Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

We used to buy these at the deli up on Broadway at least once a week. Sometimes it would be super delish and sometimes it was just alright. I had some leftover sauce from pasta I made a couple nights ago and decided to make chicken parm sandwiches. They turned out so well that now I can't even imagine gambling on the deli anymore. My husband and Coolidge just loved them. I think next time I might add parmesan cheese to the butter spread.

Try them and let me know what you think.

Ingredients

Basic Tomato Sauce
2 hoagie rolls
2 thin chicken cutlets
3 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
3 tbs butter
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper

Directions

Cook chicken just like we did in Chicken Parmesan and set aside.

In a small bowl add 3 tbs butter, minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Mix it together and spread it on the hoagie rolls. Place them under the broiler until lightly toasted.

Add chicken to the bottom side and place shredded mozzarella on the chicken and place back under the broiler until cheese has melted. Then add sauce to the top of the chicken and then top side of bread and cut in half and serve.

Chicken Spaghetti

I am a huge fan of The Pioneer Woman's cooking show. I think what draws me there most is that she cooks for a busy family and I can relate. I first saw this recipe on her blog and they way it is described on there I didn't find it appealing. Then I watched her make it on the Foodnetwork and my mouth started to water so I thought I have to give that a try. I went to her blog to get the recipe and realized it wasn't the same. I went to the Food Network and it was different so I printed it instead and made it for my family. 

My kids are not fans of cheesy pasta so I took this recipe and put it in two small 9X9 pans instead of one 9x13 pan. One I put in the freezer and the other me and my husband devoured. Luckily there was some left over for another night because it was big hit. I also loved that I could take the other half out of the freezer on a day I just didn't feel like cooking. 

I wish my kids were like Ree's but they are just not willing to eat everything I make. So when they wont eat cheesy pasta I make them plain pasta with a little butter. I also changed the recipe slightly so if you want it exactly like hers click her name above and it will take you there. 

Ingredients

2 heaping cups cooked chicken

3/4 pound spaghetti cut into 2 inch pieces

1 can cream mushroom soup

2 1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 of a large onion finely chopped

1 cup low sodium chicken broth plus more if needed

1/4 cup diced green bell pepper

1/4 cup diced red bell pepper

1 tsp seasoned salt

1/8 tsp Cayenne pepper

salt and pepper



Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook spaghetti for 9 minutes. Do not overcook, if anything slightly under cook it. When the spaghetti is cooked, combine with the chicken, mushroom soup, 1 1/2 cups cheese, the green peppers, red peppers, onions, seasoned salt, cayenne, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 cup chicken broth, adding an additional cup if needed. You don't want it too dry.

Place the mixture in a casserole pan and top with the remaining 1 cup cheese. Cover and freeze up to 6 months, cover and refrigerate up to 2 days or bake immediately until bubbly, about 45 minutes. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).

Ready to freeze

Mom's German Chocolate Cake

I can't believe I started this blog one year ago. It is amazing a year has already gone by. I was posting my dishes on facebook and a friend of mine said you should start a blog. It made sense because I was getting many requests for recipes and this way I didn't have to send them out individually and you could go back as many times as you wanted. Now it has been a year and my first recipe was Fettuccine Alfredo.

The best part of starting this blog is how many new food blogs I have discovered in the process. I found so many amazing recipes from other bloggers and I also discovered pinterest along the way.

Today I am posting my mom's German chocolate cake because it is very special to me. My mom has been making it since I was a kid and she only makes it once a year if we are lucky. It does take a lot of work but after you take one bite you know it was worth every minute. This cake is super moist and full of flavor. I also love this cake because one year she made it and I was the one who taught her how to fold in the egg whites. My mother has been teaching me how to cook my whole life and it is nice to be the one teaching her a thing or two. Don't be intimidated by all the steps in this cake because it goes a lot faster than you think and it is all worth it when your guests are oooooing and awwwwing while they eat it.

Ingredients for the cake
1 (4 ounce) package of Bakers sweet German chocolate
1/2 cup boiling water
1 cup Butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs separated
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour (sifted)
1 teaspoon Baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk

Directions

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees

Grease three 9inch pans and then flour. Then line the pans with wax paper to help remove cakes easily.

Break chocolate into pieces and pour 1/2 cup of boiling water and stir until melted then cool.

Beat butter and sugar and then beat in 4 egg yolks.

Stir in vanilla and melted chocolate.

Mix flour, soda and salt in a large bowl and the beat  in chocolate mixture alternating with butter milk.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold this into the Batter and Pour into three pans equally.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until tooth pick comes out clean. Cool at 15 minutes but make sure cake is cooled completely. Don't remove until you are ready to assemble. (You can make these cakes the night before and let them stay in pan until you are ready to assemble the next day.)

Ingredients for Coconut Pecan Frosting

1 1/2 cups of sugar
1 (12 ounce)  or 1 1/2 cups can of evaporated milk
4 slightly beaten egg yolks
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups pecans chopped
2 cups coconut flakes sweetened.

Directions

In a sauce pan add evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in nuts and coconut. Cool until thick enough to spread. should make about 4 1/2 cups frosting.

Spread coconut frosting on each layer of cake.

Ingredients for Chocolate frosting

4 tablespoon butter
4 tablespoons Hershey's cocoa
4 tablespoon water
2 cups confectioner sugar

In a small sauce pan melt butter over low heat. Add cocoa and water and stir until mixture thickens. Do not boil. Add confectioner sugar beating with whisk until smooth.

Spread chocolate frosting around the edge of the cake. You don't have to add this but me and my mom love the chocolate frosting. It just adds that extra touch.