One of my husband’s favorite meals is Chicken Parmesan, but it’s SO messy to prepare with the breading and frying, not to mention time-consuming. This dish has all the flavor of Chicken Parmesan, with no frying and only one dish to clean – everything cooks in one skillet, even the pasta!

Here’s what you will need:

• 3 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
• 1 jar Marinara sauce (24 oz)
• 1 box Rigatoni pasta
• 2-3 tbs Italian dressing
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• a handful of parmesan cheese
• chopped fresh basil

Start off by cutting the chicken breasts into bite-size chunks while heating a greased skillet on medium heat. Toss the chicken pieces in the Italian dressing to coat them. 

Cook chicken pieces in skillet until they are cooked through, turning them over to make sure all sides get cooked. This should only take a few minutes since the pieces are so small.

The liquid will look sort of yellow – this is normal from the Italian dressing mixing with the chicken juices. When the chicken is completely cooked, add in the jar of marina sauce, then fill the same jar with water and pour in along with the pasta.

It will look very watery, but the pasta will absorb most of it. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover with a lid. Cook about 15 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked, stirring every now and then.

The water will be absorbed by the pasta, leaving just enough sauce behind. Now cover with both cheeses, but do not stir. Put the lid back on until the cheese melts, just a couple of minutes, then add the basil over the top.

That’s it! Easy to make, no frying, only one pan to wash, and it looks beautiful!

Thanks y’all!

– Nikki

 

Here is another EASY and HEALTHY summer recipe, using only FOUR ingredients! The pork chops bake in the oven, so you get a great-tasting meal without any grease. And they are super easy to prepare, so you can enjoy your summer evening instead of spending it in the kitchen.

Here is what you’ll need:

• 1 package boneless pork loin chops
• 1 envelope onion soup mix
• 1-2 cups breadcrumbs (Panko is best for crispiness, but all I had were these Italian breadcrumbs – still crispy and delicious though!)
• 2 eggs

That’s it! Easy and cheap! You don’t even need any seasoning because the onion soup mix adds plenty of flavor.

First mix the breadcrumbs and the onion soup mix together in a shallow dish, and beat the eggs together in another shallow dish.

Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, or if you’re lazy like I am you can cover the sheet with foil so you don’t have to wash the baking sheet. Dip the pork chops in the eggs first, then in the breadcrumb mixture to coat them, then place on the baking sheet.

Now just bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how thick your chops are, turning over halfway through cooking. That’s it!

Even though there is no grease involved, they taste like they were fried, juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

The little dried onions in the soup mix add color and flavor to the pork chops. You can also use a packet of dry ranch dressing mix instead if you aren’t a fan of onion, or some grated Parmesan cheese for an Italian version.

Whip up some quick sides while the pork chops are baking, like cheesey mashed potatoes and crescent rolls, and you have a super easy (and super yummy!) summer meal.

Thanks y’all!

– Nikki

 

Yes, you read that right – only 3 ingredients! This chicken is super easy, super cheap, and super delicious! Spring is baseball season, which means long nights at the ballpark, which also means not much time to cook supper. This chicken bakes in the oven, so you can be washing dirty baseball uniforms (and dirty baseball players!) while it cooks.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Honey mustard
2. French fried onions
3. 3 boneless-skinless chicken breasts

That’s it! You don’t even need any seasonings – the honey mustard and onions are seasoned enough to give this chicken plenty of flavor.

First, cut each chicken breast into 3 pieces.

Next, pour the french fried onions into a ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin (or anything heavy). This step is also fun for the kids!

For less mess, cover a baking sheet with foil and spray it with cooking spray. This leaves your baking sheet clean for one less dish to wash.

Grab 2 shallow dishes and put the crushed onions in one dish and the honey mustard in the other. (I like to save a little of the honey mustard for dipping, so I just use about half of the bottle.)

Dip each chicken piece in the honey mustard first, then roll in the crushed onions to coat. (If you are not a fan of honey mustard, don’t worry – you can’t really taste it once it’s cooked, it just keeps the chicken moist and juicy.)

Place chicken on the greased baking sheet in an even layer.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. It will be juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and much healthier (and easier) than frying!

Make some quick sides while it’s baking and you have a home-cooked meal instead of fast food on ballgame nights.

Thanks y’all!

  – Nikki

Who doesn’t love to watch “Fixer Upper” on HGTV? I am addicted to it, and get inspired to redecorate my home with every episode. One of the reasons I love the show is the relationship between Chip and Jo – they are a great team, and their love and respect for each other is apparent. So many TV shows focus on disagreements and rivalry, and it is refreshing to see two people actually working together. I also love Joanna’s style, and here are some easy and inexpensive ways to incorporate her style into your home…

1. Antique kitchen scales

In just about every episode, I see Joanna use an old kitchen scale to decorate. They are a great way to add color and character to your kitchen. (And come in handy if you actually need to weigh something!) You can find these in antique and junk stores for pretty cheap, or can buy them online. One of the antique stores in my area had about twenty of them in a variety of colors and sizes last week, all for under $15, and I had to stop myself from buying another one!

2. Adding dimension to your walls

When decorating your walls, look for pieces that will add dimension. Not everything on the wall has to be a picture or a mirror. This distressed metal piece ($30 at Hobby Lobby) hangs above our bed instead of a headboard. I included a close-up picture so you could see the details in color. This old mirror (free from an old house that was being torn down) hangs in our bathroom, giving character to the walls. You can add a hanger to the back of just about anything and turn it into a wall decoration.

3. Vintage signs

I’ve noticed Joanna using old signs in several homes, including her own. This picture doesn’t show the distressing very well, but I fell in love with this wooden “Grocery” sign and hung it in my kitchen.

4. Old wooden boxes

Visit any junk or antique store, and you will find dozens of old wooden boxes. Cigar boxes, tool boxes, old crates, wooden drawers… They come in all sizes and all colors. I have no idea what this small wooden box was originally used for, but it is now holding my son’s crayons on the desk. This blue one is an old toolbox, and I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with it yet, so for now it is resting in my kitchen window. The spaces inside are the perfect size for mason jars, so I may put some flowers in them, or put it outside and use as an herb planter. Old boxes are an easy way to add character to any room. You could use one to hold everything on your bathroom counter, to store your kids’ small toys or art supplies, or to hold kitchen spices or utensils.

5. Clocks

I’m sure you’ve noticed the huge clock on Joanna’s wall, but small clocks like these add character as well, and are much cheaper. This one was $6 at an outlet store. They are great to add to nightstands and bookshelves to give dimension.

6. Flowers and greenery

Fresh flowers and plants are wonderful, but fake ones can be just as charming. Joanna has several you can order from her website magnoliamarket.com, or you can pick up some at a craft store. Being from Louisiana, the cotton stems are my favorite.

7. Pretty soaps

Watch any episode of “Fixer Upper” and you’ll see a pretty bottle of hand soap at the kitchen sink. For just a few dollars (these were $3 at T.J. Maxx) you can make your kitchen or bathroom look much fancier just by using cute soap.

Of course you can always use french doors, custom furniture, unique light fixtures, sliding barn doors, wooden beams and shiplap to incorporate Joanna’s style into your home, but if you are on a tight budget like myself, these are some inexpensive ideas. Happy decorating!

Thanks y’all!

  – Nikki