Chicken Parmesan Rollups with a side of winter...

Happy New Year! ....better late than never right?!  Winter is in full force, new years resolutions in full effect (hopefully STILL in full effect)... and, well... even though the days may be shorter... it doesn't make them any less busy!  Most people try to eat and live healthier, becoming even more focused every start to the year... I'm no different.  My goals.... try new things. Cook/bake up some yummy meals and treats, and to "up" my game on the whole fitness front.  These Chicken Parmesan Rollups, though seemly small, pack a great big flavour punch, and help curb those cravings for hefty pasta / cheese / Italian style dishes we all love.

Using items you probably already have, these are quick and easy, tasty and truly a crowd pleaser!  I paired them with a simple garden salad a perfect week night meal.  Being that it's ready in less than an hour - start to finish - you have time to do other things... like spend the day out on the mountains!  Winter means SLEDDING in our household.... BRAAAP! ...and with some of British Columbia's best mountains right at our doorstep... who wouldn't want to take advantage of the sights!? YUP...  B.C. truly is the BEST PLACE ON EARTH!!

Up in the mountains, it always seems like there are more "bluebird" days than not...  and usually when down on the Coast it's pouring rain or completely fogged in..... up in the hills... well... it's full on powder - SUN - and endless views of the mountain tops!

The sunsets are breathtaking, well worth spending a full day "playing" in the snow....

But of course... long active days, means building up quite the appetite at night.  These rollups are sure to do just the trick... especially when you don't have the strength to do much more than pour yourself a nice glass of wine and get ready to do it all again the next day!  :)

Chicken Parmesan Rollups

• 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts (or 4 chicken cutlets bought at grocery store)
• 1/2 cup cornflake crumbs (panko crumbs work well too)
• 1 tablespoon oil

- Preheat oven to 475F

- (if using chicken cutlets, skip this step)  Take each chicken breast and carefully fillet the breast in half

- Place in a large freezer bag, and seal.  Using a mallet or hammer...  carefully flatten the fillets until they are roughly 1/4 inch thick.

- Lightly spray a 8 inch square baking dish with cooking spray (helps with clean up!), and spread half of the pasta sauce into bottom of pan

- In a small bowl, mix mozzarella cheese, basil and Parmesan cheese well

- On a cutting board, lay out each chicken fillet, and place a generous spoonful of the cheese filling onto the wider end of the chicken fillet, reserving at least a half cup of cheese mixture for the topping. (there will probably be more... which is perfect!)

- Carefully roll up the chicken fillet, starting from the wider end

- Place roll in the sauced baking dish, repeat with remaining chicken fillets

- Pour remaining pasta sauce evenly over the chicken rollups

- Sprinkle the remaining cheese mixture over top of the sauced rollups

- Mix cornflake crumbs with the oil, and sprinkle on top of the cheese

- Bake in the oven until the crumbs are golden on top, and the chicken is fully cooked (registers 160 degrees), about 20 minutes. 

Remove from oven, serve with a fresh garden salad, garlic bread... you choose!!  Enjoy!

.....me....  Think I'll go back outside... sit around the fire... and dream of the next epic day out on the sleds!

Cheers!!

Cowboy Meatloaf Casserole and Introducing.....

Hmm.  If you have wondered where I’ve been….  Heck.. even I’ve wondered at times…  I am going to offer up the same ole’ excuse…  Life gets in the way.  November was  a complete blur, and I don’t just mean the crossover of Fall to Winter Season’s,  Halloween to Christmas… I mean… a complete roller coaster, warp speed blur.   That being said… although at times it was hectic… We do have some exciting (well for us anyways) news to share!  Plus, with all that HAS gone on… simple, comfort food, and delicious dinners have become even more of a staple in our household.  Cowboy Meatloaf Casserole.  Don’t let the words “meatloaf” and “casserole” scare you…  this is darn tootin’ good stuff! It’s like a Meatloaf meets Sheppard’s Pie round a Cowboy Campfire.  (you still with me?!)…. And if that fails to get your attention… it’s got BACON and Cheese! Ha!!

Prep and cook time is relatively simple and quick, perfect for those cold and dreary nights during the “wet” months here on the West Coast... or even better - after a day out playing in the snow!  The addition of BBQ Sauce puts a great kick in the typical meatloaf base, and garlic mashed potatoes with  bacon, cheese, and crispy fried onions adds just the perfect “Get-R-Done” flavor boost to this crowd pleasing dish! YUM YUM!

The OTHER introduction I’d like to make… is we have a new addition to our family.  (NO-NO!… not what SOME of you are thinking… or hoping for)  HAHA….  Let me introduce to you Wylie.

Born on September 6, 2012, and adopted from the Maple Ridge SPCA ; we are absolutely in love with this lil’ bundle of fur.  I never thought in a million years that a cat could wiggle...purr...and snuggle its way into my heart… Well Folks… Mr. Wylie has done just that.  Even Duke Dog is excited, and after a slow introduction…

It now appears the two of them are Best Friends.  Even sharing each other’s water bowls!  Wylie appears to be settling in just fine, exploring every nook and cranny in our house… with Duke right on his tail. (Which he doesn’t appear to mind at all… even goes in for a kiss or two quite often!)

SO, with the weather out there a tad bit frightful….  The stress of the Christmas season in full swing... thanks goodness we now have TWO very loving furry members of our house hold to keep us connected with what matters most.  (but… we also need to eat… ) SOOOOOO… let’s get back to the yummy Cowboy Meatloaf Casserole….  

Cowboy Meatloaf Casserole

·         2 large baking  potatoes

·         1 lb ground meat (lean) – Pork would work too!

