Chicken Parmesan

Tonight's dinner was  going to be decided based on what we had in the cupboards.  We went to the store this morning for some veggies, pasta and sauce.  We splurged a little and picked up a fresh french loaf too.

I had thought to myself that I would like to make Chicken Parmesan.  I knew we had some panko bread crumbs, and I had defrosted some chicken.  I looked at a few recipes on Pinterest and they all needed fresh parm.  I scrapped the recipe idea and just went with what we had.  It turned out pretty well, at least I thought it was quite tasty!  I did not actually measure anything, so my recipe measurements will just be a rough estimate.

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup of parmesan cheese (not the freshly grated stuff)
2 tblsp of Johnny's garlic spread and seasoning (the stuff from Costco)
1 egg
1/4 cup of buttermilkpasta sauce (I used Classico tomato and Basil)
grated cheese (I used marble cheese)

Directions:
1.  in a flat dish (i used a pie dish) combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and garlic seasoning
2.  in a 2nd flat dish (another pie dish) beat an egg and add in the buttermilk
3.  pound out the chicken breasts so they are nice and flat
4.  dip the chicken breast into the bread crumbs, then into the milk mixture then back into the breadcrumbs
5.  in a skillet cook the chicken breasts until the breadcrumbs are nice and crispy
6.  place chicken breasts into a casserole dish
7.  spoon desired amount of pasta sauce onto each breast and sprinkle with cheese
8.  bake at 350 F for about 10 min

I made my own garlic bread today too.  I cut the french loaf in half, sprinkled with Johnny's garlic spead and seasoning, then buttered the bread.  I wrapped it in foil and put it in the oven at 350F for about 15 minutes.  I took the break out of the foil and put it back in the oven for a few more minutes buttered sides up.

I hope if you try this it is delicious for you too.

Happy Cooking.... and eating!!

JoJo!!

When You Can't Drink Wine.... Eat Cake!!

What is a girl to do when she has had a busy week, started back at work, created some new injuries, and she can't have that cure all glass of wine?!?!  She eats a piece of cake!!!

Why can't I have a glass of wine you might be asking?!?!?  I gave up wine for the week, my big race is on Sunday!!

 Why I would love to have an entire bottle of wine this evening?!?!

Its Friday night!  Good enough reason! LOL

I started back at work!! Although I didn't do anything at work this week, I'm exhausted.   I met with a few people this week, and created my schedule for May.  My days are not very busy just yet, so I am really hoping that things will pick up!  Believe it or not it actually cost me money to go to work this week.

I'm pretty disappointed with the new injury in my calf.  It is not major, but it does hurt, and it has caused me to back off on a few runs.  This is always discouraging when you have a race coming up.  I saw the chiropractor twice this week in hopes of getting me a little more ready for the 10km on Sunday.

Immigration Canada!!  Could you be any slower?!?!  Could you push your dates back any later?!?!  You would think you WANT people working!!

We will think positively, because things will get better, and  when there is no wine to be had, there is always cake, and cake makes me happy!!

Enjoy some cake!!

JoJo!!

Suck it Up!!

This is exactly what I did this morning!!!  My alarm went off at 6am this morning.  I turned it off and rolled over and the battle withing my head began.  I can't start back into the weight lifting routine 4 days before my big race, so what the heck is the point of going to the gym if I am not going to work out?  I could just lay in bed and get some rest.  OR I could take a nice relaxing jog to the gym, get in a really good stretch, and jog back home, all for the sake of routine.  OH, but it is raining outside, do I really want to run in the rain?  IF I give up now, the second day in, its going to be soooooo much easier to give up another day!!  So what did I do? I SUCKED IT UP!  I went to the gym, I stretched, did some feather weight lifting just to get my body moving and I ran home.  What a fantastic way to start the day!!

I am making a lifestyle change here.  I often struggle with the motivation to do it, and I often lose it, but I am somehow getting it back.  I will make this a part of my lifestyle. I will make this a habit!!

Suck it Up!!
JoJo!!

Day 1 of the Routine is a Success!!

No regrets for me this morning!! I did it! I survived day 1 of the new routine schedule!!  Yay me!!

I was up at 6am and out of the door for about 6:20am.  I am pretty impressed with myself.  My run was a little slow this morning, but I did it, I got up and I ran before work.  I was able to shower, drop Avery off, and be at work on time!!

