Semi Homemade Tonight!

Well I have not posted in a few days because life has been so busy, but tonight I came home and was determined to make a delicious meal for my wonderful boyfriend and I, however I need to do some grocery shopping so I had to be creative and go the semi-homemade way.  I will admit that it wasn't the most healthy dinner, but hey it was delicious.  We will watch our diet tomorrow.

Tonight's dinner consisted of Potato Chip Chicken, Macaroni and Cheese, and stir fried Fresh Green Beans with Red Pepper Strips and Sliced Almonds.  Recipes to follow:

Potato Chip Chicken

3 Boneless Chicken Breast
1 Bag of Potato Chips
Ground Black Pepper
Garlic Powder
1 Stick of Butter
Pan Spray
Gallon Size Zip Lock Bag
1 Shallow Glass Bowl
8 X 8 Baking Pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Rinse and pat dry uncooked chicken breast, set aside.  Spray baking pan and set aside. Place potato chips in zip lock bag, and crush. Don't crush to fine.  Add 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of ground back pepper and 1-2 tsps of garlic powder.  Shake and work through potato chips.  Melt butter in a glass bowl, then dip chicken pieces in butter and then in potato chip crumbs.  Don't worry if it doesn't totally coat the chicken. Place chicken pieces in Baking Pan then add the remaining potato chips in the bag to the top of the chicken.  Take remaining butter and pour over the top of chips and chicken and bake for 30-40 minutes till chicken is no longer pink in center.  (Or use a meat gauge). 

Note:  I often buy a bag of the kettle cooked Salt & Cracked Black Pepper Chips.  If I use these I omit the pepper and just add garlic powder.   And I do not serve this very often as it is a bit fattening.  It is a treat. 

Stir Fried Fresh Green Beans with Red Pepper Strips and Sliced Almonds

4-5 Large Hand Full of Fresh Green Beans ( I purchase mine at our local farmers market - Prays Farmers Market)
1 Large Red Pepper
2 Heaping Teaspoons of Fresh Chopped Garlic
Ground Black Pepper
Sea Salt
Sliced Almonds
2-3 teaspoons of Olive Oil
Large Non Stick Skillet

Rinse and pat dry green beans, snip ends off and remove any bad spots.  Remove stem and seeds from Red Pepper and slice in to THIN strips.  Place skillet on stove and add olive oil.  Regulate burner heat - low to medium.   Add prepared green beans, red pepper strips, garlic, black pepper to taste, and a few pinches of sea salt.  Stir fry beans and pepper strips till the pepper strips become soft and pliable.  Just before removing from pan, add a handful or two of the almond slices and stir in and continue cooking for 1-2 minutes.  Remove from heat, and serve.

Note:  This is one of my families favorite vegetable dishes.  The green beans are so fresh its like eating them right out of the garden.

Macaroni and Cheese

Prepare one or two boxes of your favorite boxed macaroni and cheese as described on the box!