Make Monday: Easy Peach Crescent Rolls

 I am going to admit that I pretty much hate having to make breakfast and lunch.  Trying to figure out what to make, the time it takes, the dishes etc.  The biggest of those problems is trying to figure out what to make.  What I usually end up doing it making pancakes or waffles (again) because they are easy and I can't ever think of something else.  Well, in order to combat that problem I decided to come up with a breakfast menu.  Now I used to be one of those people that refused to use a menu because I felt like it was too restricting.  "What if I don't feel like making that" or "what if it no longer sounds good?"  But once I started using a menu for my dinner meals I found that instead of it being restricting it was actually very freeing.  "What do I make for dinner tonight?  Oh let me just look at my menu."  So I decided that I needed to do the same thing for breakfast (and eventually for lunch).  What I did was went through all my recipes, plus added all my usual stand by's and put them into a list.  Then I got a calender and started penciling in recipes-a different one everyday (except cereal , muffins and omelette repeat).  The plan is to go through my list of recipes without repeating until I get through all the recipes, then I will start again.  Now when I start again-some of the recipes won't be repeated (cause they weren't that good) and I will replace those with something new.

So far this has been wonderful-no wondering what to make for breakfast.  The only problem I have run into is that I am not used to prep work for breakfast so I don't always read recipes in enough advance to get things ready and then I am in a pinch to come up with something different.  This recipe is the result of one of those mornings of lack of preparation.  I was supposed to make apple pie fries (which I still want to make because they look so yummy) but I didn't have pie crust ready or bought and so I quickly created an equally delicious breakfast recipe using a can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls that I had on hand.

The recipe:

1 can Crescent Rolls

1 fresh peach

Cinnamon Sugar

2 tbsp melted butter

Frosting:

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 tbsp milk

1/2 tsp vanilla

Begin by preheating your oven to the recommended temperature.  Spray your pan with cooking spray.  Peel a fresh peach and slice into 8 slices.  Sprinkle the peach slices generously with cinnamon sugar.  Open up crescent rolls and separate into 8 pieces.  Place one slice of peach on the wide end of the dough and roll up.  Place in pan.  Repeat with each piece of dough.  Sprinkle all of the crescent rolls with cinnamon sugar and drizzle with melted butter.  Bake according to package directions (they should be nice and golden brown).  Remove from oven and let cool slightly while making the frosting.  The frosting needs to be thin enough to pour but not super runny.  You may need to add powdered sugar or more milk (depending).  Drizzle frosting over the crescent rolls.  Serve while warm.  These are sweet and a bit tangy from the peaches.  The cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top give them a bit of crunch.  Very, very yummy, warm and perfect for breakfast.  A great way to dress up ordinary crescent rolls.

Make Monday: My New Favorite Pinterest Recipes

I feel like I should start by apologizing for the lack of content as of late but the truth is that I don't have anything to apologize for.  My life is busy crazy and I just can't get everything done, so somethings get left undone sometimes.  My blog has to take it's turn too.  

Today I just wanted to share a few new favorite recipes.  I am more likely to try a recipe that has been recommended by a friend than I am to try one that I find myself and since I hope you all consider me your friend, I hope you will trust my opinion and want to give these a try too.  

#1. Biscuit and egg casserole.  I know there are a million of these out there.  I particularly loved this one and how easy it was.  I made it overnight and it was a bit soggy so next time I would just make it the day of.  It was delicious completely filled my 8x8 pan I might add.  YUMMY.

#2. Chocolate zucchini muffins.  They really are more like cake that you can get away with eating for breakfast because they don't have frosting (though it wouldn't hurt anything) and they are called muffins.  Really yummy and they do bake up with these pretty domed tops.

#3. Baked pumpkin doughnuts.  I had my hubby buy me a doughnut pan for the oven just so I could make these and they did not disappoint (and neither did the pan-you have got to get one if you don't have one and actually get 2 cause one is not enough).  They have great flavor and texture-even a few hours later and the next day they were still yummy.

#4. Artisan bread in the crock pot.  This was one of those, "shut the front door" recipes.  Would it really work and would it taste good?  You bet.  Delicious and I didn't have to heat up my house.  Seriously-2 hours on high in the crock pot and then a couple of minutes under the broiler and you have delicious bread that is super crusty on the outside and soft on the inside.  

#5. Mini BBQ chicken pizzas.  I loved the flavor.  I loved how easy they were.  I loved crust.  LOVED them.

#6. Eggless chocolate chip cookie dough bites.  These were really yummy and a huge hit at a backyard movie gathering.  I didn't have mini chocolate chips but it didn't matter.  They are much easier than cake balls but just as pretty and so satisfying.

#7. M&M cookies.  The recipe gives you lots of great baking tips and these are really the perfect cookie.  They were soft and buttery but not greasy.  So delicious.  Made one batch and another the very next day.  They freeze well too.  

Have you tried a recipe lately that you found on Pinterest that was a big hit?  Please share....oh and happy munching.

