Houlihan's Chicken and Cheesy Cauliflower

Charlie and I were lucky enough to spend Christmas with our new grand-daughter and her Mom and Dad, who is also Charlie's son.  The baby is a beautiful, healthy and happy little bundle of bliss for us.  And unfortunately we live 1500 miles away from them.  Which is why we both try to get the most of our visits with them.  We stay home, talk a lot, watch sports and movies and most of all, cook some really good food.

Katie received this recipe at her bridal shower and it has become a staple in their kitchen. Once you taste it, you will see why.  Charlie has been bugging me about making this since we got back.

Houlihan's Chicken


4 chicken breasts
1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 container Alouette garlic & herb cheese (we used Laughing Cow)
salt & pepper
panko bread crumbs (we used regular bread crumbs)
vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice a pocket 3/4 way through chicken breast.
Spoon as much cheese stuffing as you can fit into pocket.
Close pocket with toothpick.

Beat egg and mix with milk.  Dip breast in flour seasoned with salt and pepper, then in egg/milk, then in panko.
Use ovenproof skillet and fry breast until golden brown.
Remove skillet from stove and slide into 350 degree oven and bake until cooked through, 30-40 minutes.

Meanwhile....

Dill Butter Sauce


1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon dill weed
1 teaspoon dried chives
1/2 stick of butter, slightly melted

Combine all ingredients.   Pour over cooked chicken breasts.

We had made cheesy cauliflower the other night and paired the leftovers tonight with the chicken.  It is really cheesy and gooey and good.  I could eat this instead of mac and cheese on a regular basis.  One thing to keep in mind though, unlike mac and cheese this is better the first time you make it.  Reheating causes the cauliflower to get a little mushy.  But that does give me an idea for a cheese soup!

You can find the recipe at The Dutch Baker's Daughter

As work continues to drive me crazy, I am trying to keep my sanity by watching episode after episode of Sons of Anarchy.  It's not a show that I thought I would enjoy and yet, I can't wait to see what happens next.  I'm so hooked.  Thank goodness for Netflix and Amazon live.

Make it an amazing day everyone!

Karen and Charlie

Chicken, Spinach and Artichoke Pizza

I've been away for away.  Completely wrapped up in my job, you know that thing that pays the bills but I'm trying to break free and not forget so much of me whilel I am knee deep in doing things for them.  Oh well, enough of the pity party!

Last night we made these wonderful pizzas that were inspired by a lunch that I had at Buffalo Wild Wings.  It was amazing.  After everyone was finished eating, I wanted to go make another one.  Come on...we had the stuff for one more and they were so good.  What does it matter if I was already stuffed???

So, so simple to make...

Chicken, Spinach and Artichoke Pizza

1 cup Cooked Chicken, cut into cubes
1 package of Creamed Spinach - we used HEB brand - love it so good and steams in bag
1 can Artichoke Hearts
2 Tablespoons Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp (or so) Garlic Powder
Mozzarella Cheese to your liking
Olive Oil
Flatbreads - we used Kangaroo Traditional White (found at HEB)

I used a pizza stone in my oven and heated it to 450.

Drizzle a bit of olive oil onto the flatbread and sprinkle with garlic powder.
Throw them onto the pizza stone to crisp.

Cook spinach according to package direction.
When spinach is done, empty into bowl and add artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese.
Mix well.

Remove flatbreads from oven.
Spoon and spread spinach mixture onto flatbreads.
Add chicken.
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Return to oven until cheese is melted and brown, about 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Live, Laugh Love!
Karen and Charlie

Baked Potato Soup

A long, long time ago I had a recipe for the absolute best baked potato soup.  It was written on a piece of notebook paper.  Along the years and several moves that piece of paper, along with others I'm sure has disappeared.  One reason why I love the Internet.  I store everything on the net, I can't lose that!

Back to the soup.  The only thing I remember is that it had baked potatoes, Campbell's cheddar cheese soup and some other can of Campbell's soup.  I searched the Internet and couldn't find anything that I though was close, darn it the search goes on.

Yesterday, I wasn't feeling my best.  It's a bitch getting older but it's better than the alternative.  So I went into the kitchen and made up my own recipe for the soup I've been craving.  Now mind you, I'm great at following recipes.  I can copy any craft or decorating idea.  I'm a great apprentice.  So this time, I step up and do it myself.

Thank goodness I had a stocked pantry and fridge. Potatoes, Velveeta, a little shredded cheddar cheese, milk, green onions, sour cream, bacon, flour and butter. 

I was guessing so your amounts might vary from mine.  I guess I need to get better a writing things down as I go along.  But don't look for that to happen anytime soon, I'm not that organized.  Any volunteers to be my note taker?  Anyone? Anyone?

Bake the potatoes and cube.  I used 3 russets.  Make a rue with the butter and flour.  Equal parts of fat and flour. Melt the butter then slowly add the flour.  Don't leave it, keep stirring.  I used 1/4 cup of each.

Add the milk (3 cups for me).  Simmer until it starts to thicken.  Add Velveeta and cheddar cheese until melted.  Stir in sour cream, cubed potatoes and crumbled bacon. Season with salt and pepper.

Garnish with green onions or scallions, your choice of what you call them.  Just use them and use them often.

This is so good.  It warmed me to the bottom of my soul.  And satisfied my love of potatoes and cheese.  I'm so glad I tried this on my own.

More tailgate food.  More Cheese!!

I had some mozzarella that I planned on using on pizza but fried cheese called to me.  And think I must have eaten 4 or 5 of them.

Dipped in jarred marina sauce, this snack was to die for.  Just dip in egg wash and a mix of panko and regular bread crumbs.  Yum, yum.

Live, Laugh, Love,
Karen and Charlie