"Parmesan Chicken"

Well I put this title in quotes cause I know it isn't really Parmesan chicken but that is what I call it cause I like to pretend that the other ingredient doesn't exist. I got this recipe from my mom and I love it the chicken is always so moist and tasty. I remember calling her from Colorado one day while on a high school trip to try and get the recipe so I could cook it for everyone and I have remembered it since then. Granted it is pretty easy.

Ingredients

Chicken Breasts or I use Chicken Schnitzel in NZ

Mayo

Parmesan

1) Mix mayo and grated parm together till you get a nice grainy looking mayo. I use alot of parm cause I like it. You can't have too much

2) Place chicken on an plain baking dish (I use my 13x9 pyrex)

3) Cover chicken with parm mixture and place under the grill/broiler until it gets nice and brown (like in the picture)

4) Turn over and repeat on the other side

Now you have to know your oven and how it will cook cause back in Houston the broiler would be enough to cook the chicken but I find my oven will grill it too quickly before the chicken is cooked. So I crank the oven up while I prepare then stick the chicken in a hot oven and leave to bake for a few minutes (about 5) to get it cooked through then follow the rest. Be careful on the second side if you have it nice and brown and leave it in the oven I find it will continue to brown, so if you want to bake a bit then do it before you brown. Also no cheating and using light mayo or for the New Zealanders it has to be the good stuff the thick stuff (American Style, Best Foods, or Seriously Good Mayonnaise) Otherwise it is too runny and the topping will just run off and that is the best bit.

Chocolate Chip Slab Cookies

Well this recipe is going to be a bit difficult for some of you cause it is all done on weight. I have made it a quite a few times but just use my scales so don't know any other measurements. But it is really quick and easy and great for a quick bake sale or treat to take somewhere as it tastes great and I usually have all the ingredients already. It is also great for a recipe to make with Kids, Emma always helps with this one, especially at the end.

Ingredients

220g/7.75 oz butter, softened

200g/7oz brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

300g/10.5oz plain flour

200g/7oz chocolate chips, but really I just put as many as I feel in. (Well usually however many Emma feels like)

1) Cream butter and sugar until nice and creamy it really is the secret

2) Beat in the vanilla

3) It says stir in the recipe but I usually beat in the flour but just lightly until it is combined.

Now the first time I made this I thought something must be wrong and spend another 2 batches trying to fix it when eventually I realized it was best when I stuck to the recipe. But it will be really dry and like breadcrumbs but don't worry.

4) Stir in chocolate chips, which is easy to do as it is really dry.

5) Pour into a greased 13x9 dish, or whatever dish you like. Press down (this is where Emma helps the most) when you press down you will finally see it moisten up a bit ad clump together.

6) Bake at 180C/350F for 20-25 mintues, until the edges get nice and brown.

7) When cool (if you can wait) just cut into squares and serve.

I used to find these a bit dry compared to my other cookies but they are really addictive and everyone who has tried them has really liked them.

More Cakes

Emma's Pink and Purple Cake with Marshmellows and Sprinkles, as requsted.

Joanna's Super Dupper Chocolate Lover's Cake

The Cake for our 30th, it was a big one, two cakes on one.

Lasagna

This is my mom's recipe but for some reason even though we both use the same recipe it seems to turn out differently than when my mom makes it. So maybe it will come out differently when you make it. This recipe is really easy and is a bit healthier than the more traditional recipe.

Ingredients

1/2lb/500g ground beef/mince

2-3 cans tomato puree/sauce

1 tbls Basil

1 tbls Oregano

Garlic

1 packet of Lasagna sheets

1kg of cottage cheese (I like cheese)

Directions

1) Brown meat and drain fat

2) Add tomato puree, basil, oregano and garlic

3) Simmer for approx 15 minutes, the sauce will thicken up a bit and that is good.

4) For the US cook the pasta according to the directions, in NZ use the instant sheets or you can also use fresh sheets.

5) In a baking dish place everything in layers

Tomato

Pasta

Cheese

Tomato

Pasta

Cheese and so on...

6) End with the cheese then cover with Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan.

7) Bake in over at 180C/350F for 30-35 minutes till nice and bubbly.

