Parmesan Sage Pork Chops

April 27th, 2009

Parmesan Sage Pork Chops (Courtesy of Recipezaar)

1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs (I used the Italian bread crumbs)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
tablespoon dried rubbed sage
1 lemon, rind of, teaspoon grated (save the lemons for squeezing over the hot chops)
2 large eggs, whisked
1/4 cup flour, seasoned with
salt and pepper
4 pork chops, about 1 inch thick (can use bone in or out ones)
1/8-1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
Fresh sprinkle of parsley when you are done

Preheat oven to 425F degrees. Mix in bowl, bread crumbs, grated parmesan cheese, dried rubbed sage and grated lemon peel. Then, on a plate put flour seasoned with salt and pepper; coat chops with flour. Dip in egg. Then dip in bread crumb mixture. Melt butter and olive oil in a oven-proof skillet. Brown chops until golden. Transfer to oven and bake until meat thermometer says 150 degrees, about 20 minutes.

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Baked Tilapia With Lots of Spice

April 27th, 2009

Baked Tilapia With Lots of Spice (Recipe from Recipezaar)

1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon paprika
3/4 teaspoon onion powder
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon basil
3/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
4 (4 ounce) tilapia fillets
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
3 tablespoons sliced green onions
1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 tablespoon olive oil

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. In a small bowl combine the spices from the salt through the Italian seasoning and set it aside. In a shallow container mix the bread crumbs, dried parsley, and green onions. Measure 4 tsp of the spice mix and sprinkle that all over the 4 fish fillets. Add the remaining spice mix to the bread crumbs, mixing well. Add the olive oil to the bread crumb mix, blending it in with your hands. Dredge the fish in the breadcrumbs, coating well. Shake off any excess breadcrumbs. Place the fish on a baking pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake for 6 minutes. Turn over and bake for 4 minutes. Turn over again and bake until flaky, about 4 more minutes. Serve immediately.

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Posted in Main Dishes | 1 Comment »

Emily’s Famous Sloppy Joes

April 27th, 2009

Emily’s Famous Sloppy Joes

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped (omitted for our picky eaters)
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 cup water
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder (I decreased this to 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon white vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute the ground beef for five minutes. Add the onion and red bell pepper; saute for five more minutes or until onion is tender and beef is browned. Drain. Mix in tomato paste and water, stirring until paste is dissolved. Stir in garlic, chili powder, paprika, cumin, vinegar, brown sugar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Continue to heat for five to ten minutes or until mixture is thick. Yield: 8 servings.

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Spinach Balls

April 27th, 2009

Spinach Balls

2- 10 oz packages frozen spinach
1 package chicken-flavored stuffing mix
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup butter, melted
Salt & pepper to taste

Do-Ahead: Cook spinach according to instructions, drain in a sieve, use back of a wooden spoon to press the spinach against the sieve to get as much moisture as possible out In a bowl combine the spinach, stuffing mix,cheese, eggs, butter, salt& pepper Mix thoroughly& roll into small balls 3/4 to 1″ size. Place on a cookie sheet and freeze.

Event Day: To serve place frozen balls on a cookie sheet and bake at 350F 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned If you are doing them fresh or thawed only bake for 7-10 minutes. Serve hot.

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Braised Balsamic Chicken

April 27th, 2009

Braised Balsamic Chicken (Courtesy Of: AllRecipes Dinner Tonight Cookbook)

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon garlic salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 onion, thinly sliced (I omitted this)
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained (I used petite diced)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

Season chicken breasts with ground black pepper and garlic salt. heat olive oil in a medium skillet and brown the onion and seasoned chicken breasts. Pour tomatoes and balsamic vinegar over chicken and add basil, oregano, rosemary, and thyme. Simmer until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear, approximately fifteen minutes. Serve over a bed of rice or spaghetti.

This would be delicious served up with a side of green beans and a big sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. The dinner comes together in about twenty minutes which makes it a great dish to entertain with or to throw together on a weeknight. Enjoy!

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Elegant Entertaining Without the Work: Chicken Italiano

April 27th, 2009


Need a fast and elegant dish to entertain with? What about one you could throw in your slow cooker? How about one that could be prepared and thrown in the freezer? How about something that could be made from pantry ingredients? Well, this dish is for you!

When I was growing up my mom used to buy a product called “Chicken Tonight” that had a sauce that you could cook your chicken in to make a fast dinner. My mom served it over rice as a quick weeknight meal and it was always a favorite of mine.

This recipe reminds me a lot of that dish and is as equally easy to prepare. You can throw it in your slow cooker or you can put it in the oven for last minute guests.

I hope you can throw this recipe in your rotation. It has never failed me and everyone I know that has made it, loves the simplicity of this fast and delicious dish.

