let us know what’s on your mind today. Link up your posts below.

The ground rules:
1. No Giveaways or reviews please, we want to stick to our topic or whatever
  thought provoking topic you have decided on your own. We want to get to know you
  personally not what you like or give out right?
2. Make sure that you follow all the hosts via GFC and/or Facebook! (Mumfection, Home Maid Simple, Tim and Angi’s)
3. Only thought provoking posts, which is why we always have a great topic
  for you prepared in case you are just having a blank day.
4. Make sure your post has our Think About it Thursday button!
5. Have fun, make some friends, follow, comment thoughtfully and above all
  else be respectful! Don’t forget to let people know which hop your visiting
  from!
6. Suggest a topic, this is not mandatory, but we would love your input and
  we will definitely consider it for future meme’s!! If your topic is chosen you
  could end up receiving an e-mail giving you a chance to be one of the
  co-host’s!!!
September 6, 2012
Fresh Produce and Menu Plan

Don’t you just love fresh produce? It is so good, as well as good for you! We planted a garden this year, but due to unexpected job changes, we moved before we could get a full harvest. I did get a few carrots shortly before moving though. Aren’t they pretty?

Being on a tight budget, fresh produce has been pretty scarce around here. We were extremely blessed one day however. During lunch I thought to myself how I would really love to have something fresh to feed my kids. To my surprise that night a neighbor, unknowing of my earlier wishes, dropped by unannounced with a bag of peaches from her tree. She then offered for us to come pick more. I believe we were being taken care of in a time of need, and I am forever grateful this dear lady listened to the spirit and brought us those peaches. We’ve been eating yummy peaches all week, and yesterday I canned the rest. I saved the peelings to make some peach honey later this week.

We ended up with a total of 8 bottles! Yay for peaches!!!

On this weeks menu –

Monday – Pork Roast

Tuesday – Chicken Nuggets and Coleslaw

Wednesday – Chili in bread bowls

Thursday – Bacon Mac and Cheese

Friday – Sloppy joes

Saturday – leftovers

September 3, 2012