8) When ready let stand for about 5 minutes to let set, this is the hardest part of the whole process.

Oh and sorry for the sad picture but I only had one piece left to take a picture of.

Alfredo Sauce

This recipe is so yummy. I have wanted to try and make this for a long time and tried it and it is great! You can buy Alfredo sauce from the store but it isn't as good as this. It doesn't reheat that great, the butter separates but it does still tastes good. It is also a good excuse to eat it all that night.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter

2-3 cloves garlic (I have used just garlic powder)

3 tbls flour

pepper

2 cups cream

1 cup Parmesan cheese

1 cup mozzarella

Directions

1) Melt Butter in a sauce pan

2) Add garlic and cook for a few minutes. Don't let the garlic burn if you use real garlic.

3) Add flour and pepper, stir for a minute

4) Add cream and let simmer for about 2 minutes, make sure it doesn't boil

5) Remove from heat or place on low and add Parmesan. At this point you can add the Mozzarella if you want to.

6) Once melted remove from heat and pour over pasta of your choice.

With all that wonderful butter, and cream and cheese. It isn't the healthiest meal in the world but who said I was healthy.

Bacon & Egg Pie

Well here is my version of a Kiwi Favorite.

Ingredients

Puff Pastry

Approx a dozen eggs

Bacon

Cheese

Tomatos & Onion Optional

1) Roll out puff pastry to cover bottom and side of pan, here I used a 13 x 9 pan but you can use a smaller one or even make individual ones as well.

2) Cut up bacon and fry. You don't have to fry the bacon but I like the extra flavor it gives.

3) Add cut up tomato and onion if you like, Matt likes it so I do it for his half, mine is nice and plain.

4) Break eggs over bacon and run a knife through it to break up eggs a bit.

5) Cover with cheese and another layer of puff pastry

6) Seal sides and brush with milk or egg to make it nice and golden.

Here are some photos of the final product.

Crispy Chicken Stips

I found this recipe online and tried it but due to some ingredients unavailable I have changed it a bit. But these are so good and for the American's they are like Chilli's Chicken Crispers which are great. I love them.

Ingredients

Chicken Breasts 2 BIG ones is enough cut into strips

1 Cup Flour

2 Cups Self Raising Flour or Bisquick

1 tbls seasoning salt or salt

approx 2 cups club soda/soda water (this is the key)

1) Coat chicken pieces if flour and let dry for 5-10 minutes.

2) Combine flour and salt and add club soda, enough to make an thick batter, mine is always a bit clumpy but doesn't seem to matter.

3) Deep fry for about 6-8 minutes until golden brown.

Hasbrownish Oven Potatoes

We can't get bags of frozen hashbrown here but I do things and we really like it, I never seem to be able to make enough cause no matter how much I make it is always gone.

Ingredients
Potatoes
Oil
All Pourpose Seasoning

1) Dice the Potatoes, I use a french fry maker which cuts them into nice strips and then just do the final cut to dice it up.
2) Place in ovenproof dish, I use a nice big pyrex one.
3) Drizzle with oil and shake seasoning over potatoes.
4) Bake in Oven at 350F/180C or around there for about an hour or so, not really sure how long it takes cause I just check it every so often but I would say a minimum of 40min.
5) After about 20 minutes give the potaotes a toss and sprinkle with more seasoning.
6) You will know when they are done when they are nice and golden.

My Birthday

These are my birthday cakes that I made. The top one was for us to eat, the bottom one was for everyone at work.

Steak Night

Matt's Julia's


Well on Sunday we usually have steak and Matt does the cooking, he is very proud of his meal so wanted me to post them to you. We have steak, an egg, homemade chips with a bit of cheese and Matt also has a mushroom sauce on his and this time some fried onion.

Kiwi Pigs in a Blanket

Well since we don't have packaged dough like there is in America or little cocktail sausages I have found a way to make a version of pigs in a blanket.

Ingredients
Sizzlers
Puff pastry
cheese

Place sizzler and a bit of grated cheese on puff pastry and roll dough around sizzler. Bake at 180F/350C or whatever the package for the pastry says. Once pastry is cooked it is done.

