Making the save.#chicken parmesan #smokedpork #toobusytocook

Today I am on my way to my dads in Hannibal Missouri(Or I hope I am)I will be there for three weeks. Hopefully, I will find the time to make my Monday posts but if not I’ll see ya after the fourth! Dad doesn’t have internet! I am hoping to make daily posts on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cathybrockmanromancesi and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brockmancathy/? so check me out there.

Last week was so hectic with Dr appointments, exercise, going to the pool, working in the yard to get the garden and flowerbed weeded before I go to my dads, another trip o get meds, that I barely had time to worry about cooking.

One night I was wanting chicken parm. I laid out the chicken assuming I had all the ingredients since I keep a well-stocked pantry. Low and behold I had no spaghetti noodles and no spaghetti sauce. I had flattened the chicken, breaded and had it frying when I found this out. so I boiled some tubular noodles I had and made my own sauce from fire-roasted tomatoes, tomato sauce and Italian seasoning it was quite good. I’m getting good at these accidental meals.

Here is how I made it. Accidental chicken parm 4(or however many you need) chicken breasts, pounded flat. 2-3 eggs depending on how many chicken breasts, a cup of flour, 12 cups Italian bread crumbs, provolone or mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, oil for frying. 1 large jar of your favorite pasta sauce or 1 can fire roasted tomatoes, one can Italian tomato sauce, Italian herbs blend, garlic powder, and onion powder. Spaghetti noodles or any tubular sturdy shape (or rice, cooked) Dip each piece of chicken In flour then egg then breadcrumbs and fry till golden and cooked through ( doesn’t take long) transfer to a baking dish, coat with your sauce ( save some for the side) bake about 10 minutes add cheese cook another 5 until its melted serve over cooked pasta or rice with additional sauce. you can add a salad and or garlic bread to go with. Here is a recipe for the real thing.. https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/spaghetti-chicken-parmesan/ (pounding your chicken thin makes it cook faster and I like it better.

The day we went to get our prescriptions was supposed to be an in and out deal but with all the red tape on drugs these days we were in Walmart from 1230 to after 330. Luckily we put a pork butt in the smoker. My daughter in law used different seasoning to marinade overnight and I smoked all afternoon, we had pig salad or a barbecue sandwich. Here is a good recipe if you want measurements and to find out about butt VS shoulder. https://heygrillhey.com/simple-smoked-pulled-pork/ I like both but butt is easier to get around here and cheaper. I smoke for 2-3 hours then wrap in foil 2-3 hours then unwrap and let sit for 10 minutes before pulling. It freezes well.

Wednesday was a long day. I was hot and tired after exercising, weeding my garden and helping hubby carry tree trimmings to the road. after two hours at the pool, I made some frozen fish fillets and made fish sandwiches, golden arches eat your heart out these were so much better! want to make it from scratch? https://www.mygourmetconnection.com/oven-fried-fish-sandwiches/

Have you ever had to hurry up and find something for dinner? Have you planned something and not had the ingredients you thought you did? How did you recover your meal?