·         ¾ cup finely chopped onion

·         1/3 cup bread crumbs

·         ¼ cup BBQ – (I used the staple in my house - Jack Daniel’s BBQ Sauce)

·         1 lightly beaten egg

·         2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder

·         ¾ teaspoon salt

·         ¼ cup milk

·         1 tablespoon butter

·         2 table spoons minced garlic

·         1 cup crumbled real bacon

·         ¼ cup crispy fried onions (you can get them in the canned from the grocery store)

·         1 cup Tex-Mex Shredded Cheese

-          Preheat oven to 350F, coat a 9 x 9 baking dish with non-stick spray

-          In a large bowl, combine beef, onion, breadcrumbs, BBQ Sauce, egg, chili powder and salt until well mixed

-          Gently press into the bottom of the baking dish

-          Bake uncovered for 20 – 25 mins, or until cooked through. Dab off any excess fat if need be.

-          While Meatloaf is cooking, dice potatoes (skin on) and boil in a small sauce pan until fork tender, and easily mashed.

-          Remove from stove top, drain water, and mash potatoes until smooth, adding Milk / Butter / Garlic / bacon / Crispy Onions and half cup of cheese (reserve rest for topping)

-          Adjust oven rack to top shelf, and select broil.

-          Add Potato Mixture on top of Meatloaf, sprinkle remaining cheese on top and place on top rack of stove to broil top. 

-          Broil for 3 – 5 min, or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.

-          Serve Hot, and with addition BBQ if desired!  YUM YUM!

Eggnog Scones during that darn blurry time of year...

While some people are probably still in a turkey coma… others could be standing in some ridiculous line, excited because they just scored an awesome deal on Black Friday.  Personally I think it’s crazy that for almost a month (some would argue OVER a month) the lines between the Autumn season and upcoming Winter holidays have been blurred.  The retail world appears to be more excited for the Jolly Old Man to come than your average little boy or girl!  Personally – meh!  BUT I will say, now that Halloween is over. (guess I should take the decorations down eh?!)… BOTH North and South of the border’s Thanksgiving’s are over..AND most of the local ski hills are open... it’s got to be ok to indulge in a little festive flavor… I mean… if everyone else can do it.. why can’t I?!  Autumn.. meet Eggnog.  Pumpkin spice…you’re not going anywhere yet…  it’s just time to blur the line a little bit more.  Introducing:  Eggnog Scones. Quick-n-Easy.  Make right away, or freeze for later (tis’ the upcoming season of house guests isn’t it?!).  Eat them slightly warmed with a Pumpkin Spice Latte - I won’t judge!

Lately I just find the whole festive season stressful…even depressing.   Everywhere you go it’s busy.  People seem to be in a rush.  The weather is dreary. Seasonal events and gatherings seem to clog up the calendar.  I can totally see why snowbirds take off for the winter.  Palm Trees and tropical weather would be heaven right about now!  That said… I’m trying.  I’m trying to stay focused.  I’m working on the motto – you can’t please everyone all the time.  I’ve decided to ensure I take “me” time when required.  If I could give my own self some advice (and to anyone else out there who feels the same)… focus on what makes YOU happy, get out and enjoy your surroundings, rain or shine or even snow or hail.  Indulge a little…..

These Eggnog Scones are moist, delicate, and with addition of Belgium milk chocolate chips they seem to pack a nice little flavor punch.  Not too rich, Not too sweet.  Have one for breakfast, or maybe even a fire-side snack on a cold a dreary night….

Eggnog Scones

(Adapted from a King Flour Recipe)

·         2 ¾ cups all purpose flour

·         ¼ cup sugar

·         ¾ teaspoon salt  (I used Sea to Sky Seasonings Vanilla Sea Salt *love*)

·         1 tablespoon baking powder

·         1 teaspoon nutmeg

·         1 stick of unsalted butter (cold)

·         1 cup Belgium Milk Chocolate Chips

·         1 large egg

·         ¾ cup cold eggnog

·         1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·         ½ teaspoon rum extract

·         2 tablespoons eggnog (set aside for brushing on just before baking)

*optional – decorating sugar & icing sugar/eggnog glaze for top decoration

-In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder and nutmeg.

-Cut *COLD* butter stick into thin slices

-Put butter pieces into the flour mixture, and mix on low until incorporated, and lumps are no bigger than size of small peas

-Fold in chocolate chips

-In separate small bowl, whisk together egg, eggnog, and flavoring

-Gently fold it into the flour mixture until it has just come together.  It will be lumpy, which is ok.  (Key is to NOT over mix)

-Split dough in half, and form into 2 round disks. 

-Score or Cut disks into wedges (like a pizza)

-Wrap with plastic wrap, and chill in freezer for an hour.  (or keep in freezer to bake at another time)

-Preheat oven to 425F

-Place Scone wedges on a baking sheet, and brush each one with eggnog.  Sprinkle with decorating sugar if desired.

-Bake for about 20mins, or until tops/bottoms are golden and they are baked through

-Remove from oven and let cool on a cooling rack.

-If using, drizzle icing sugar/eggnog glaze over top of scones, add a pinch of nutmeg on top

Best when warmed a little… but really, they are good whenever!  

SO,  as we steam straight ahead into the upcoming “festive” month… let’s make sure to take some time to stop or at least slow down and take a moment.  Try to focus on what makes you happy.  Make sure your day involves doing something for yourself…. Even if it’s just for a few short minutes before your crawl into your warm bed and escape to sleep… light some candles.. turn the fire on…(bite into a warmed up eggnog scone)  and just breathe.