Recipe(tried): Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Squash Casserole, and Romaine Salad with Blueberries and Cranberries

Good Morning!

I have a few minutes here before I go and do my weekly errands...

A few days back my neighbor Carol shared a delicious chicken recipe with me. It is from Hellman's Mayonnaise but we both improvised by adding 1 crushed garlic clove and a teaspoon of Italian seasonings. It really makes for a juicy and tender chicken breast. Also, very easy to make and best of all, dinner can be ready in 20 minutes! I was going to make brown rice with this but noticed the cooking time called for 40 minutes on that...ouch!! So instead I'll be using Uncle Ben's Ready Rice Long Grain & Wild Rice which is microwaveable and takes only 90 seconds. I love this rice, so flavorful and easy to make!

The menu for today at our home is:

Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild Rice
Squash Casserole
Romaine Salad with Blueberries & Cranberries
Garlic Breadsticks
Sliced Strawberries & Bananas Dusted w/Powdered Sugar

Happy Cooking! Gina

---

PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN
Source: Hellman's Mayonnaise

1/2 cup Hellman's mayonnaise
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
4 to 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, washed & dried
4 Tbsp. Italaian seasaoned bread crumbs
(I added 1 crushed garlic clove and 1 tsp. Italian seasonings to mixture.)

Preheat oven to 425.

Combine mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, crushed garlic clove and Italian seasonings in small bowl. Spread mixture under and over chicken breast and place on baking sheet (I used a glass baking pan).

Sprinkle tops with bread crumbs. Bake for 20 minutes.

I also squeezed lemon juice over each breast before serving it.

---

SQUASH CASSEROLE
Source: One Of A Kind by the Junior League of Mobile, Alabama

1 to 2 lbs. yellow squash, sliced
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 cup celery, shopped
salt & pepper, to taste
1/2 stick butter
1 egg, beaten
small jar pimiento, chopped
1 cup sharp grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup milk
bread crumbs, buttered

*I added 2 crushed garlic cloves, used low-fat cheddar cheese and low-fat milk.

Cook the squash, onion, celery, garlic in boiling water until tender. Drain and mash. Add the salt and pepper to taste. Add the butter and stir. Stir in the beaten egg, pimiento, grated cheese and milk. Pour into a 2-quart baking dish. Top with bread crumbs. This may be prepared ahead of time. When ready, bake for 40 minutes at 350.

---

ROMAINE SALAD WITH BLUEBERRIES AND CRANBERRIES

I like to mix my salad, ingredients and dressing in a large plastic container. Use 2 Tblsp. of dressing per person. These salads are delicious and soul-satisfying!

Romaine lettuce enough for two salad bowls
1/2 cup blueberries
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup Feta cheese, crumbled
handful of garlic and onion flavored croutons
handful of cashews
2 Tbsp. sunflower seeds
4 Tbsp. Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing

Put all ingredients in plasatic container, seal and shake for a minute. Divide evenly into two bowls. Yum!!!!