Chicken Parmigiana

Italian anyone??  By far, my favorite food is Italian!  Nothing compares! 

So the menu for tonight was Chicken Parmigiana with Linguine, a crisp green salad, and some yummy homemade garlic bread! 

I found this wonderful dish on Pioneer Woman's Blog.  I LOVE her stuff so far and this is only the second time I've cooked from it, lol! 

Here's the recipe for if you want to try it! 

*4 whole (up to 6) Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Trimmed and Pounded Flat
*½ cups All-purpose Flour
*Salt And Pepper, to taste
*½ cups Olive Oil
*2 Tablespoons Butter
*1 whole Medium Onion, Chopped
*4 cloves Garlic, Minced
*¾ cups Wine (white Or Red Is Fine)
*3 cans (14.5 Oz.) Crushed Tomatoes
*2 Tablespoons Sugar
*¼ cubes Chopped Fresh Parsley
*1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
*1 pound Thin Linguine

If you want to make it, I put the link to Pioneer Woman's site above.  This was a yummy dish!  My friend Sam came over to help me cook for my parents, her and her husband, and myself!  Sam ended up making practically the WHOLE dish for me since I was preparing the sides.  She did a great job, but I will NOT be letting my guests cook with me again!!  You can come, but you may ONLY enjoy the fruits of MY labor!  That's kinda the point!  : )  Thanks though, Sam!  You're an awesome wife and cook!

One thing we both discovered was that we needed more butter than it calls for to really help the browning of the chicken.  It didn't quite turn out how it looked in her photos.  Also when it says to carefully place the chicken on the sauce, it does NOT stay at the top of the sauce.  You put the cheese on, simmer it for a bit, and chicken falls.  Any advice?? I'll gladly take it!  : )

Boeuf Bourguignon...Mmmm Delightful!!

"This is certainly one of the most delicous beef dishes concocted by man!"  Today I was daring and made Boeuf Bourgiugnon from Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" cookbook.  It was mmmMMMmmm deeeelicious!

The prep time was so long, I ended up cooking from 9pm-2am.  Yah guests...you better like this dish!!  I slaved over that thing!!

One thing they ask to have you provide is a bacon rind.  WHAT is a bacon rind?  Help??  My mom didn't even know!!  So for this dish I didn't include a bacon rind which I know would have made it more delish!

The only thing I would have changed was to cut the stew into smaller chunks.  It'd be easier to chew and not as dry.  The wine and beef bouillon were an aMAZing combo that just made the whole dish.

If you try to make this dish, remember, "Don't crowd the mushrooms, or they won't brown!"

My inspiration for this recipe and this blog is the movie  "Julie and Julia".  I'm not married nor do I have my own home yet, so my mom still cooks for our family.  She's a caterer...I forgot to mention that!!  So whatever man I marry one day, Lord willing, will have high expectations that I have GOT to meet!  ; )