Chicken Italiano (or Amy’s Copycat Version of “Chicken Tonight”)

4 chicken breasts
2 cups marinara sauce
1/3 cup chopped tomatoes (you can use fresh or a can of diced tomatoes)
1/2 cup Italian Dressing

Slow Cooker Version: Place all ingredients in your slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for six hours. Serve over spaghetti or rice with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. This is delicious with a side of roasted green beans.

Oven Version: Throw frozen chicken breasts in. Pour sauce, tomatoes, & Italian dressing on top. Bake at 375 for 1 hour (or longer if they are large chicken breasts).

Make-Ahead Version: Throw all of the ingredients in a freezer bag and label with cooking directions. To prepare, just thaw and follow one of the versions above.

To see more great recipes, please visit Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam!

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Posted in Main Dishes | 12 Comments »

Freebie Friday: April 24, 2009

April 24th, 2009

Welcome to this week’s Freebie Friday list where we share all of the hot freebies in one spot each week. Please visit Heather, over at Freebies 4 Mom, each day for a new round of freebies. We would like to thank her for her contribution to make this list happen each week.

Be sure to read all about the Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards program for rewards on your diaper shopping. Heather also has a great link-up to all of the great printable coupons this week so visit that list before doing your grocery shopping.

Health & Beauty

Dove go fresh Cool Essentials deodorant (Costco)
Aveeno Nourish hair care (Walmart)
John Frieda Root Awakening (Walmart)
L’Oreal Revitalift (log-in to request sample)
Huggies Pure & Natural diapers (size Newborn and 1 from Walmart)
Huggies Snug & Dry (size 1:2 Sam’s club members only)
Tena Serenity Pads (Walmart)
NIVEA Touch of Happiness Body Wash (Walmart)

Entertainment

Barnes & Noble 9 Free Audiobook downloads
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (send to a friend)
Vegetarian Times digital magazine
French Cocktail Hour House Party
Esquire Magazine (6 Free Issues)

Home & Garden

Littleye internet safety for kids (free lifetime membership with code littleye-free-234876)
How to Go Green (Quamut of the week)
Whole Foods Lunch Tote (with coupon from Oprah)
Care.com (free membership this weekend only)

Upcoming Freebie Events:
Please call your local store or restaurant to confirm they are participating in these freebie events.

APRIL
25 – Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic – Hanglider 10 to 11am
25&26 – All You Magazine’s Reality Checked 11am to 5pm
25 – Lakeshore Crafts for Kids – Mosaic keepsake box 11am to 3pm
26 – National Pretzel Day – free pretzels at Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time
27 – KFC Kentucky Grilled Chicken – try a piece for free
30 – Carvel Free Iceberg drink 3 to 7pm

MAY
2 – The Home Depot Kids Workshop – Wheel Barrow 9 to noon
2 – Lakeshore Crafts for Kids – Cinco de Mayo sombrero 11am to 3pm
8-9 – The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal – Free Book Download
9 – Lowe’s Build and Grow Clinic – Planter 10 to 11am
9 – Lakeshore Crafts for Kids – Mother’s Day purse 11am to 3pm
12 – Haggen-Dazs Free Flavor Day – free scoop of any bee-built flavor 4 to 8pm

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Don’t forget to enter this week’s Apron Full of Giveaways for oodles of great contests to enter to win!

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Posted in Freebies | 7 Comments »

Simply Great Jeans & T-Shirts Resource List

April 23rd, 2009

A huge thanks to Kathy Friend for joining us this week on our podcast. I would also love to thank you for all of your questions for Kathy. We tried to answer all of the questions that were submitted so please listen in if you have made a request!

Click above to listen to this episode at anytime or visit our sidebar on the left-hand side to listen to the episodes anytime throughout the week. These episodes are also available in iTunes format for you to take on the go!

Here are some of the resources that were highlighted in today’s episode…

Not Your Daughter’s Jeans– This is a great jean pick for women with curves. Although an investment, Kathy suggests looking at how many pairs of jeans you have that you are not wearing that have cost less and consider making one good investment into a pair of jeans that you can wear often and that will accentuate your curves.

T-Shirt Recommendations– Budget-friendly Mossimo Target T-Shirts are an inexpensive way to add some splash to your wardrobe. Other great t-shirt brands are linQ & Three Dots T-shirts.

IsABelt– Are your jeans gapping in the back? Are you in your early stages fo pregnancy and looking for a way to make your jeans fit properly? isABelt is the Original invisible belt, the MUST HAVE Fashion “fix-it” accessory. A thin, strong and flexible clear plastic belt, that virtually disappears when worn, providing you with the assurance that all is secure without even knowing it’s there. isABelt prevents back gap, slippage and of course, belt bulk and belt bulge. The isABelt solves all of these fashion issues and many more. If you would like to order one directly, please contact Kathy Friend for an order. She is selling these to help with funds for their adoption!

