Crispy Cheddar Chicken

So earlier in the month, I set out to make four new recipes. One of them, which I was extremely excited about, was Garlic Parmesan oven baked chicken. Well, yesterday, when I had time to make it, I went to the kitchen, got everything out, read the directions and discovered that I could prepare it, but it has to marinate ALL day. Big lesson when cooking/baking...read the recipe beforehand. I was kind of upset because I had to make something else. I went to the recipes board on my Pinterest and found the recipe for Crispy Cheddar Chicken. I read the recipe twice to make sure I had everything and it didn't have to sit all day. Done!

Crispy Cheddar Chicken

This is the picture from my Pinterest board that made me want to make it. Looks so delicious! I'm glad I have leftovers. Well, I took some pictures along the way and, it's a super easy recipe--shall we?

Crispy Cheddar Chicken
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Baking Time: 45 minutes
Makes about 7 servings

What you'll need:

Chicken
4 large chicken breasts
2 sleeves of Ritz crackers
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/8 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 cup of milk
3 cups of cheddar cheese, grated (I used a mix of cheddar and Colby jack...I really like cheese)
1 teaspoon of dried parsley

Sauce
1 10 ounce can of Cream of Chicken soup
2 Tablespoons of sour cream
2 Tablespoons of butter

***I used frozen chicken breasts, so I had to defrost them before starting. And, when you use frozen chicken breasts, there is added water, so it will need to be coated in more of the Ritz cracker mix to be super crispy.

Chicken:

1. Cut each chicken breast into 3 large chunks
2. In a small food processor, grind up the Ritz crackers (If you don't have a food processor or don't like your cracker mix so fine, put the Ritz crackers in a gallon sized Ziploc bag, seal it really tight, lay it on the counter top and roll it with a rolling pin)
3. Pour the milk, cheese and Ritz crackers into 3 separate small pans.
4. Add the salt and pepper to the cracker mix and and mix it up
5. Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray
6. Dip each piece of chicken in the milk, then the cheese and finally the cracker mix (some cheese will come off in the cracker mix, that's to be expected)
7. Lay chicken in the pan
8. Sprinkle the dried parsley over the chicken
9. Cover pan with foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes
10. Remove foil and bake uncovered for 10 minutes, or until it's golden brown and crispy

Sauce:

In a medium size sauce pan, whisk together the soup, sour cream and butter until hot. 

***I also made HEB's jasmine rice to go along with this. That only takes 15 minutes to cook and it is delicious! I added green onions to the rice to give it more flavor. 

Overall this recipe was DELICIOUS! But, there is a lot of cheese and cracker mix left over at the end. So, if you plan on making this for a big family event, only double the milk, chicken and sauce mixture. The cheese and cracker mix have plenty to do double. I would make extra gravy anyway because I love gravy and put it on my rice and my chicken. Yum-o. 

I'm really glad my first Pinterest recipe was successful. It was super easy and super delicious. Try it!
Also, I'm really excited to put my very first recipe in my brand new recipe binder! Wahoo!

Pro...Wait for it...Crastination!!

So, on Saturday, I decided to finally sit down and do my defensive driving course online so that I could get my certificate in just in time to turn it in :) Yes, I did get a ticket for going 12 miles over the speed limit. I was in a rush and obviously, was not looking around for any police cars...so  I got pulled over--had to drive into the car dealership and was really embarrassed.

Anywho, my plan was to finish defensive driving by Sunday evening. That did not happen. I did a couple of modules and then wanted to watch Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (love me some Olivia and Elliot) and then cleaned a bit. Well...in the midst of cleaning, I went from being in a relationship to not being in one--fantastic. So, like any girl would do, I cried for a good thirty minutes and then started cleaning again. I was planning on going to 4th Sunday (college group at church), but I felt and looked like poop.

My mom got home and gave me some jerky and blueberry yogurt covered pretzels as an "I'm sorry about your hard day" present (she was driving home)...which was from Buc-ee's amazing gas station. I felt like seeing my sister and my nephew so, we ordered some to-go Sushi Zushi and headed over. Little did I know I'd be spending the night with my fantastic sister...without anything to wear or a toothbrush. Sick.

It wasn't all bad though, I watched How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) all night and had some delicious white wine. Obviously, I did not do any more of my defensive driving.

