Asparagus & Mozarella Wrapped Chicken

My sister, Katy gave me this great idea for something to cook for dinner tonight.  I took a stab at it and this is how it turned out.


4-5 bones skinless chicken breasts
Sliced mozarella cheese
Asparagus
Salt & Pepper
Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning (optional)
Bread Crumbs
Hollendaise Sauce Mix (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Cut light ends off of the asparagus.  Cut mozarella into strips.  You need about 3-6 asparagus stems and 2-3 slices of mozarella for each piece of chicken.  Pour some bread crumbs on plate or shallow pan.  Pound chicken with meat tenderizer to flatten each piece. 



Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper and Tony's (if you choose).  Place asparagus and cheese at one end of chicken and begin to wrap. 



As soon as they are covered, place another slice of cheese and asparagus and continue wrapping until complete.  Roll chicken wrap in bread crumbs until completely covered and place in baking dish.  Repeat with each piece of chicken. 



Bake for 30-45 minutes or until chicken is white.  Cook Hollandaise sauce according to package instructions as garnish for the chicken.  Enjoy.

Courtesy of Katy Val Verde - My awesome sister!!

Tried Something New #1 - Fried Catfish

So, on a regular day I don't eat fish.  It has to be very crispy and very fried for me to eat it.  And it certainly can't taste fishy.  Well, my Dad got me hooked on the fried catfish they make at our church fish frys every year.  It became the ONLY fish I would ever eat.  Naturally, if I don't like something then I won't cook it either.  It doesn't matter if other people like it, I won't cook it.  Well, I decided to do something nice for my hubby and took a stab at frying catfish because he LOVES it.  It was way way easier that making fried chicken. All it took was catfish, Tony Chacheres Fish Fry, 1 egg, some milk, and vegetable oil.  If you want the exact recipe let me know.  I have to say, for someone who never fried catfish in my life, this was amazing!!  The hub was super impressed.  I used a thermometer on the side of the pan so the oil wouldn't get too hot or cool.  The most time consuming part was the actual frying.  This is how it turned out...

Mmm Mmm Good!!

Buffalo Wings

2 lbs small chicken wings and drumsticks
1 cup hot sauce
4 ounces melted butter
2t honey

Deep fry wings in vegetable oil at 375 degrees for about 10-12 minutes.  Drain well.  In a seperate bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients.  Add wings to mixture and coat to desired taste.

Super Easy Fruity Tuity Dip

1 can marshmallow cream - 1 package cream cheese - Mix together - Cut up some fruit - Enjoy

Stuffed Manicotti

This is another recipe that can be very diverse.  Again, Be Creative!!

1-2 lbs browned hamburger beef
1-2 pkgs manicotti pasta
1 large pkg mozarella cheese
2 cans Hunt's spaghetti sauce
1 tub sour cream
All purpose seasoning
Salt and pepper
Oregano seasoning
Garlic salt

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Brown hamburger meat in a skillet adding all seasonings to desired taste.  Set aside.  Boil manicotti pasta.  Do not overcook!!  You want them to be on the harder side, so they don't rip when you are trying to stuff them.  Cook no more than 5-6 minutes.  Grease glass baking dish and set aside.  Remove pasta one at a time with rubber tongs, place in baking dish and set aside.  In a mixing bowl, combine meat, sour cream and some mozarella.  The meat should have a light white tint and not too much cheese.  Again, this can be to your liking.  Stuff each manicotti piece and place accordingly in baking dish.  Cover all pieces thoroughly with spaghetti sauce.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Cover with mozarella cheese and bake again until cheese is melted.  Enjoy!!!!

Salsa Chicken

This recipe is so easy, that if it weren't for the hot oven, my 5 year old could do it...

4-5 chicken breasts or 10-12 chicken tenderloins
Pace Picante sauce
Salt and pepper
Mozarella cheese
2 cups white rice

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  You can start with fresh chicken or even start frozen if you didn't have time to thaw.  Cooking time will vary.  In a non-greased glass baking dish, add the chicken breasts or tenderloins.  Cover both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper to taste.  Pour picante sauce over chicken until completely covered.  Bake for 30-45 minutes or until there is barely any pink in the middle of the chicken.  Cover chicken with mozarella and bake until it is completely melted.  While chicken is cooking, prepare the rice.  Serve over rice.  Enjoy.

Taco Soup

I have heard of this recipe with so many variations.  This is the quick and simple recipe.

1lb browned hamburger meat
2 cans corn
1 can rotel
1 can pinto beans
1 pkg ranch dressing
1 pkg taco seasoning
1/2 diced onion

Brown hamburger meat in skillet with diced onion.  Drain oil from the meat.  Add corn, rotel, and pinto beans (all undrained, the juice helps make the soup).  Stir.  Add ranch dressing ans taco seasoning and stir again.  Add 1 cup water or more to your desired soupiness.  Bring to boil.  Reduce heat and cover, simmering for about 20 minutes.  Serve with shredded cheese and tortilla chips.

**Some variations may include adding bell peppers or even chopped jalapenos.  You can add more beans, or different kinds of beans.  Maybe less corn.  Water can be less or more depending on your desired thickness.  I haven't tried this recipe with chicken, but that may be a very good idea also.  Be creative or leave it alone.  Personally, I like this recipe the way it is.**

Sopa de Fideo con Pollo

This receipe is a slight moderation of my grandmother's recipe. She made hers with ground beef and potatoes. Either way you like it, you can make it to your taste.


1 whole roasted chicken
1 can tomato soup
1 package fideo
1/2 onion
2T olive oil
4 cans vegetable broth
salt and pepper to taste
garlic salt to taste
parsley to taste
Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning to taste




Roast or boil chicken and shred. Heat olive oil in pan. Add fideo and stir until mostly brown. Add onion and cook until all of rice is brown. Add tomato soup and veggie broth. Stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. (About 1t each) Add galic salt, parsley, and Tony's to taste. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium for 10-15 minutes. Add chicken and cook an additional 20 minutes. Seasonings can be reduced or added depending on your taste buds. Enjoy!