Believe in the Magic Traci Diary

Recipes, Travels, and Stories

recent posts

about

  • Aunt Missy’s Easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan

    A few years ago, my aunt sent me a little stand up photo album with family favorite recipes.  When I was menu planning this week, I decided to check out those recipes.  I ended up choosing to make her chicken Parmesan.  It’s a one skillet recipe and done in less than 30 minutes.  Score!

    I was so excited about the recipe that I’m already putting it on the blog!

    Hubby loved it!  In fact, he had seconds.

    IMG_0126

    Aunt Missy’s Easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan

    Stars of the recipe:

    • 2 Tbsp. butter
    • 1 lb. chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch. cubes
    • 1 (14 oz.) can or 1 & 3/4 c. chicken broth
    • 1-1/2 c. spaghetti sauce (Hubby suggests a spaghetti sauce that is cheesy flavored.)
    • 1/2 tsp. dried basil
    • 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
    • 3 c. dried small cut pasta such as penne
    • 1 c. grated Parmesan (& more for serving)

    Steps:

    1. Heat a skillet to medium high heat.
    2. Melt the butter in the skillet.
    3. Add the chicken.
    4. Cook until pink.
    5. Add the chicken broth, spaghetti sauce, basil, and oregano.
    6. Turn up heat to high.  Allow the spaghetti sauce and chicken broth to boil.
    7. Add the pasta.  Stirring until pasta is coated.
    8. Turn down heat to medium low.  Cover and allow to simmer for 15 minutes.  Stirring occasionally.
    9. Sprinkle cheese over the pasta.
    10. Enjoy!  Add more cheese to the pasta when serving if desired.

    Thank you Aunt Missy for the recipe!

    miz-helen-badge-alt5

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • Mom, What’s For Dinner? – Week of February 29, 2016

    Can you believe it’s already March? Okay, technically, tomorrow is March, but it’s close enough.

    Last week, I spoke about how I didn’t know how my meal planning would go since I had been sick and had to go to the doctor. Well, Monday’s dinner burnt, so I made something else. Tuesday’s dinner went as planned. Hubby got us Chick-Fil-A since I was on our couch all day Wednesday. Thursday’s dinner was changed because I still felt crud in the morning when I had to put the dinner in the slow cooker. I went back to work but didn’t feel 100% on Friday, so we had Hot Head Burrito for supper.

    When I went to the doctor’s office, I was told I had a touch of bronchitis and would be stuck with my cough for a while. Boo hiss. I also had a sinus infection and blocked ear tubes (basically an ear infection). I was put on medication to help fight all these issues.

    Ohio’s weather had been a roller coaster – literally. On the 13th, we had a high in the teens. Then there was a gradual warm-up. By the 20th, it was in the ’60s, almost to 70. My poor sinus cavity could not handle all that change in air pressure.

    My husband knew I was feeling better on Thursday when I decided to bake something in the kitchen. However, I almost forgot to put flour, an essential ingredient in sugar cookie bars. Oops. Once I made them, the boys raved over them.

    Saturday, I cleaned out my cookbook collection. I looked at what I had and pulled out a few to help with inspiration for dinner.

    Without further ado, here is our menu for the week.

    Monday

    Apricot chicken (new recipe – trying once again) over rice, mixed veggies

    Tuesday

    Quick and easy Parmesan chicken and pasta (my aunt’s recipe), salad, garlic bread

    Wednesday

    Lenten Soup Dinner

    Thursday

    BLT Soup (new recipe), Salad, Buttermilk Cornbread

    Friday

    Cashew Chicken, Fried rice with leftover mixed veggies

    For other great menus, please visit Menu Plan Monday at I’m An Organizing Junkie.

    What’s on your menu?

    Happy Eating,
    Traci

  • Baked Pancake

    Sometimes we want pancakes, but I don’t feel like flipping the pancakes.  I like this alternative so does my family.  You can add different toppings to the batter.  We topped half of the pancake batter with chocolate chips.  The other half we left plain.

    The Imaginative One said the only real difference between baked and normal pancakes is the thickness.  Baked pancakes are thicker.

    My whole family enjoyed these baked pancakes.

    IMG_0273

    Baked Pancakes

    adapted from Fabulessly Frugal

    baked-pancakeDownload
    miz-helen-badge-alt5

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • Lawnmower Tacos

    The Wee One loves tacos so when I saw this recipe, I decided we needed to try this recipe.  Hubby loved it which is a great thing because he typically only likes Fritos and I used tortilla chips.

    It’s called lawnmower tacos because it basically looks like a lawnmower ran over the meal.  It might not look pretty but it tastes delicious.

    IMG_0276

    Lawnmower Taco

    adapted from Life as Mom

    Lawnmower TacosDownload

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • Fruity Chicken Salad

    I’ve had this recipe in my files but haven’t shared it with you.  If you make the crockpot chicken or buy a rotisserie chicken, you can use the leftover chicken to make this delicious chicken salad.

