Recipes :)

Cream Cheese Spinach Stuffed Chicken Rolls - from Amanda

Ingredients
o 6 boneless chicken breast halves
o 1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
o 1/2 cup cooked spinach, well drained
o 1 tablespoon minced garlic
o 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
o seasoning salt and pepper ( or use cayenne)
o 2 large eggs ( mixed with 2 teaspoon water)
o 1 1/2 cups dry unseasoned breadcrumbs
o 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
o 1/3 cup melted butter
o 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder


Directions
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Flatten the chicken breast to about 1/4-inch thickness.
3. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, spinach, garlic, nutmeg, seasoning salt and pepper (or cayenne pepper) until well combined.
4. Mix the dry breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese in a shallow bowl; set aside.
5. Mix together the melted butter with garlic powder; set aside.
6. Spoon equal amounts of mixture across the narrow end of each breast.
7. Roll up jelly-roll style, and secure with toothpicks.
8. Dip the stuffed breast into the egg, then roll into the dry breadcrumb mixture.
9. Place into a buttered baking dish, seam-side down.
10. Drizzle with butter/garlic mixture.
11. Bake for about 30 minutes.

Savory Crescent Squares

Got some ideas coming in!  Here's one for tonight and I'll post more tomorrow.  Merci, my cooking friends, merci!!! :)

Christy's Chicken Crescent Squares

INGREDIENTS

3	oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1/4	tsp. salt
3	T. melted margarine
1/8	tsp. pepper
2	cups cooked, cubed chicken (approximately 3 boneless breasts equal a cup)
2	T milk
1	T chopped chives or onion
1	T pimento
8	oz. Pillsbury Crescent rolls - 1 can makes 4 chicken squares (I use the reduced fat crescent rolls and can't tell a difference)
3/4	cup seasoned croutons, crushed

INSTRUCTIONS

1.

Blend cream cheese and 2 tablespoons margarine until smooth. Add chicken, salt, pepper, milk, chives or onion, and pimento. Mix well. Separate dough into 4 rectangles. Press perforations to seal in each rectangle. Spoon 1/2 cup meat mixture into the center of each rectangle. Pull 4 corners of dough to top center over mix, twist slightly and seal edges. Brush tops with remaining 1 tablespoon melted margarine; cover top and sides of each square with the crouton crumbs. Bake on un-greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown. Serves 4.

Need a little help from my friends

OK so it's not (quite) life or death but this is an SOS that I'll bet every woman can relate to.  I've hit a brick wall when it comes to what to have for dinner.  I am completely aware that the internet puts all sorts of menu planning options at my fingertips but I want ideas from real people like YOU.  What did you feed your family for dinner last week and what are you planning for this coming one?  No take out suggestions please (I can cite those in my sleep!!).  I'm looking for simple, inexpensive ideas using ground beef or chicken.  No Tazmanian gingerroot - I don't have time to shop for it.

Please give me some ideas.  NOTE:  If you receive this via email, I do not receive your response if you try to "reply" to the email.  You'll need to comment on FB or on the actual blog site.  Otherwise, your life-saving ideas will wander around in cyber space and never reach me.  And my family will starve.  Or maybe have chicken enchiladas or spaghetti again.  Again.   Again.

Please help.

Thanks.

To the soldier at Krispy Kreme

We must've seemed silly to you, all dressed up in pirate garb, just to earn a free dozen donuts.  You looked a bit perplexed.  You wondered why there was such a long line at 9 PM when the red HOT light wasn't even on.  When I explained, you just shook your head and looked away.  Your wife shared that you had just returned from a tour in Afghanistan.  I thanked you for your service and asked if I could shake your hand.  You were gracious.  A few other costume-clad Jack Sparrows chimed in and told you "thanks".  But the focus on you was short-lived.  All attention returned to the delicious smelling circles of dough bobbing up in the grease, waiting to drain a bit before being doused in the liquid sugar at the next phase of the donut assembly line. 

I lost my interest in the glazed treasures, thinking about your re-entry to American life.  I wanted to get out of line and join you in the back and ask about your tour.  I wondered how long you'd been gone, what you did...and what you missed while you were gone.  You looked about my age.  Did you miss out on a graduation?  Or a grandbaby being born? Fourth of July picnics and Christmas mornings?  Games between the hedges?  Long walks with  your wife?  A second cup of coffee on Sunday mornings?  Funny little things like Cow Day at Chick-fil-A and Pirate Day at Krispy Kreme?

I'll bet our impatience over long lines for free donuts is more than perplexing to you.  And I wonder if you are bothered when you hear somebody complain about traffic or a slow checkout clerk.  Do we seem self-centered to you when we pay more for a vacation than some folks you served with make in a month? Are you glad you chose to serve our country, to represent a bunch of eye-patch-wearing, sword-holding, donut-eating carefree Americans?

  I hope we aren't ungrateful for the sacrifices you've made to defend what we hold dear. I wanted to say so much to you.  For all of us.  To you and to your family. I felt the urge to climb up on a table and clap for everyone's attention and lead us all in "God Bless America" or a few verses of "The Star Spangled Banner".  Shoot, I'd have settled for "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"!.  But I've embarrassed my kids enough times. And since this time I had only one there and she'd have had to bear the potential pain of my public patriotism alone, I refrained. So I did the only thing I knew to do.  I bought your donuts.  I hope the clerk got my message right when your turn at the cashier came.  I just wanted to say Thanks. 

Class info

I am currently teaching a Bible study at Watkinsville First Baptist Church called "Equipped for Battle Victory".  We're learning about how to live a life of joy and peace and confidence in the midst of chaos, turmoil, and attack.  I'd love to have you all join us but for some of you the commute would be a hassle :)  Some of you asked about getting the workbook, etc.  If you want to listen to the class lectures, they are on the WFBC website  www.watkinsville.org  Go to the "ministries" link, then the "women" link.  The audio recording link is at the bottom of that page.  The workbook is also there for download or I can mail you one if you want one.  They are $12, payable to WFBC.

If you can make it in person, there are two options for class - Tuesday mornings at 9:30 or Wednesday evenings at 6:15.  Even though we've already started, it's not too late to join in.