I started the soup diet yesterday, (that is a blog all to itself...yuck-o), and that has been an extra challenge.  Probably a contributor to my slow run this morning too.  But once again, I am doing it!

Tomorrow I don't have to work, but I still plan to be up at 6am and heading off to the gym.  I need to get ready for when my husband goes to work!  

Early to bed for me tonight!!

JoJo!!

Getting Back Into A Routine!

I don't know about you, but I find my life so much easier when I have a routine!  We have had visitors and chaos for the past few weeks any many of our daily routines have fallen by the wayside.  My diet has disappeared, my exercise routine has dropped of significantly, we have not have a family meal in who knows how long, we haven't had our play dates, and worst of all, I have GAINED weight! YUCK!!  Although it was lovely having all of our guests,  its time to get back into our routine.  

Today is day one of our new routine.  I have to admit we did not start off on the right foot.  I woke up and did not go for my run.  So now my plan is to run later in the day, and that never works out for me.

This week I am also returning to work.  I am starting back at 2 days a week.  So my Tuesday and Thursdays are work days now.  Avery will be spending the days with my friend and her baby BFF, so I am happy with her childcare situation.  I think she will have a wonderful time, I just worry about my friends sanity.  The girls are as bad as each other, DOUBLE trouble!!

The weekly routine.... ( I am sharing my routine with you to help hold me accountable!)

Monday/Wednesday/Friday - Gym day, breakfast with Avery, fun activity with Avery, Nap time (paperwork or cleaning for mommy), fun activity with Avery, Dinner, bath bed, mommy and daddy time

Tuesday/Thursday - running day, breakfast with Avery, work, dinner, bath bed, mommy and daddy time

Saturday - running day - I plan to do my long runs on Saturdays since I will have more time, fun family time!

Sunday - family breakfast, church, fun family time

I think this week will be a little chaotic, but I can get us on track for a good weekly routine. I think the most difficult part will be getting up early and running/working out so i can either work or make the most out of my time with Avery!!

Wish me luck!!

JoJo!!

1st Birthday Cake and Birthday Weekend.... DONE!!

WOW! What a whirlwind of a weekend!!  It was Avery's 1st birthday weekend.  On Friday my little baby girl turned 1!!  Friday night she went to one of her little buddies birthday parties for lunch, and we took her to one of her favorite restaurants for dinner.  So many of my friends came out to celebrate with her. It was lovely.  Today she had her birthday party with the kids at Tumblebums.  All of the kids had a fantastic time.  

So the purpose of today's blog.... to share the cake pictures!!  Avery's birthday theme was Disney's Princess and the Frog.  Her cake used lots of bright colors, and had a few of the characters on the cake.  When I first started thinking about the cake I looked at lots of cake ideas online. Most of them used plastic characters. I really wanted to have a completely edible cake, so I decided to make the characters myself.  They are not great, but it was such a fantastic learning experience.  Some of the characters didnt make it to the cake, but overall, minus the princess, I was really happy with the final product!!

The finished product

The layers of the cake are a variey of sizes and flavors.  The bottom 4 cakes are 6" rounds.  2 Chocolate pound cake with buttercream icing, and 2 red velvet cakes with cream cheese frosting.  The second tier is a 8" square make of white chocolate cake, with white chocolate buttercream frosting.  The 3rd tier and princess are both chocolate pound cake with buttercream frosting.  All absolutely delicious!!!

The recipes for the Chocolate Pound Cake and the White Chocolate Cake were included in my marble cake blog  http://jojosmadhouse.blogspot.ca/2012/04/white-chocolate-double-chocolate-marble.html

I am still working on getting my fondant as smooth as it looks in all the cake shows.  I crumb coat was pretty smooth, but I still seem to let lumps in my fondant.  At least this cake didn't have a bulging waistline! LOL

The characters were quite a challenge.  I used a combination of Duff Fondant, and Wilton Gumpaste to make each character.  I found the combination quite gummy and very difficult to work with.  I also noticed that as it starts to dry to cracks quite a bit.  You have to be really quick when working.  Unfortunately my skills are not that great that I can work quickly!!  My characters have a lot of flaws, but I am learning, I think my skills are getting a little better.

Ray

Momma Odie

Lois

The cake was a big hit at the birthday party.  Everyone loved the work, but it was much better to eat than to look at!!

Happy Baking!!

JoJo!!