Swagbucks– This is my new way to earn cash towards my jeans & t-shirts this year. Sign-up for Swagbucks and simply use their search engine to search on the web, earning some great money for your shopping fixes. I signed up last week and have already earned $30 just doing my regular old searching.

Ebates– The shopping site that I would recommend everyone check before doing their shopping for your new summer clothes. Sign up today and you will earn an automatic $5 in your account for signing up. This site gives back a percentage on qualifying purchases. I always try to check here before doing any online shopping.

On next week’s show…

Next week we are joined by Trish Suhr, the amazing co-host of “Clean House” on the Style Network, to help offer us tips on keeping our homes in tip top shape. Trish has some great tips for making our homes the sanctuaries that they should be and offers valuable advice on ditching the clutter in our homes so we can truly enjoy it. Her cleaning tips will help you get back on track and we will be offering a great giveaway for our listeners sponsored by Pledge Multi Surface.

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Posted in Frugal | 2 Comments »

MomAdvice Simplified: Simply Picking the Best Jeans & T-Shirt

April 23rd, 2009

On MomAdvice Simplified, my weekly podcast for moms, I am very excited to share that I will be gabbing it up with my real-life friend & wardrobe coach, Kathy Friend. This podcast airs weekly at 2PM EST each Thursday.

I asked Kathy to join our show again, but to help guide moms into choosing the right jeans and t-shirts. Since becoming an at-home mom, my wardrobe mainly consists of these two key pieces and I thought it would be great to have her share which brands are the best and how to find the best cuts for our figures.

Kathy is going to share with moms how to pick the best jeans and t-shirts for your figure, but also find a look that is both flattering and comfortable. We will be discussing the best brands, how to get the best look for any budget, and what items to add to our jeans and t-shirt wardrobe to take them from day to night.

Do you have any questions about choosing the right jeans or t-shirt for Kathy? Please leave your questions here and I will be sure to get them worked into our discussion!

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Posted in Frugal | 17 Comments »

Notebook Experiment: Can I Make Cupcakes From Scratch? ( Part 2)

April 22nd, 2009


Experiment: Can I make a cupcake from scratch (part two)?

Experiment Taken From: Notebook Entry 01.08.09

Materials Needed: Please see The Farm Chicks for the full instructions. I followed the instructions exactly. I also had a package of Twilight mini-buttons (found at Walmart) that I used to make cupcake toppers for my cupcakes.

Results: Remember this cupcake experiment that I did? Well, these cupcakes got a little makeover for a Twilight viewing party at my girlfriend’s house. And yes, a bunch of twenty and thirty-somethings got together to watch the Twilight movie with great excitement. I was not kidding when I said that we were super fans! Several of us from our book club got together to watch the movie and snack on fun foods.

I wanted to bring a fun and movie-inspired dish to the party. Lucky for me, Walmart sold these little mini Twilight pins that you could wear on your clothes or backpacks for $5. I took toothpicks and taped these miniature pins to toothpicks to make cute little cupcake toppers for our movie. It was a little tedious getting them to tape on and stay on, but I managed to get them all taped and inserted before our fun movie night.

I still think this is the perfect cupcake recipe and adore this frosting. These taste really good after they have been in the fridge for awhile because it is such a yummy and moist chocolate cake.

They could have whatever cupcakes they wanted, but this one is mine, all mine! Ah, reliving your teenage fantasies and crushes all over again! It truly is priceless!

Conclusion: Thanks to The Farm Chicks for a wonderful recipe that I use over and over again!

Related Links:

Thank You Writers Strike, Part II

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I am so excited to open our Notebook Experiments up to everyone and I hope that you will be able to participate this week or in weeks to come! I will be posting this each Wednesday so please mark your calendars if you plan to participate. You can post your entries at any time throughout the week and then leave your entry in the links below.

We have this handy banner that you are more than welcome to use, but it is not a requirement! It is just something you can add to add a little sparkle to your entry.

Rules for Participation:

1. Choose anything from any of our notebook entries (past or present) to do with your family. We have hundreds of bookmarked links of crafts, ways to save money, and organizing ideas.
2. Complete an experiment from the notebook and share about it on your blog or website. We would love to see pictures of what you accomplished or a detailed description of how your projects turned out. Please include a link to this entry, a link to the original posting of the entry (at the original crafster’s blog), and (to help us relocate the project) the date or link of the notebook entry where you found it. You can use the same formatting as our entries or you can just include that information in your post in your own unique way!
3. Post a link below. Please include your name or blog name & a fast description of your project. Example- MomAdvice (WHO bread)

I can’t wait to see what you create and what you find inspiring!

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Posted in Amy's Notebook | 6 Comments »

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