Pizza

I have found a pizza dough recipe I like, it is really easy and one batch can be stretched out to make a few different pizzas.

Ingredients
1 package yeast
pinch of sugar
1 cup warm water

3 cups Flour
1 tsp salt
1tbls oil

Combine the first three ingredients until the yeast gets nice and frothy. Add to the flour, salt and oil. Combine to make a dough and knead until it is not sticky. Let rise for at least 30 minutes or until doubled in size. I usually make it ahead of time and it rises alot but that is fine as well. Beat down and kneed a bit.

Now you can divide dough into however much you like. I made 3 pizzas and a few pizza rolls with one batch, but they weren't huge pizzas or too thick, you can always make it thicker if you like, just make sure the counter is nice and floured. Bake at 420F/220C for about 10-15 minutes until nice and melted and golden.

Here are some pictures of our latest creations.



Pepperoni Rolls, roll out place pepperoni, and mozzerella and roll up. I like to put olive oil and garlic salt on the outside.


My 'white' pizza, alfredo or carbanara sauce, mozz, garlic, parm and a bit of basil.

'Our' pizza, bbq sause base, bacon, ham, chicken, mozz

Matt's pizza, fried onion, mushroom, bacon, ham, tomato and mozz

Curry Puffs

I went to a Thai restuaruant the other day and tried these things called Curry Puffs, they were really good and I decided to try and make them myself. I didn't get it exactly the same but I think I got the basics down so now I can just try different variations. It is a good way to use some left overs as well such as left over meat and potatoes. Essentially it is deep fried pastry, why I never thought of this before is beyond me.

Ingredients
Puff Pastry
Meat with some seasoning, I used left over Chicken Tikka Marsala
Oil for frying

1. Heat Oil, I used a deep fryer but you could use a pot and some oil if you like.
2. Cut Puff pastry into squares, I used about 3inch squares.
3. Place filling/meat onto pastry and enclose, make sure it is sealed tightly. Might want to use some water or egg/milk wash it make sure you have a good seal, but I didn't use any and didn't have problems.
4. Place in deep fryer/oil. It will seem like the oil isn't hot cause there isn't the usual sizzle but it is and the pastry will soon rise to the top and fizzle away.
5. Turn over after a few minutes.
6. Once nice and golden brown and the pastry is starting to seperate a bit take out and drain.

Ingredients

Puff PastryCurried Meat, (I used some left over Chicken Tikka Marsala)

Cakes

Well I figured with having kids and many birthdays to come I thought I would work on some cake decorating. I am still working on it and my skills are fairly basic but I enjoy it and thought I would share some of my designs with you.

Update

Well I didn't have any pictures cause I hadn't made anything on there yet, but I have just made some Naan bread so check out the pictures, including how Matt and I eat things a bit differently. Will try and put some more stuff on here this weekend.

Chocolate Caramel Slice

Alright well in New Zealand they love slices, I wasn't really sure what they mean by a slice at first but it is something that is cooked in a pan of sorts and then cut (sliced) into squares. So here is a recipe that Joanna, my mother-in-law, gave me but for some reason I can make way better than her, I think cause I actually follow the recipe. It is really good, a bit time consuming cause I like to let it cool between a few steps but not difficult. H0pefully it translates to America.

Ingredients
Base
175g softened butter (about 3/4 cup I think)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 tbls cocoa
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder

Caramel Filling
50g butter
3 tbls golden syrup (this is the part I am worried about, it is syrup but not maple just golden, that is what it says on the bottle, so have a look)
1 tin condensed milk (if you can find caramel flavored condensed milk, then it might take the golden syrup part away)

Base
1. Cream butter, sugar and vanilla
2. Add egg and beat well
3. Sift dry ingredients and mix thorougly
4. Press into a greased and floured pan. (I use baking paper as well)
Now I find that for a 13x9 pan I need to make this recipe 1.5 times or I double it and it makes a 13x9 plus one smaller. Will have to try and make one batch in a 13x9 but I like the base so like it a bit thicker. So if you have a smaller pan try that.

Also it will be very sticky and a bit hard to spread, so I dip my hand in some flour and that helps, just keep touching the flour and then the mix to help spread it out.

