Lemon Chicken

The deliciousness of this healthy baked chicken is amazing!  East to prep beforehand and then just in the oven to make for a perfect one-dish dinner!

Ingredients:

• olive oil
• 2 lemons
• green beans (whatever amount you think your family will eat)
• potatoes (again - whatever you think you will eat)
• chicken
• salt and pepper

Directions:

• coat your baking dish bottom with oil
• thinly slice one lemon and make a layer of lemon slices on the bottom
• layer the  chicken on top
• squeeze the juice from the second lemon 
• put the green beans and potatoes all around the chicken and on top if needed
• salt and pepper the whole thing 
• bake in the oven for about an hour at 375 covered taking off the cover for the last 10-15 minutes to brown a little.

Enjoy!

Banana Bread - no fail

Banana bread is amazing because it is SO forgiving!  This one uses whatever bananas I have on hand.    When they are too brown for the kids - they get made into banana bread!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• salt 
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (if you have it...because we don't always!)
• 1/2 cut softened butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup yogurt 
• 4 ripe bananas...or whatever you have on hand
• 1 tsp vanilla (to be honest - this has been left out before and it still turns our good :-)

Directions:

• mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon) and set aside
• use a mixer to beat the butter and the brown sugar together 
• add the eggs 
• beat in the yogurt, bananas, and vanilla 
• add in the dry ingredients and mix
• cook for 60-65 minutes at 350

Enjoy!

Onion Smothered Chicken

Got a grill?  Need something different?!  Then try this - sweet and delicious!

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
4 tsp sugar
chicken for the family (we use 5 pieces and a mix of leg, thigh and breast)
olive oil
1 large or 2 medium sized onions
a carrot and red pepper or two carrots or two peppers - you get the idea
1 cup chicken broth
1 Tbsp flour
salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Combine the red wine vinegar and 2 tsp of sugar in a bowl with the chicken and set aside for a bit while you cut the veggies into strips
2. In a small pan, heat the oil and add the veggies with 2 tsp of sugar and cook until the onions are brown (about 5 minutes).
3. Start the grill - and start the chicken on the grill
4. Add the broth and cook until half of the liquid has evaporated (about 5 minutes)
5. Stir in the flour and cook until you have a nice thick veggie sauce to add to your grilled chicken!
6. Enjoy!

Chicken Francasie

This is a fried chicken dish with a bit of lemon!

Ingredients
1 egg, beaten
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 cup flour
pinch of garlic powder
pinch of paprika
chicken - boneless (we use 5 pieces)
3 Tbsp butter
1 can (14.5 oz) chicken broth
lemon juice (fresh or refrigerated)

Directions

1. Mix the egg and the 1/2 lemon's juice
2. In another bowl mix the flour, garlic powder and paprika
3. Dip the chicken in the egg mixture - then the flour mixture
4. Cook the chicken in a frying pan in the butter until it's golden brown on both sides
5. Add the chicken broth and the juice of another lemon (or the refrigerated equivalent) to the pan
6. Simmer for about 8 minutes until the chicken is done

Enjoy!

Snickerdoodle Cookies

This is a good solid snickerdoodle recipe that makes LOTS of cookes (3-4 dozen!)

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp cream of tartar (optional)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

Mix together flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.
Cream together sugar and butter. Add eggs and blend well.
Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix well.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Shortbread Cookies

This is tried and true shortbread recipe!  Yum!

Ingredients:
2 cups softened butter
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup butter
3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

Cream the butter and sugar.  Mix the cornstarch and flour together then add to the wet ingredients.

Put the mixture into baking pan and pierce a few times with a fork.  Cook for 40-45 minutes at 325 and cut while warm.

Enjoy!

Chicken Pot Pie

We love a good pot pie and this one is delicious!

Crust
1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cup flour
salt
1/4 cup water

cut butter into flour and mix in water slowly

Insides
chicken (boiled and shredded)
any veggies you want (potatoes, carrots, celery, squash)
1/4 tsp celery seed
1/3 butter (I used a bit less)
1/3 flour
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup milk

1. Boil and shred chicken, set aside
2. add potatoes to a pot of cold water, add other vegetables to this pot as the water boils.  Add them in the order or how done you want them (ex, I added the potatoes and once boiling - I added spaghetti squash - then carrots - the celery but not for too long)
3. melt butter and saute onion; add salt, pepper and celery seed
4. add flour to butter and cook for a minute
5. slowly add the broth and the milk
6. when the sauce thickens - combine all ingredients and put inside the crust etc
7 bake at 425 for 30-35 minutes

enjoy!