Italian Chicken

Shorty's grandma is 100% full blooded Italian.

So, needless to say....he loves Italian food. As do most men.

When looking for healthy recipes...I look for ones that are normally fattening "comfort foods"that are just "lightened" up.

I made Chicken Parmesan. Have made it both ways...the really fattening way...and they healthy way. Sharing the healthy one with you of course. I got this from Cooking light...I changed it up a little...so here is how I whipped it up.

Serves 4

4 Chicken Breasts - butterflied or cut in half

3/4 Cup plain or Italian bread crumbs (add Italian seasoning to plain ones)

2 egg whites lightly beaten

3 TBS olive oil

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp dried Italian seasoning

1/4 tsp salt

1 jar tomato basil pasta sauce (I used Barilla)

Cooking spray

Grated Parmesan cheese

1 package of low fat skim Mozzarella cheese

*Preheat oven to 450

*Butterfly or slice chicken breasts in half...to allow quicker cooking.

*Mix flour, Italian seasoning, and salt in shallow dish

*Place egg whites slightly beaten in a shallow dish

*Put bread crumbs in another shallow dish.

*Dredge each chicken breast in flour mixture, followed by egg whites, then finished with bread crumbs. Repeat with remaining chicken.

*Heat 2 TBS of olive oil in a large oven proof skillet over medium high. Careful not to scorch oil.

*Saute chicken for 2 minutes on each side. Will form a nice brown crust. May have to do it in batches. Careful not to crowd chicken in pan. Use remaining oil if pan becomes too dry

*Once all chicken is done on stove top, lightly spray it with cooking spray.

*Put it in oven proof skillet or baking dish. Cook 5 minutes, turn chicken, and cook another 2 minutes.

*Remove from oven. Place 3 TBS of sauce on top of each chicken, followed by 1 oz of Parmesan cheese then 3 ounces of Mozzarella on each chicken. Return to oven at 450 and bake for 6 more minutes...or until chicken is done.

Can be served with pasta...use remaining sauce from jar for pasta (yes, jar sauce is the only way to go. Unless I was Italian...and that, I am not.) I will leave that to the full blooded Italians...they know what they are doing.

An easy crisp green salad....or serve the cutlets on wheat sub rolls.

There you go. A healthy twist on something not known to be a healthy meal.

If you make it...let me know if you enjoyed it!

Yum!

Takin' care of yo' self

Sudden changes in your health...or sudden changes in the health of those you love...often makes you do an about face....you start to do things just a little different.

Guess you could refer to it as a "wake up call."

I don't live a terribly unhealthy life. I don't smoke, I don't drink Jack Daniels, and, I only eat at buffets once in a blue moon. ;)

One thing I don't LOVE is really really healthy food. I am a southern girl...and I like good food.

Anytime I find a recipe that TASTES good and is HEALTHY at the same time...I will make it over and over again.

Cooking Light magazine is a good one....in my opinion.

So, I plan to share some heart healthy recipes with you. Maybe once a week...

My plan is to try them first...and if they are good....I will share. So I will be the Guinea Pig.

Take the time to take care of yourself. Read labels....count calories....notice saturated fat....red meat once a week...

You can still enjoy food and life and take care of yourself at the same time.

Not saying I do...so this is therapy for me too. Encouragement for me to cook more heart healthy for the Shorty family than I already do. Certainly won't hurt.

Take care :)

Thankful. Lucky. Grateful.

When your phone rings before 7 am....it is not a good thing.

My phone rang during the "not good news time frame" and when I saw that it was my parents on caller ID....my heart crashed to the floor.

My Mom had mentioned my Dad had been complaining of stomach pain the night before....but figured it wasn't anything serious...now they were calling me before 7 am. Not good.

"Looks like your Dad has had a heart attack." Gulping back tears I bounced around the house trying to decide what to do first.

Once I got to the hospital....I just continued to realize how lucky we all are. How lucky that people spend their lives dedicated to help other people...to heal them....to repair them...to care for them.

If it weren't for those doctors...and their quick action...well...we just won't go there.

So here I sit on my couch. With thoughts of my Dad laying in a hospital bed recovering from a heart attack....praying that he is sleeping or at least enjoying an episode of Hannity on Fox News.

