Be Careful What You Wish For . . .and Baked Chicken Parmesan
I was taking one of our dogs on a late afternoon walk yesterday. I hadn't had a lot going on all day, or lately for that matter, and was thinking I was bored. Now, before you say anything, I know that is a terrible thing to say. Being bored is a state of mind and can be a luxury. I know.Actually, maybe it wasn't even boredom as much as feeling unmotivated. l had plenty to do, but little motivation to do it. Here's the thing about me. I can be really productive. I can get stuff done. I like getting stuff done. I'm used to working and having three bodies running around underfoot. I'm used to juggling my boys' schedules and running from here to there. I think I'm pretty good at taking care of them. I'm pretty good at taking care of my family, home and all that goes along with that. That used to include taking care of one health crisis after another when my parents were living.However, now I'm looking at coming into a season where I am not needed as much on a daily basis. I have some pockets of time that I'm not used to having. I know this is a luxury and something to appreciate. These downtimes and lulls in life are gifts to be savored and appreciated because we all know how unpredictable life can be. However, yesterday, rather than enjoy the walk with our sweet dog, appreciate my surroundings, the wonderful weather, and the time, I was thinking I needed to begin some new projects, take on more work or do more to motivate myself. THEN my cell phone rings. The Husband learned from our cell phone carrier that The First son, who is in college, had dialed 911. The Husband wanted to know if I knew anything . . .And so it began. My lull in the afternoon, any feeling of boredom, any worry about having too much time on my hands was gone in an instant. My lesson for the day? Be careful what you wish for! And enjoy any pockets of peace you may find each day!(And in case you are wondering, all is well. Someone driving The First Son's truck was rear-ended and there were no injuries. Thankful for that.)Moving on with this post, if you are unmotivated or too busy to plan dinner, I have you covered! I tried a new recipe last night that I have to share. It's light but only you will know! If you like Chicken Parmesan, check this out.BAKED CHICKEN PARMESANINGREDIENTS:4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, fat trimmed, sliced in half to make 81/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese2 tbsp or more olive oil3/4 cup reduced fat mozzarella cheese1 cup marinara (homemade or your favorite from a jar)olive oil cooking sprayDIRECTIONS:Preheat oven to 450°. Spray a large baking sheet lightly with spray.Combine breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a bowl. .Brush each chicken breast with olive oil on both sides then coat each breast with the breadcrumb/parmesan cheese combo. Place each breast on the baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, turn each breast over and bake for another 5 minutes. The chicken should look golden brown and have a nice crisp coating.Take pan from oven and spoon marinara sauce on each chicken breast and then sprinkle each with mozzarella cheese.Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted.
By the time this came out of the oven and was plated for dinner the light in my kitchen was just too poor to show you a photo. You'll have to take my word for it or use your imagination!These came out of the oven beautifully and tasted even better! I served a side of pasta for the boys and a side salad. Also serve with a side of spaghetti squash for an even lighter version.Nutritional Info (per one serving of chicken breast) Calories: 251; Total fat: 9.5; Cholesterol: 14 mg; Fiber: 1.5 gr; Sugar: 0 gr Protein: 31.5 grHow do you handle changing Seasons of life? Make the most of your downtime? A fan of chicken parmesan?Enjoy Your Day! 