Caramel Filling
1. In a microwave safe bowl put all ingredients in and cook in micorwave for about 2.5 minutes
2. Remove and stir, let sit for 2 minutes
3. Return to microwave for a further 2-3 minutes.
Now it will look like it has curdled a bit but that is fine, I think it helps make it nice and firm. So just stir it out, it will look a bit smother and even if there are a few lumps left, don't worry you won't notice when it is done.

Now once base is cool, spread warm caramel filling. Now I put it in the fridge to let the caramel set, this is the part that takes awhile. Once set, which probably doesn't really take that long spread with chocolate icing. I like the Chocolate Buttercream Frosting I use for the brownies, or you can use any cocolate icing you like but you want it to be a bit solid.

Once 3 layers are done and set, cut into squares and enjoy. Now these are good just as they are, but I like to keep them in the fridge and eat them from there, just gives them a nice texture, but they are great as is.

Chocolate Chip Slab Cookies

Got the recipe from a cookbook given to me by Rachel, it is great for something fast and good to take away something cause you can make it in a few minutes and there is no fiddly bits.

Ingredients
220g (7 3/4 oz) butter, softened
200g (7oz) brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
300g (10 1/2 oz) flour
200g chocolate chips, or as many as you feel

1. Beat butter and sugar together until nice and creamy, this is kind of important.
2. Add vanilla and continue to beat.
3. Stir in flour and then chocolate chips. The mixture will seem really dry and crumbly.
4. Pat into a greased 13x9 pan. Once you pat it down it will seem a bit more moist.
5. Bake at 350F/180C for 22-25 minutes or until the edges are slightly crisp, it will look nice and golden brown.
6. Allow to cool and cut into squares.

I can bang these out in about 10 minutes, then about after cooking and a bit of cooling they are ready to go. They are amazingly addictive.

Tortillas

Well since I moved to New Zealand I no longer have access to the number of tortillas I did in Texas. I have not been able to bring myself to spend $5 on 8 tortillas when $5 would have bought me about 800 tortillas in Texas. So I started making them myself and am really happy with them, they don't take too long and will last a few days, just cook what you need at the time.

This makes about 12 tortillas, so I usually double it or so.

Ingredients
3 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt or just a dash will do
4-6 tbls shortening
warm water

1. Combine all the ingredients minus the water.
2. I use my mixer with dough hooks but you can use your hands, I used to do it that way. But cut the shortening in with the flour, until it is broken up a bit.
3. Slowly add warm water until you make a dough that is not sticky.
4. Divide into balls and let rise for about 10 minutes.
5. Roll out into torillas.
6. When ready to eat, heat a dry frying pan to medium heat, not too hot but almost.
7. Grill tortilla on dry pan until bottom is brown and it is bubbling up a bit
8. Turn over and grill other site, second side does not take long, a few seconds.
9. Remove from pan and keep warm till dinner time.

Naan Bread

Decided to try and make Naan bread to have with some Indian food. Found this recipe and it worked well, plus I had all the ingredients which is always a plus. I make it ahead of time and then cook when it is time to eat or while everything else is simmering away.

Ingredients

1 (1/4 oz) package active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1/4 cup white sugar

3 tbls milk

1 egg, beaten

1 1/2 tsp salt

4 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp minced garlic or garlic powder

melted butter

1. Dissolve yeast and a bit of sugar in warm water.

2. Once frothy stir in sugar, milk, egg, salt and enough flour to make a soft dough. I use my mixer with dough hooks. Once combined I kneed on a flour surface till smooth.
3. Place dough in a well oiled bowl, cover and let rise for about an hour or until doubled in size.



4. Punch down dough, and kneed (you can add some garlic in now if you like).
5. Break into small balls about 12-15 or less for bigger naans. Place on tray, cover and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 minutes. (At this point I usually stop and wait till I am ready to eat, they expand out alot but still taste great.)

6. Heat pan, and roll out dough.
7. Place a bit of butter in the pan and grill dough on both sides until puffy and lightly browned.
8. Remove from pan and brush with melted butter (I add garlic powder to the butter)

These may be a bit messy to eat with the butter on both sides but they sure are yummy.

This is what I had for dinner.