Today was full of moving all of my stuff out of the apartment, back into my mom's house. I know my mom and I don't always get along, but she's been fantastic in the last couple of days. Needless to say, my garage and living room are full of stuff that needs to be put away. Leaving the apartment today was really bittersweet; I know it needed to be done but I love that apartment--the huge bathroom and decent-ish kitchen. I made some great memories there, I get to keep those :)

I had borrowed my grandma's van to load some stuff that wouldn't fit in my POS Kia, so when I went to go drop it off, I was stuck in a two hour conversation. We talked about anything and everything ranging from Sour Kraut and fried potatoes to how my mom almost didn't get credit for her student council class when she transferred schools back in the 70s (my grandpa tells me that story EVERY time we see each other--bless his heart!). I love old people, I could talk with them all day and be completely satisfied. I think when you become grandparents, something changes in you, especially in men. I have the best grandparents in the world--more on that later.

So, by 9 tonight, my mom and I were starving. I stopped at Burger King and it was just a big disappointment. We cleaned up in the kitchen to declutter. I just did one module of defensive driving...and have three left to do. So, because I have procrastinated, I just had to pay $17 so that as soon as I complete my course (TOMORROW(wish me luck)), I will get it in 2 days, just to be safe.
No matter my plan, I always end up deviating to procrastination. Yum-o.
That was my weekend...I know, it was the hip-hop-happening place to be.

***You'll get my post title after you watch this HIMYM clip. Do it. Now.***
Delightful

Cleaning the Kitchen...Fun?

Okay, so today while I was watching Kyle, I was looking over a few cleaning supplies recipes for the kitchen. I wrote down ones that I think are worth trying and will share them with you all. All of the ingredients are pretty simple and easy to find, as long as you know where to look :) Most of the ingredients can be found at Whole Foods or Sprouts--you know, the natural store.

For me, making my own cleaning supplies, makes cleaning a little better, since I got to choose the fragrances of them and all. Essential oils are the key to a great smelling cleaner, so you should experiment and choose the scents you enjoy the most. My favorites are lemon, lemongrass, orange and lavender--together, they make a wonderful scent.

Dishwashing Blues Blend
I found this really funny because in it's description it says this is to lift your mood while washing the dishes.

• Liquid Castile Soap
• 10 drops of Lemon Essential Oil
• 6 drops of Bergamot Essential Oil
• 4 drops of Lavender Essential Oil
• 2 drops of Orange Essential Oil

1. Fill a clean 22-ounce squirt bottle with castile soap
2. Add oils
3. Shake well before each use
4. Add 1-2 tablespoons of liquid soap to hot water and wash as usual.  

Dishwashing Tips

1. For very greasy dishes, add 1/2 cup of vinegar or lemon juice to dish water. 
2. To loosen baked-on food from pots and pans, immediately add some baking soda and wait for 15 minutes before cleaning. 

Lavender Lift Automatic Dishwashing Powder

• 2 cups Washing Soda
• 2 cups Borax
• 20 drops of Lavender Essential Oil

1. Mix ingredients together in bowl
2. Store in plastic container
3. Use 2 tablespoons per load of dishes

Basic Sink Cleaner

• 1/4 cup of Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup of Vinegar 
• 3 drops of Lavender or Orange Essential Oil

1. Combine all ingredients
2. Rinse sink well with hot water
3. Pour cleanser in the sink and wipe with cloth or sponge
4. Rinse again with hot water

Lemon Blast Cleaner

(good for kitchen appliances) 

• 1 teaspoon Liquid Castile Soap
• 1/8 cup of Vinegar
• 1/4 cup of Lemon Juice
• 2 cups of Water
• 6 drops of Citrus Seed Extract
• 4 drops of Orange or Lemongrass Essential Oil
• 1 teaspoon of Borax

1. Combine all ingredients in spray bottle
2. Shake well
3. Spray generous amount and wipe with cloth or sponge
4. Dry with towel or cloth

Citrus Floor Cleaner

• 1 gallon of Hot Water
• 2 tablespoons of Liquid Castile Soap
• 15 drops of Sweet Orange Essential Oil
• 8 drops of Lemon Essential Oil 

Remember, if you don't like the scents in the cleaners you make, just change the blend of essential oils. It could take a few trials to figure out exactly which scents you like together. 

Yay, kitchen cleaning!