Baked Chicken Parmesan

 

Last weekend when Joe and I were in Idaho visiting my family, we stopped by Great Harvest to pick up some bread for the weekend. Like Joe and me, my family loves Great Harvest bread because it tastes, well, like bread is supposed to taste. I could go on and on about their bread, but I'll spare you the details and tell you to get yourself to a location near you. 

Up until six months ago, Des Moines had two Great Harvest locations. Sadly, they both closed within a couple of months, leaving Joe and I devastated. Naturally, when we were in Idaho, we picked up three loaves of bread to take home with us and store in the freezer, two loaves of Dakota and one loaf of their Garlic Cheddar Bread. Joe loves that bread so much that he asked me to create a meal on Monday night that revolved around the bread. 

Initially, I suggested pork tenderloin and broccoli. Evidently, that's not what Joe had in mind, because when I suggested that, his face dropped a little and he said, "I was thinking something more like Italian. Specifically, Chicken Parmesan." 

It's not often that Joe actually makes a specific meal request, so when he does, I try to accommodate. Chicken Parm has been made in our house in the past (my fried gluten-free version here) but for this version, I wanted something more. A crispier, lighter Chicken Parmesan was what I had in mind, and the results of this panko-Parmesan baked version didn't disappoint. I loved that I didn't have to mess-up the stove top with grease and oil from frying and the fact that it was ultra-easy to prepare in the oven. And Joe? Well he just loved the way it tasted. 

Family cooks: Do you allow your family members/significant others to make meal requests? Or do they just take what you make? 

Baked Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
*1 tablespoon olive oil 
*1 1/2 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
*1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
*1/4 teaspoon salt
*1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
*1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
*1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
*2 large eggs, lightly beaten
*2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
*1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese 
*2 cups purchased marinara sauce
*4 servings angel hair pasta, cooked according to package directions

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan with the 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
*In a shallow bowl, combine the panko, Parmesan, salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Mix to combine.
*Place the beaten eggs in a second bowl.
*Slice the chicken breasts each in half widthwise to form four thin chicken breasts. Dip each chicken breast in the egg mixture to coat, followed by the panko mixture. Transfer coated chicken breasts to the prepared baking pan. Bake chicken in the oven for 25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is crispy. Top the chicken with the shredded cheese. Switch oven to broil and continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes more, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
*Toss the prepared pasta with some of the marinara sauce in a large saucepan and heat over medium heat on the stove top. Divide the pasta among four plates or bowls and top each portion with one of the chicken breasts. Finish with additional marinara sauce, if desired, and grated Parmesan cheese. Makes 4 servings

Happy Cooking!
Madison

No Fat Talk Tuesday: Kristin's Story

 Today's No Fat Talk Tuesday post comes to us from Kristin. I enjoyed reading what Kristin wrote because I think it really examines the thought process behind fat talk and body confidence. I especially liked the last part of Kristin's post where she says, "I knew it was my mindset that needed to be reformed." Isn't that the truth? Thanks so much for sharing your story, Kristin! - Madison

No "fat talk" may seem like a simple enough mantra. If you ask my husband, he'll tell you it wouldn't hurt me to gain a few pounds. While I sincerely appreciate that he'll love me  and be attracted to me no matter what, I wonder why it isn't that simple for girls to think this way.

Easter Weekend in Idaho

Last weekend Joe and I hopped a plane and headed off to Idaho to see my family (dad, second mom, little sisters). My dad's sister, Gwen, flew in from Florida for the weekend, too. I can't tell you how great it was to be able to spend time with everyone. We did a lot of normal, everyday things, including watching my little sister Taylor run in her first track meet and attending my other little sister Ashley's sorority philanthropy event. And on Sunday, we got to visit my family's new church in Idaho for an Easter Sunday service and eat brunch together before heading back to Idaho.

Since we got in late last night, we're scrambling to get things back in order before the work week begins. There's grocery shopping to be done, workouts to be done, dogs to be walked and laundry to be done. I'll see you tomorrow with a No Fat Talk Tuesday post!

Here are a few pictures from our weekend away...

{I love this house. Actually, I love all the houses in Boise. If Joe and I had careers that led us to Idaho, I wouldn't be upset, since I've absolutely fallen in love with this place.}

{Taylor is a 6th grader and was running in her first track meet. She competed in the long jump and ran the 100 m dash, 4x100 m relay and the 200 m. Go Tay!}

Spring Green Salad

 

Lunches are difficult for me. Are they difficult for you? The whole process of packing a lunch, trying to find something in the fridge that will transport well and keep me filled throughout the afternoon. Something that's not going to stink up the office fridge (which is already its own kind of disgusting). It's really a drag, isn't it? But since I'm trying to eat out less during the week and save us a little extra money, brown-bagging it is the way to go. 

A couple weeks back, I made an effort to specifically buy ingredients that would make for a killer salad. Avocados, feta cheese, hummus. And then I proceeded to eat this salad four days in a row. Sometimes when something is that good, you don't get sick of it. 

NYC Travels and IACP

Last week Wednesday I hopped on a plane and headed to New York for five days to attend IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals). You might remember last year's trip to Austin, in which I met the lovely Dorie Greenspan, watched thousands of bats fly at night and ate some of the most amazing tacos of my life. This year's trip was entirely different but every bit as fun. Most of my time was spent at the conference, but during my downtime I tried to squeeze in as much fun as possible.

The first night of the stay was spent at The Premier Hotel in Times Square because it was connected to the conference hotel. The subsequent nights were spent at my company's apartment in the city. Having access to a full kitchen and plenty of space was such a blessing since I was there for five days.

During breaks in the conference, I was able to take in a little sight-seeing, and some shopping, too. Living in Iowa means we don't have much access to anything other than the standard lineup of stores and a handful of boutique shops. On my list of places to go: Zara, Cole Haan and H&M.

No Fat Talk Tuesday: Alaina

Today's No Fat Talk Tuesday post is from the lovely Alaina who blogs over at The Jogging Concierge. Although Alaina claims she doesn't really have a way with words, I would beg to disagree. Her story touched me and motivated me to continue to work towards fighting the good fight against fat talk. Thank you, Alaina, for sharing your story and helping others learn to love their bodies! - Madison

I’ve never really been the one who was extremely eloquent or articulate with words and such. When I e-mailed Madison about writing for her No Fat Talk Tuesday series, I was so excited when she took me up on the offer. Then I was subsequently anxious. I knew what thoughts went on inside my mind but how could I get them down on paper (or in this case in blog form)? What did “No Fat Talk” really mean to me? I certainly don’t call myself fat. But I used to. 

Sour Cream Raisin Pie

Hello, all! I hope you had a wonderful weekend. I've actually been away in NYC for work since Wednesday (more on that later) and am just getting home today so things have been a little slow around these parts.


But I know what you really want to know is who won the giveaway, right? It seems like I'm not the only one obsessed with Greek yogurt since over a hundred of you entered to win the free Chobani. So, let's name the winners...


1. The case of flavored yogurts goes to Ali A.
2. The 3 (32 oz) containers go to Chelsy Ethridge.

Congrats, ladies! Please email me (madisonjanemayberry@gmail.com) and I'll have Chobani get your yogurt in the mail ASAP!

Oh, and this pie I've been teasing you with in the photos? It's the Grandma Jacobs original, laden with sour cream and spices, yet somehow light and airy. Although I prefer the Greek yogurt version shared last week, this version is Joe's preference. I can't say I blame him.