Quick was the focus of the evening, after a few errands it was after 6 by the time I got home and I was hungry! I searched in the fridge and found a package of chicken breasts, basil that was on its last leg, mozzarella, and some tomato sauce and even better I found panko crumbs in the fridge. I pulled together my version of a healthier Chicken Parmesan.
I figured a few extra veggies are always needed so I munched on a salad of mixed greens with carrots, tomatoes and broccoli topped with a bit of light Caesar dressing.
Panko Coated Chicken with Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella
Ingredients
1 package chicken breasts
1/4 cup basil leaves
1/2 cup tomato sauce
2 ounces of mozzarella, sliced
1/2 cup of panko breadcrumbs
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350
- Rinse and pat try dry chicken. Add panko to a large zip top bag, place chicken in the bag and give it a good shake.
- Add the coated chicken to a cookie sheet and cook for 15-20 minutes
- Turn broiler to high and place mozzarella slices on each chicken breast, heat until melted.
- Top chicken with tomato sauce and basil.
Off to watch Glee!
When I think of fall I think pumpkin and a new I needed to bake something last night. Pumpkin muffins came to mind and I searched for a basic muffin recipe that I could tweak and make a bit healthier.
Ingredients
3 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup applesauce
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2/3 cup milk
1 15oz can of pumpkin
1 cup mini chocolate chips
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350. Spray muffin tins with a bit of non-stick cooking spray.
- Beat together the sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla in a mixing bowl until well mixed.
- Mix together the flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg in a separate bowl
- Add the flour mixture in 1/3’s to the wet ingredients
- Add half the milk and pumpkin and beat until combined. Add the rest of the milk and pumpkin.
- Stir in the chocolate chips
- Add batter to muffin tins until about 2/3 full
- Bake for 20 minutes
These taste like fall to me, pumpkin flavor with a hint of sweetness from the chocolate chips. I make them a bit healthier by subbing some of the oil and replacing regular flour with whole wheat. Hopefully no one at work notices the difference 
What is your favorite fall flavor?
p.s. Please vote for me in project food blog 