Take each and every day for what it is. A gift from God.

And, be thankful for your health...and thankful for those who are there to help us along the path to live healthy lives.

My Dad is going to be just fine....and I couldn't be more relieved.

Drink this

PLUS

Equals YUM!

I made an unusual trip to the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon. Normally avoid the store on the weekend at all costs....

Don't like crowds at the store.

However, I may endure crowds at the store on Sundays....they had samples. My kid got to taste fun stuff.

They had this juice. Cranberry juice with lime. Yum.

So, if you have an HEB near you....

Go score some juice for yourself. It is totally worth the vitamin C and empty calories.

Drink up!

two children

Yes, I have two children. Shorty and the little one.

I talked yesterday about the Chucky Cheese addict that I live with....let's just say it is not the 2 1/2 year old. It is the 33 year old. Think we all know that.

While we were at the kiddy wonderland overload, I noticed my dear husband far across the room. Shooting basketballs to win tickets. Then Skee Ball...then, car games...or whatever contraption he could fit himself into.

Right after Chucky Cheese himself came out to greet the birthday boy (much to my child's dismay) my husband made himself a drink at the fountain.

As we were standing by the door....getting ready to leave....he looks at me and says, "Know what I am drinkin'?"

My first worry was that he brought a flask into Chucky's...but, then I remembered he doesn't drink that stuff much anymore...but maybe he bought it to cope with the kid overload.

I was wrong. So, I guessed again. I replied, "I don't know....a suicide?"

For those of you that don't know what a suicide is...it is a trip to the fountain drink area...cup in hand....ice, and a squirt from each fountain...all in one cup. Yes, Coke, Sprite, Lemonade, Big Red, Diet Coke, Dr. Pepper...all mixed together.

After I made the guess about the suicide...he just looked at me....with this gleam in his eyes...the same gleam an 8 year old boy gets at Chucky's.

So, off we went. I am positive he had more fun than she did.

At least I know a good place to take both of them....next time they need to burn off steam.

Don't forget the hand sanitizer...cause that place is DIR-TY.

I am a weenie

That's right...I am a weenie. I have one kid and I think it is hard as it is.

Some of my friends have 4 children. Still not sure how they do it. Just seems impossible to me....but, it works for them....they make it look easy. If I had 4 children, pretty sure I would be in the corner of my closet right now....facing the wall.

A friend of ours just had their 4th kiddo a week ago.

I made Pioneer Woman's pot roast, baked potatoes, salad, and the yummiest oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for them.

When my *little* 10 pound newborn arrived into this world...I remember thinking if I would ever cook again. Still wonder that to this day.... ;)

Poor Shorty. He came home to a kitchen filled with the aroma of a home cooked meal....only to find an empty oven and plates. We were off to a birthday party. Off to Chucky Cheese. A 2 year old's Heaven on Earth

Their catch phrase "Where a kid can be a kid" was proven tonight. I live with the poster child for Chucky Cheese. And, I am not telling you who it is until tomorrow.

So I will leave you with that huge weight of a surprise. Till tomorrow.

And, I still think any parent that has more than 2 children should be given some type of trophy.

An award for not being a weenie like me.

All in a name

Ball Joint assy

Upper and lower ball joint assy for independent suspension.

Names are so important. They follow you for the rest of your life...some say they even have an influence on your future career.

In a previous post...I think I mentioned my nick name was "Assy." It is what Shorty calls me most of the time...my Mother's family....and my cousin has been known to shorten it and just call me "Ass" and, I expressed my wish to not be called "Ass." My rear is big enough as it is.

The name originates from my younger cousin. She could not pronounce my first name...so, Assy was born.

One day Shorty and I were putting something together and the directions called for the "Ball Mount Assy"

I laughed till I cried. Seems as if "Assy" also means "Assembly" in the machine world.

On a routine visit to the kids favorite dinning spot....Luby's cafeteria...I spotted a man wearing a hat that donned my name. I took a double take and realized yes...my name was on a man's hat. It seemed odd.

Then, I remembered a long time ago....someone telling me about an Allison Transmission. It is for large engines and diesel.

So, both of the things that have something to do with my name have to do with machinery.

See....it's all in a name. I so need to order that baseball cap. You should see the hoody they have.

It is made just for me.