Make Monday: French Bread Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

I was feeling a little nostalgic the other day thinking back to my picky childhood days.  I was thinking about it because I now have a fairly picky child and I remember being a picky kid and hating it-mostly people always bugging me about what I did and didn't eat.  I hated having someone give me a lecture every time I went to their house or ate out and I hate having to now defend my child's choices.  She is picky in what she eats people...she is not a bad person.  END OF STORY!!!  I don't think I ever tried to make a big deal of it as a kid and when I went someplace and they served something I didn't like to eat, I just didn't eat it and I ate stuff I liked and went on with life.  And one of the things that I did not eat as a kid was pizza, in fact, I ate my first piece of pizza when I was 21, but my best friends growing up LOVED pizza.  Every time I went to their house for a birthday party they had pizza-pizza buns to be exact.  They took regular bread rolls, put pizza sauce on them and then pizza toppings and baked them in the oven.  I do remember they smelled good but I was never brave enough to try one-if only I had known what I was missing.  Well I am not scarred for not having ate pizza as a kid and I feel like I am pretty normal and now I go through spurts where I feel like I could eat pizza everyday.  Well this day was no exception-I was craving pizza-chicken, bacon, ranch pizza to be exact.  I wanted to be able to have everything I love about this pizza without the time of making a crust from scratch so I channeled my best friends mom and her house as a kid and remembered the pizza buns and created my own spin on that and came up with: french bread chicken, bacon, ranch pizza.

This is the perfect way to get everything you love about pizza but in half the time.  Here is what you will need:

French bread (I used half a loaf which was enough for 3 people though we all could have eaten more)

1/4 cup ranch dressing (may need less for half a loaf)

cooked chicken ( I grill mine and add a little seasoning) I use 2 chicken breasts

3/4 cup mozzarella 

3/4 cup cheddar cheese

2-3 slices bacon (chopped, friend and drained)

1 tomato (chopped)

2-3 green onion (chopped)

olive oil

Begin by slicing the bread in half and brushing each side with olive oil.

Place the bread on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven under the broiler until slightly toasted.  This step helps to keep the bread from getting super soggy with the addition of all the other ingredients.

Now spread each piece of bread with the ranch dressing.  Sprinkle with the mozzarella cheese.  Add the chicken, bacon, tomatoes, and onions.  Sprinkle the top with the cheddar cheese.  Place in an oven preheated to 450 degrees and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the top is toasted to your liking.  What you end up with is a crispy, light crust with all the pizza taste you could ask for.  The flavor was incredible and it was so quick and easy.  In fact I have been tempted to make this for dinner 4 or 7 days this week but resisted because it isn't that low calorie for sure.  Next time you are in the mood for pizza without all the pizza work give this a try: French Bread pizza.   I think you are going to love it.

Make Monday: Cactus Nachos

I guess I am too late posting an amazing Superbowl must have recipe so I am going to say that these are perfect for watching endless hours of March Madness basketball (isn't it ironic that March is national crafting month and also the month of endless college basketball?  Nothing like, "you do your thing honey and I will do mine."  I digress).  Cactus Nachos-cheesy, bacony (a new word for bacon lovers), spicey, did I mention cheesy?  A super yummy alternative to regular old nachos.  These are inspired by Boston Pizza Cactus Nachos.  I don't know if you can find them in the USA but you can find them in Canada and they are delicious.  Here is my version.

For this recipe you will need:

2 large potatoes (I use Russet)-or enough to cover 1 full sized sheet pan with slices

Cheese

3 or 4 slices of bacon (chopped)

Green or white onions (chopped)

Green peppers (chopped)

Salsa

1. Start by slicing your potatoes thin-but not too thin.  You don't want potato chip thickness-you want them to be thicker than that.  I use my Pampered Chef Simple Slicer on setting 3 (if you don't have one of these then you need to get one at the next Pampered Chef party you are invited to-so fantastic for slicing potatoes).  Okay so scrub your potatoes, slice them and then lay them on a parchment lined cooking sheet drizzled with oil.  Then drizzle oil all over the potatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper, or something spicier if you have it and want it.  Bake in the oven preheated to 425 until they begin to turn golden brown (20-30 mins).  You want them as crispy as you can get them without burning them.  While these are baking fry up your bacon bits with the onions and peppers until the bacon is crispy.

2. Remove from the oven and transfer to a oven safe plate (the larger the better).  You don't want them overlapping that much.  The more they overlap the soggier they will be in the end.  Mine were a bit crowded but this was the biggest plate I had.

3. Now top with cheese

and bacon/onions/peppers

and salsa (and more cheese if desired)

3. Now put the whole plate back in the oven under the broiler until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

4. Now for the BEST part-eat.  There are usually some that are a bit soggy from the juice from the salsa but so far it hasn't ever seemed to deter my husband or I from eating

and eating

and eating some more.

Cactus nachos-they are an excellent appetizer but they also make a great meal. They would be perfect for the big game, or sleepovers, or a movie night.  Customize them how you choose.  Who knew potatoes could be the new nacho?

Make Monday: Easy and Delicious Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan-have you had it?  Oh yummy heaven.  But did you know it does not only have to sit on a plate along side spaghetti or some other form of pasta.  It is a perfect pair with pretty much anything and everything and since this recipe is super easy and fast to make you can have it any time you want.  

