Yummy Chicken Dinner

Last night, I cooked a surprise dinner for the bf.  Personally, I thought it was quite delicious.  I have included my recipes below for the simple meal. 

Zesty Italian Baked Breaded Chicken

- Chicken Breast
- Zesty Italian Dressing
- Bread Crumbs (I used Italian bread crumbs for more flavor)
- Foil (for easy clean-up)

Rinse off chicken and cut off fat.  Stab chicken on both sides so dressing will marinate better.  Then, place in container or bag.  Pour Zesty Italian dressing onto chicken.  Make sure the chicken is completely covered.  I used half a bottle of dressing for three pieces of chicken.  Let sit in the refrigerator for many hours if possible so the chicken can marinate.  When ready to cook, prepare the bread crumbs and preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Poor a little bit of bread crumbs into a bowl.  Remember less is more.  You can always add more crumbs, but you can't pour the used crumbs back into the crumb container.  Dip the chicken directly into crumbs until covered.  Then place chicken breasts on foil in the middle of a cooking sheet.  Do this for all of the pieces of chicken.  Then fold foil completely around chicken.  Bake the chicken on 375* for about 35 minutes.  If chicken is white after being cut open then it is ready to serve.   

Green Bean Casserole

(not just for Easter and Thanksgiving anymore!)

- 4 cups green beans (two cans worth)

- 1 can cream of mushroom soup

- 1/2 cup of milk

- some pepper

- 2/3 cup of French fried onions (more if you would like to sprinkle some on top for a golden brown look, which I do)

Mix the green beans, cream of mushroom, milk, pepper and 2/3 cup of fried onions in casserole dish.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Add some more French fried onions to the top of dish and place back in the oven for 5 more minutes.  (We only have one oven, so I baked the chicken first.  During the last five minutes of baking the casserole, I put the chicken back into the oven to make sure it was warm.) 

Fruit Salad

- any fruit you prefer

I decided to use pineapple and strawberries in my fruit salad.  I cut up both fruits into bite sized pieces and place them in a bowl in the refrigerator until dinner time. 

Rolls

- prepackaged rolls

Unless you are an amazing baker, I doubt your guests will mind if you don't make the bread.  And if you are an amazing baker, thanks for reading my simple recipes! ;o) I recommend Hawaiian Sweet Bread rolls.  They are heavenly!

Hot Fudge Brownies

I know, I totally cheated on the desserts.  I LOVE to bake, so usually I am all for baking up a storm, decorating etc.  Yesterday, I figured between the casserole and the chicken that I wouldn't have time to get some brownies into the oven.  I was right!  These 5 minute microwavable desserts by Betty Crocker are delicious and convenient though.  We actually didn't even get to dessert, so we saved it for today- classic brownies and vanilla ice cream!  Yum!   

The Little Rascals

The bf picked The Little Rascals as our movie.  I bought it in the $5 Walmart bin forever ago because it is a classic movie from our childhood, but I haven't watched it in forever.  It is really super cute and still funny even as an adult watcher.  Isn't it weird watching movies you watched as kids and now understanding the adult jokes.  I think it is.  Anyway- definitely recommend watching this!

Please post your favorite recipes and date night movies below!  I'd love to hear your comments.  We have basically watched every movie at Redbox, so we need suggestions ASAP!

PS.  All of these dishes can be prepared before hand.  I cut the fruit, mixed the casserole and marinated the chicken hours before it was time to eat.  Don't forget to refrigerate them though!