Posted in - Poultry, Budget Friendly

Money Saving Mondays: Apple and Cheddar Chicken Breasts

Apple and Cheddar Chicken Breasts

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Serves 4

3 T butter – $.25
2 cloves garlic, chopped – $.10
1/2 medium onion, chopped – $0.50
2 medium apples (any kind), cored and diced – $1.00
about 10 fresh sage leaves, chopped – $1.00
salt and freshly-ground black pepper – $.10
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts – $3.00
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese – $1.50

Grand Total – $7.45
Cost Per Serving – $1.86

Prep Day: Heat 1 tbsp butter in a large, frying pan (cast iron works well) over medium heat. Add garlic, onion and apple. Cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions begin to brown. Stir in sage and cook for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and transfer mixture to a plate. Spread out on the plate and place in the refrigerator to cool for 5 minutes.

While mixture cools, place a chicken breast between 2 pieces of wax paper and pound with a mallet or rolling pin to flatten chicken to about 1/2” thick. Repeat with the second chicken breast.

To assemble the chicken, spread half of the apple mixture and half of the cheddar on one half of a chicken breast. Roll up from the filled end, securing with toothpicks. Repeat with the second chicken breast and remaining apple mixture. Flash freeze on a parchment lined baking tray. Once frozen label freezer bag, bag, and freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw. Heat the remaining butter over medium heat in a frying pan and place stuffed chicken breasts, seam-side down, in the hot butter. Cook chicken breasts for 7-8 minutes on each side (be gentle when you flip them), until golden-brown. Transfer pan to the pre-heated oven and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until chicken is fully-cooked. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing in half and serving.

Posted in Breakfast

Sunday Brunch: Pear Bread

Pear Bread

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One loaf

2 cups Flour (1 cup all purpose and the other cup whole wheat)
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking soda
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Ground nutmeg
1/4 cup Oil
1 cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1/4 cup Applesauce
1/4 cup Sour cream
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1 cup Fresh pears, chopped
1 cup Nuts, chopped (optional)

Prep Day: Combine flour, salt, soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg in small bowl (or see baking mix instructions below). In large mixer bowl, beat oil and sugar until well blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time; add applesauce, sour cream, and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and stir until moist. Pare, halve and core pears; chop to make 1 cup per recipe. Stir in pears and nuts (optional). Spoon into well-greased 9×9 loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10-15 minutes. Turn out and cool on rack. Wrap in plastic wrap and seal in 1-gallon freezer bag. Freeze.

Serving Day: Allow to thaw and slice.

Posted in Side Dish

Side Dish ‘n’ Saturdays: Corn Casserole

Corn Casserole

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Serves 12

Adapted from OAMM

8 cups frozen corn kernels, thawed
1 white onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
16 oz cream cheese, cubed
1 cup heavy cream
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (drippings reserved)

Prep Day: In the reserved bacon grease, saute corn, onion, and peppers in a large skillet over medium heat until peppers are tender. Add all remaining ingredients (except bacon), stirring until cream cheese is melted and well-incorporated. Pour into a 13×9 casserole dish, and top with the crumbled bacon.

Prepare as directed; cool completely. Wrap, label, and freeze.

Serve Day: Thaw in refrigerator, then bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until heated through.