Pepperoni pizza chicken sandwich

I missed blogging yesterday, not just the fact that I didn't blog but I truly missed the process of blogging it's kind of a therapy for me. Crazy I know, it's ok though I excepted that fate long ago. Speaking of crazy...today's recipe is amazingly crazy easy!!! And yummy to boot! Do people still say that? To boot??? 

Oh yea back to the food. 

Sandwiches are a real love of mine, bread is life, but the real thing is I only love hot toasty cheesy sandwiches. I am not a fan at all of cold lunch meat sandwiches, my sister in law worked with me one summer and she brought cold sandwiches each day to this day I still have no idea how she did it. This particular sandwich checks all the boxes for me, toasty bread, gooey cheese, flavorful sauce, filling, easy and my kids eat it! 

Note this is not a recipe you make on school concert night. It's a tad messy. My mom always made my brothers or my favorite on concert nights well my fave happens to be spaghetti. To avoid the dropped noodle on the dress meltdown my mom would wrap a huge tea towel around my neck I always felt like the kings in the old cartoons with the giant napkin wrapped around them. Sorry I think I missed the point of my warning, these are messy, I let my kids eat with no shirt on, HA! 

Enjoy! Question what type of recipes would you guys like to see from me? 

6 Thin Sliced Chicken breasts (you can just slice 3 breast in half lengthwise)

2 TBSP EVOO

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 Jar Marnaria Sauce

2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded

6 Italian Rolls (or hotdog buns because obviously that's what I had) 

3 TBSP Butter

Season chicken breasts on each side with salt and pepper. Heat EVOO in a large skillet over medium heat brown chicken breasts on each side they do not have to be cooked through that will happen in the sauce. Once chicken is browned pour sauce over chicken breasts and allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through. While chicken is cooking butter each roll and toast in a 350 degree oven. Just before serving top each chicken breast with some mozzarella cheese allow it to melt. Place each chicken breast on a bun. Pour on some extra sauce if you'd like! I serve these with a nice garden salad I mean life is all about balance. 

Broccoli Pesto...Two Ways!

Is there anyone else who loves and I mean loves…pesto! Not necessarily the jarred stuff… not that it isn’t good just not quite like the fresh stuff that my summer bounty of basil allows me to produce, so anyone else on team pesto?

That was ridiculous how long that took me to explain I really like pesto! But here’s the kicker, the hubs, grrr doesn’t like basil!!! WHAT how can one simply not like basil it is the key ingredient in basil pesto…sad days for me. What is the point in making a meal featuring pesto if I am going to have to make something else for him? Well I think the food good vibes were shining on me this weekend and were aware that I needed pesto in my life. As I was cleaning Saturday I had the food network on, Giada in Italy to be exact and I heard her speak of a broccoli pesto that she was putting on a grilled chicken sandwich. Say WHAT!!! Not that I actually took the time to stop and listen to what she was saying or actually go look the recipe up but I knew this was the answer to my pesto prayers.

On Sunday I decided this so called broccoli pesto needed to be created! I had broccoli, almonds, parmesan cheese, and EVOO what else could I possibly need? Off I went to create. Steam up the broccoli, drain throw in food processor (if you don’t have one you need one!), add remaining ingredients season with salt and pepper. There you have it! Perfect Pesto, hum nope it needed something, something like basil (no no no!) green onion tops! YES!!! Oh and a little lemon zest and juice!

Here it was used as our pasta sauce!

This was the perfect spread for a grilled chicken sandwich then it made quite a bit so I stirred it into some pasta last night thinned with some pasta water delicious! Give this healthy oh so yummy spread a try! I’m thinking it will make the perfect sauce for pizza!

Broccoli Pesto

4 cups fresh broccoli steamed

1 cup Sliced Almonds (toasted)

1 cup Parmesan Cheese

1 cup EVOO

¼ cup Green Onion Tops

Juice and Zest of one lemon

Salt and pepper to taste

Place all ingredients in food processor minus the EVOO, pulse to combine, stream in EVOO and blend until smooth you want a good spreadable consistency.  ENJOY!

Avocado Ranch Chicken Club...

I haven’t been the best about posting over the past few weeks and I am truly sorry. Definitely not my usual plan, but hey life happens! And then I had a whole different post planned for today. But last night a glorious event happen…THIS SANDWICH!

The hubs had been out baling hay most of the evening he came in late, and hot and tired. And to top it all off hungry. What’s a wife to do??? Jump right up and make him an amazing supper right??? Hum no, or no most of the time. The bulk of the nights like this he has leftovers waiting or he can make his own, but last night he looked particularly beat. So I pulled myself away from watching Chopped to make him some dinner.

This is how the conservation went. “What do you want to eat?” Hubs, “What do you have?” Me, “Chicken, Ham, Turkey, Bacon, cheese, lots of fruit and veggies.” Hubs, “Hum ok all of that.” Me  “Say what!” Hubs “I don’t care chicken, bacon, something.” Me “awesome guidance I am so glad we are married.” Hubs “I know you are!”

I head off to the kitchen to make chicken bacon something, for some reason a club sandwich, avocados, and ranch dressing just won’t leave my head. That is when this beaut was born…and man alive she was GOOD! Make this for your family tonight, ok forget your family MAKE IT FOR YOU!!!

Avocado Ranch Chicken Club

This is for 1 sandwich (yes it is huge and excessive)

1 small chicken breast (thinly sliced)

2 strips of Bacon (cut in half)

1 Slice of Deli Cheese (I used Munster)

1 Roma Tomato (thinly sliced)

2 leafs Romaine lettuce

1 Avocado

3 TBSP Ranch Dressing

3 Pieces Wheat Bread (I used the fit and active 45 calorie kind from Aldi (all about health here))

Salt, Pepper and Garlic Powder to taste

EVOO

Heat a small amount of EVOO over medium to high heat in a small non-stick skillet, season chicken breast with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Cook chicken until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and place on a plate put your piece of cheese over the chicken to melt. Lower heat on the skillet to a medium/medium low and put in your bacon. Meanwhile toast your bread. Mix together your avocado and ranch dressing, the softer the avocado the better. Once bacon is cooked it is assembly time! Take one piece of bread for the bottom, spread a bit of the ranch mixture top with chicken and cheese, next lettuce then tomatoes. Now take your middle piece of bread and spread more ranch mix on, place on top of tomatoes, spread the now top of the sandwich with more ranch mix, top with bacon, lettuce and finish with tomato take your last piece of bread and spread with ranch mix and top the sandwich. Put a toothpick in each half and slice. Proceed to take a huge bite then serve to your hubs, or loved one of choice! ENJOY!