Cooking Obsession: Chicken Parmesan Alfredo

This next recipe is one of our favorites. I've been making it for years now and my husband still loves it. I found it on the back of the Ragu Classic Alfredo jar. We have made changes to it. Ours is below. Yum.

Chicken Parmesan Alfredo

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 egg, beaten

1 box of stuffing (unbaked)

1 jar of Alfredo Sauce (or you can make your own)

1/2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

1 medium tomato, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Dip chicken in egg, then into the unbaked stuffing, coating well.
2. In 13x9 in. baking dish, arrange chicken. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
3. Pour sauce over chicken; top with cheese, then tomato. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Serve with remaining sauce, heated, and sprinkle, if desired, with grated parmesan cheese.

Quick and easy! Enjoy!

***We usually make this without the mozz. cheese and tomato (just cause I'm lazy) and it still is delicious!!!

Cooking Obsession: Manicotti

A favorite recipe of mine is Manicotti (another one from kraftfoods.com). I've been making it for years (no, of course my hubby isn't sick of it) and I am still loving it. It's easy to make and delicious. Although when I was trying to have my 2 year old daughter say it, well, this was our conversation:

me: "manicotti. say manicotti."

little one: "pizza. yum."

me: " it's manicotti. sorta like pizza. say manicotti."

little one: "mommy-potty"

me: "m-a-n-i-c-o-t-t-i"

little one: "mommy-potty"

me: {sigh}

Obviously the 2 year old didn't get it. But she loves it and thinks it's pizza. Oh dear. What have I done.

Easy Baked Manicotti

2 c. spaghetti sauce, divided

1-3/4 c. ricotta cheese

1-1/2 c. mozzarella cheese

1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese

1 egg beaten

1/4 c. pesto

12 manicotti shells, cooked, rinsed in cold water

Heat oven to 350.

Spread 3/4c. sauce on bottom of 13x9 in baking dish. Mix cheeses, egg, and pesto until well blended; spoon into resealable plastic bag; use scissors to cut one corner off of bag.

Fill manicotti shells by squeezing cheese mixture into both sides of each shell; (**side note: at this point I'm feeling like a pastry chef and loving it) place in baking dish. Top with remaining sauce and cover.

Bake 40 min. or until heated through.

**side note - I usually double this and put half of it in ziploc bags in the freezer. It's a really quick and easy meal to prepare for days when you're very busy.

Cooking Obsession: Orange Chicken

Besides spray painting and sewing, I do like to dabble in the kitchen a bit. I will admit though, that my hubby is probably a better cook than I. Lucky for me!

We decided to try a new recipe which ended up being fantastic. If you like orange chicken, you will love this recipe! Two great things about it. 1. this orange chicken isn't fried (so you can spend those fried food calories that aren't there . . . on cookies instead) and 2. not a lot of prep time for these babies.

We found it in the Kraft Foods Magazine Fall 2007 (can be found at www.kraftfoods.com)

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken

8 small boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 lb)

3 Tbsp flour

1/3 c. orange marmalade

1/3 c. barbecue sauce

2 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp grated fresh gingerroot

Toss chicken with flour in slow cooker.

Stir in all remaining ingredients; cover with lid.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours (or high for 3-4 hours). Although if you cut the chicken in smaller pieces at the beginning, I recommend that you leave it just on high for 1-2 hours.

Serve with rice. Makes 4 servings. Enjoy!