    When I made this chicken salad, I shared some with my mother-in-law.  She also loved this chicken salad.  She especially loved the addition of the dried cherries.

    It’s good on a bun or eaten with crackers.  It would also be good just to eat with a fork.

    Fruity Chicken Salad

    Fruity Chicken Salad

    Adapted from Add a Pinch

    Stars of the recipe:

    • 1 pound or 2 c. cooked chicken chopped or shredded
    • 1 c. chopped celery
    • 1 c. red grapes, halved or quartered depending on the size of the grapes
    • 1/2 c. dried cherries or cranberries
    • 1/2 c. chopped pecan pieces
    • 1 c. mayo (I use an olive oil-based mayo.)
    • salt and pepper, to taste

    Steps:

    1. Add all the ingredients to a large bowl.
    2. Mix to combine.
    3. Enjoy with crackers or on a bun!.

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • Cooking Inspirations – Grandma Part 1

    As I said yesterday, Grandma would have turned 88 if she was still alive.  I lived with her from age 10 until I moved out when I was 21.  Except for the four months I was in Walt Disney World at 20.

    (more…)

  • Mom, What’s For Dinner? – Week of February 22

    Happy birthday in Heaven to my grandma! She would have been 88 years old today. When I talk about my inspirations for how I cook, she is one of the two family members I speak of.

    (more…)

  • Pressure Cooker BBQ Chicken Wings

    During January, I was sick for half of the month.  When I was sick, I was not hungry for any food.  Toward the end of my sickness, I craved BBQ chicken wings.  I sent Hubby out to get me some frozen chicken wings so I could cook them up in the pressure cooker.  They were delicious!  I ended up eating a whole bunch of chicken.

    We still had a few frozen chicken wings left over, so I cooked up some more last Saturday when our boys were with their grandma.  Hubby gave me some tips to make them even better.  I’m sharing the improved recipe.

    Here is what I’m talking about when I say frozen chicken wing parts.

    IMG_0020

    Pressure Cooker BBQ Chicken Wings

    Stars of the recipe:

    • frozen chicken wings (20 pieces or so)
    • 1 c. barbecue sauce (Your favorite kind)
    • 1 c. water

    Steps:

    1. Place the chicken in the electric pressure cooker.
    2. Pour the water and barbecue sauce over the chicken.
    3. Place the lid on the electric pressure cooker.  Make sure the valve is set to pressure.
    4. Turn the pressure cooker onto the pressure cooker setting for 10 minutes.
    5. Once the pressure cooker is finished cooking, set the valve to quick release.
    6. Place the chicken on a sprayed-down cookie sheet.  (I poured the barbecue water mixture over the chicken.  However, if you want them crispier, I would not pour the barbecue water mixture over the chicken.)
    7. Broil the chicken for 5 to 7 minutes and then flip the chicken.
    8. Broil for 5 to 7 more minutes.
    9. Enjoy!

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • Balsamic Chicken and Potatoes (Sheet Pan Meal)

    This sheet pan was so yummy!  The leftovers were even better the next day.

    These past few weeks have been off and on with great meals.  I’ve been so busy writing Individualized Educational Plans (IEPs), teaching, and being sick that I’ve cooked meals that haven’t been stellar.

    Last Wednesday, I left work on time and got home in time to make a more involved meal.  Actually, this was very involved.  The rolls I made were more involved than this dish.

    This meal is easy to put together.  It took me 10 minutes to get it into the oven once I got home.  It takes 30 – 40 minutes to bake.

    IMG_0008

    Balsamic Chicken and Potatoes (Sheet Pan Meal)

    Stars of the recipe:

    • 1 pound of chicken breasts or tenders (I used a huge breast; I cut it into smaller pieces.)
    • 1 pound of potatoes, cubed (I peeled mine)
    • 1 to 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 2 tsp. Italian seasoning (Add if desired.)
    • 2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

    Steps:

    1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper.
    2. In a mixing bowl, place the cubed potatoes.  Pour EVOO over the potatoes.  Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.  Mix until all the potatoes are coated.  Place the potatoes on half of the cookie sheet.
    3. On the other half of the cookie sheet, place the chicken.  Season with salt and pepper.  Pour the balsamic vinegar over the chicken.  Turn to coat both sides of the chicken.
    4. Cook at 425 for 15 minutes.  Flip the chicken and potatoes.
    5. Cook for an additional 15 to 25 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees and the potatoes are fork tender.
    6. Remove from oven and allow the chicken to rest for 5 to 10 minutes.
    7. Enjoy!

    Happy eating,
    Traci

  • Ten Quick and Easy Meals for Busy Families

    As a busy family, I often struggle with figuring out what to feed the family.  So I came up with a list of possible meals that are easy to put together.

    On days the Wee One or the Imaginative One asks me what’s for supper, I can show them this list.  Then they can choose a meal from the list.

    (more…)