Mozzarella chicken roll-ups

My husband couldn't stop talking about how good this was tonight.

2 oz. Cream cheese, softened

1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1/4 tsp.  Garlic salt

1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

2 small boneless skinless chicken breast, pounded to 1/4-inch thickness

HEAT oven to 400°F.

MIX first 4 ingredients until well blended.

PLACE chicken, top-sides down, on work surface; top with cheese mixture. Starting at one short end, tightly roll up each breast, tucking in ends of chicken to completely enclose filling. Place, seam-side down, in 9-inch square baking dish sprayed with cooking spray.

BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is done (165°F).

Variations

 Mix in 1/4 cup finely diced green pepper with the cheese mixture. 

-OR-

Prepare as directed, topping the flattened chicken pieces with a layer of baby spinach leaves before topping with cheese mixture.

-OR-

Top chicken breasts with 1 cup spaghetti sauce before baking.

Turkey Burgers

Another recipe from the cookbook that we love!

What you need:

1 lb ground turkey

¼ lb mushrooms, finely chopped

1-cup Italian flavored breadcrumbs

¼ cup grated zucchini

1 Tbl Worcestershire sauce

2 Tbl ketchup

½ tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Make it:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl mix everything together.  It will be moist.  Form into 16 or so little patties.

Coat large skillet with cooking spray and set over med-high heat.

When skillet is hot add oil.

Add burger patties and brown for 4-5 minutes.

Put burgers on cookie sheet and bake for 4-5 minutes

Macaroni and Cheese

I recently checked out a cookbook from the library titled Deceptively Delicious.  The book aims towards getting more vegetables into your kids diet.  I've made this recipe twice now and we really like it.

What you need:

1 ½ cups elbow macaroni

1 Tbl olive oil

1 Tbl flour

½ cup milk

½ cup squash puree

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

4 oz cream cheese

½ tsp salt

1/8 tsp paprika

1/8 tsp pepper

Make it:

Cook macaroni until al dente. Drain

While macaroni is cooking coat a saucepan with cooking oil heat to medium. Add oil and flour and cook.  Stirring constantly until thick but not browned. 1-2 minutes

Add the milk and cook, stirring every now and then, until the mixture begins to thicken, 3-4 minutes.

Add the vegetable puree, cheddar cheese, cream cheese and seasonings.  Stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.

Stir in macaroni and serve.

Baked Chicken Kiev

What you need:

4 boneless chicken breasts

½ cup dry breadcrumbs

½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 ½ tsp dried oregano

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp pepper

4 Tbl butter- room temp.

¼ tsp garlic powder

4 oz cheese of choice – I used mozzarella string cheese

2 large eggs beaten with 2 Tbl water

Make it:

Place chicken breasts one at a time between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and flatten until ¼ inch thick.

In a shallow pan combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp of the oregano, salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a small bowl mash butter with garlic powder and remaining ½ tsp oregano.

Spread about ½ Tbl of the butter mixture on each breast about 1 inch from the lower edge; lay a piece of cheese on the butter mixture. Fold lower edge of breast over filling, then fold in sides and roll up to enclose filling.

Roll each bundle in egg mixture and let drip briefly; then roll in breadcrumb mixture until evenly coated. 

Place bundles, seam side down, without touching in 9x13 inch baking pan.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Bake, uncovered, in a 425-degree oven until done.  About 30-40 minutes.