Here is what you will need (for 2 servings)

1 large chicken breast (I am talking a big fat one because you are going to slice it in half giving  you two thinner breast pieces.  If you don't have a big fat one then use two small chicken breasts)

3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs (if you haven't ever used them-start with this recipe)

2 tbsp parmesan cheese (you can use the fresh, but I never have it on hand so I use the canned stuff-DON'T JUDGE-it still tastes great)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 egg

2 tbsp water

Start by mixing all your dry ingredients in a shallow bowl.  Mix the egg and water in another shallow bowl.  Slice the chicken breast in half horizontally to give you two thin breast pieces.  Place these in a bag and pound them with a meat mallet (don't skip this step-it makes the chicken super tender and helps it cook twice as fast).  This is a good time to take out any frustrations for the day.  Now pour enough oil into a nonstick pan to coat the bottom generously.  Turn the burner on to a medium high heat and heat your oil.  You want it to be hot before you add the chicken.  Wait until the oil is feeling hot (when you hover your hand over it) and then take the chicken pieces, put them in the egg wash and then into the crumbs (coating them very well on both sides) and then into the oil.  Repeat with remaining meat pieces but don't over crowd your pan if you are cooking a bunch.  DO NOT turn the chicken until it is golden brown on the underside.  Turn and cook until the other side is golden brown too.  If you have pounded out your breasts thin enough they should be cooked thoroughly at this point.  If you are unsure, test with a meat thermometer (they should read at least 165 inside the thickest part).  Remove from the pan.  You can pat them with a towel to remove any excess oil and then serve.  They are crunchy, tender, juicy and flavorful.  We eat these a lot with spaghetti and sauce but they go well with potatoes, rice, veggies and even potato chips (for a quick lunch option-again DON'T JUDGE-we have had a rough week at our house).  Try it.  It is the easiest way I have found to cook chicken and results do not disappoint.

Make Monday: Lime Chicken Quesadillas

During my years as a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher I created a yummy recipe for lime chicken taco salads that were a big hit with my students.  This recipe is inspired by those yummy salads which have been on my mind lately.  I love to cook but I have to say that I HATE making lunch.  Seems like I just finished making breakfast and I have been planning what to make for dinner and then lunch time arrives and I can't think of a thing to make.  My kids would be happy with mac and cheese and chicken nuggets every day but I would feel like the worlds worst mom for feeding them that everyday so I have to throw something else in at least a few times a week.  Luckily for me they love quesadillas.  

So here is my easy lime chicken and pinto bean quesadilla recipe:

1 can chunk chicken (I use the small can but if you are making lots of these you could use a larger can)

lime juice (1-2 tbsp)

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp garlic salt

salt and pepper to taste (but use more pepper than salt)

pinto beans

grated cheese

additional toppings as desired

Start by emptying the can of chicken into a bowl and mixing in the lime juice, red pepper flakes, garlic salt and then salt and pepper and let that marinate for a minute.  If you don't want the spice omit the red pepper flakes.  If you want more of a lime flavor-add more lime juice.

Then simply assemble.  I spread my beans, add on the chicken, cover with cheese, sprinkle on some chopped green onions (those were an after thought so I didn't get them in the picture) and a few dollops of guacamole.

Then fold it in half and place on a hot grill sprayed with cooking spray.  Spray the top side of the quesadilla too with cooking spray.  When golden brown, flip it over and cook it on the other side.

Remove from heat and cool for just a couple of minutes then slice.  Super yummy flavor and it only takes about 5 minutes to prepare.  Now that is my kind of lunch.

Make Monday: Spaghetti baked in garlic bread

I found this recipe for spaghetti baked in garlic bread via Pinterest.  It is a combination of all the things my family loves.  Super easy to make and a complete meal in one dish.  Add a side salad and you are set.  My husband says it makes good leftovers too.

Make Monday-Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips

Welcome to Make Monday-a variation of Make Ahead Monday where the recipe is something that you just need to make and eat right away.

There are only a choice few people that think that salt and vinegar potato chips sound heavenly.  SIDENOTE: my husband and I tell each other "I love you like..." at night before we go to bed.  We finish the sentence with something like cookies, cupcakes, going for walks etc. etc.  Usually 2 times out of 7 I say, "I love you like salt and vinegar potato chips" and then add "but don't go and buy me any" because I am likely to eat the whole bag in one sitting.  So when I found this recipe on Pinterest for homemade salt and vinegar potato chips I new I had to try them.  You can find the recipe here.  These did not disappoint in the slightest.  I have no idea what fingerling potatoes are so I just used my regular potatoes.  I cut them by hand and made a double batch.  I could have eaten 2 pans by myself in a matter of minutes except that I was trying to cook something else for dinner at the same time.  I froze mine and they taste fine warmed but are just not as crisp.  I am likely to make a huge batch of these monthly.  I can feel a bit better eating them instead of the greasy fried ones.  My mouth is watering as I type.  If you are a fan you must try these.