And this is what Matt had for dinner. He had Naan, sour cream, Tikka Masala, Tomato slices and then cheese.

Its amazing how I can make one meal and Matt and I have two totaly different dinners.

Blueberry Muffins

After recieving 2kgs of Blueberries I decided I needed to find a good muffin recipe so tried a few different ones and found that I really like this one. The muffin part is really fluffy and the topping is fatastic! Haven't tried it without the topping but I am sure it would still be great.

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
milk
1 cup blueberries

Topping
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup butter cubed
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon (optional)

1. Heat oven to 400F/200C
2. Combine flour, sugar, sald and baking powder
3. Place vegetable oil into a 1 cup measuring cup, add the egg and enough milk to make 1 cup.
4. Mix with flour mixture.
5. Fold in blueberries.
6. Fill greased muffin cups almost to the top and sprinkle with topping. I use silicone muffin cups and don't grease them at all and they are perfect.
7. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes

Topping
1. Mix sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon (if using) and mix together with a fork or fingers till well combined, will be clumpy.

Fudge Brownies

This is a recipe I got from my Aunt Candice. We have been making them since I was little which I can prove since I am using the recipe from an elementry school cook book. They are really easy to make and everyone loves them.

Ingredients
Brownies
3/4 cup or 175g butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1tsp vanilla
3/4 cup cocoa
1 cup flour

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
4 tbls butter
4 tbsp cocoa
1 1/2 - 2 cups powdered sugar (icing sugar)
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbls milk

1. Beat butter and sugar together.
2. Add eggs, one at a time and beat will after each egg.
3. Add vanilla.
4. Sift together flour and cocoa and add to butter mixture.
5. Mix until just blended, don't over beat or mixture will get too smooth and won't be as fudgy, more cake like then.
6. Put in UNGREASED 13x9 pan and bake at 350F/180C for 25 min
7. Let cool and frost with frosting

Frosting
1. Beat butter and cocoa together.
2. Add powder/icing sugar and mix well.
3. Add vanilla and mix.
4. Add milk tbls at a time until you get the desired consitency.

This is a great frosting and I use it for lots of things, probably one of my favorites.

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever!

These are my world famous chocolate chip cookies, I have been making them for years and they are fantastic everytime, everyone loves them.

Ingredients
1 package instant pudding (choc or vanilla, I like vanilla)
dash of salt
2 1/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda

2 eggs
1 cup/250g butter, softened works best
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Lots of Chocolate Chips!

1. Mix first 4 ingredients, the dry ingredients.
2. Beat eggs, butter, sugars untill a bit creamy.
3. Add vanilla and mix.
4. Add in dry ingredients bits at a time.
5. Once all mixed together, add chocolate chips.
6. Place on baking sheet, I like to use baking paper or something non stick.
7. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 375F or 190C.
8. Cover rack with foil and let cookies cool if you can wait that long.

Chili Macaroni Casserole

So I found this recipe while searching through the internet, tried it and Matt and I loved it, a bit like Hambrger Helper but homemade and since there is no HH here, it makes me happy.

Ingredients
1lb ground beef/500g mince
2 tbls garlic
1 onion chopped
1-2 teaspoons chilli powder, or anything spicy like cayane, up to you
2 packs/1 ounce taco seasoning,
1/3 c grated parmesan
8 slices bacon, cooked till crisp (optional)
1 can tomato sauce or puree for the NZers
2 cans tomato soup
1-2 tbls brown sugar
salt/pepper
3 cups cooked macaroni, but I think I used more, like 500g or so.
4 cups tex mex cheese but for the NZers, colby works well but I am sure any cheese will do, you could probably cut back on it too if you like.


1. Brown beef, onion, and garlic and drain.
2. Mix in chili, taco seasoning and parm, cook for about a minute.
3. Add in bacon, tomato soup and sauce and brown sugar. Simmer for 30-40 mintues stirring occasionaly.
4. Season with salt and peper and mix in 2 cups of the cheese.
5. Add in cooked macaroni and mix to combine.
6. Place in greased casserole dish, at least 13x9.
7. Sprinkle rest of cheese on top
8. Bake at 180C or 350F for about 20 minutes until all the cheese is nice and melted.