chicken

Easy Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe Makes a Quick Hearty Dinner on a Busy Day

September 21, 2016 by Kathryn 23 Comments

September is always a busy month for our family, but that’s never been more true than it is this year! Putting the boys in a new school in a new city, preparing for a work transfer and a house purchase and, to top it all off, we’re all flying to Ontario in less than a week as Jeremy and I get married and take our honeymoon! Needless to say, there’s lots to do and limited time to do it. And that means easy, hearty and delicious dinners are a priority for me more than ever before.

Luckily, Kraft Canada came to my rescue this fall with two new Classico pasta sauces that combine gourmet flavour with heat-and-eat convenience. New Classico di Bologna Bolognese Pasta Sauce boasts tender pork and beef in a flavourful tomato sauce. And Classico Di Molise Spicy Tomato & Parmesan Cream Pasta Sauce combines spicy red pepper, tomato and real parmesan cheese for a rich and creamy sauce choice.

I decided to use one of the sauces to whip up a delicious dinner and since we all love chicken, I put my own kid-friendly twist on Spicy Tomato-Chicken Parmesan. With just four ingredients and thirty minutes, I created an oven-baked dinner the whole family loved: Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan! [Read more…]

Don’t Chicken Out! Ask Your Member of Parliament To Be the #MPChickenHero

May 31, 2016 by Kathryn 1 Comment

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a really good chicken sandwich. Topped with fresh and tasty fixings and served on a perfect bun, there’s just nothing better than that first bite of tender, juicy chicken when I’m feeling hungry. Since 1992, the wonderful people at Chicken Farmers of Canada have served up tasty chicken sandwiches on July 1 at the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue on Parliament Hill. It’s a big job, but so is creating a sandwich so delicious that Canadians will fall in love at first bite. That’s why Chicken Farmers of Canada is searching for an #MPChickenHero!

That’s right! With Canadians already planning to attend the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue, who better to create the perfect chicken sandwich than one of Canada’s current Members of Parliament? Last year’s winning sandwiches included a Pesto Chicken Philly Melt from the Manitoba MP Hon. Vic Toews, a Chow-Style BBQ Sandwich from Ontario MP Olivia Chow and a Canadian BBQ Chicken Sandwich from Quebec MP Sylvain Chicoine. Personally, as a serious lover of both cheese and basil, the Pesto Chicken Philly Melt is my top choice for a great sandwich. But I can’t wait to see what delicious creations are put together this year too!

And even though superheroes don’t need a reward, the #MPChickenHero is going to get a great one for his or her community! The MP that creates the winning sandwich will win a $10,000 donation for their local food bank. I grew up in pretty severe poverty, so food banks are a cause that’s near and dear to my heart. In fact, when I won a $1000 donation to my favourite charity a few years ago, my own local food bank was my immediate choice. Over one third of the people that depend on Food Banks are children and in my own admittedly biased opinion, no child should ever have to go hungry. Such a generous prize means that the winning MP is ensuring happy, well-fed kids that will have the drive to thrive in their society.

And that’s where we come in! None of our Members of Parliament can be the #MPChickenHero if they don’t know about this great opportunity, so let’s band together and make sure our local heroes enter their best recipes! I’ve been looking through the downloadable recipe book from last year’s contestants and there are some pretty amazing recipes that have been created in the past. But I’m sure this year’s MPs are up to the challenge! Visit the #MPChickenHero contest page to learn how you can contact your MP and let them know about this fun opportunity. In addition to the grand prize, a second and third place sandwich will also win donations to their local food bank. And of course, everyone that attends the Great Canadian Chicken Barbecue will get to enjoy the winner’s mouth-watering recipe on July 1. There are really no losers in this contest!

To help kick off the #MPChickenHero contest, Chicken Farmers of Canada is hosting a Twitter party that you won’t want to miss! Come join in the fun on June 7 at 9pm EST for some conversation about what makes the best chicken sandwich, and encourage your MP to join the competition and win an amazing prize for your community! You’re sure to come away feeling inspired to do a little chicken cooking yourself. Check out the full rules here and mark your calendar!

I wouldn’t have thought that there was a way to make me love chicken sandwiches even more than I already do, but Chicken Farmers of Canada has done it! The chance to discover a delicious new way to cook a chicken sandwich while also ensuring that kids across Canada have the food they need to grow and prosper is an opportunity that I can’t pass up. Visit the contest page now and make sure that your MP takes part. A little time in the kitchen could make a world of difference to a hungry child!

Add Some Spice to Your Day with the New SUBWAY Butter Chicken Sandwich-Giveaway #LoveMyButterChicken

April 18, 2016 by Kathryn 367 Comments

When it comes to meals, my family loves a bit of spice. Whether we’re digging into cheesy enchiladas, devouring smoky and spicy barbequed ribs or adding wasabi liberally to our sushi, we all believe that spice makes dinner extra nice! So when Jeremy and I took the boys to the new Indian restaurant in Moose Jaw, we had high hopes that they would find something they liked. And they did! Both fell in love with Butter Chicken and after that dinner, it’s a dish I’ve made more than once at home!

SUBWAY Canada knows that we’re not the only Canadians that like some diversity in our food, so the company is constantly coming up with new and delicious flavour options for its subs. And I was pretty excited when I learned that the newest menu item available was a Butter Chicken sandwich! The boys and I got the chance to try the new flavour for dinner a few days ago, and we couldn’t wait to get tasting! [Read more…]

Make Easy Chicken with Mushroom Cream Sauce for Dinner and Eat

November 6, 2014 by Kathryn 38 Comments

I shop at Walmart for all kinds of things, from clothing to toys to furniture to electronics. But one of the sections of the store that’s impressed me more and more lately is the grocery section. I used to make a separate trip to a grocery store every time I went to Regina to shop, but lately I just haven’t needed to do that. I can get all the food my family needs at Walmart!

And that even includes fresh, Canadian protein choices like chicken, Angus beef, pork and salmon. Recently Walmart Canada sent me a gift card so that I could grab some fresh, delicious meat for my family and see for myself how delicious it is to eat fresh with Walmart. Of course, I was only too happy to oblige. [Read more…]

Add Gourmet Style to Mexican Night with Old El Paso Restaurante Soft Taco Kits-Giveaway

November 6, 2014 by Kathryn 85 Comments

There are a few dinners that I can always be sure my boys will eat and Old El Paso tacos are a meal choice that Zackary and Benjamin always devour. They would happily eat tacos every day if I let them, but I like a little more variety in my meals. And while I enjoy a tasty ground beef taco as much as anyone, I do often crave something more gourmet for dinner.

Now, Old El Paso has a new line of spft taco kits that satisfy both my boys and me. Old El Paso Restaurante soft taco kits feature restaurant-style flavour with at-home convenience. There are three delicious kits to choose from: Steak Carne Asada, Baja Fish and Chicken Tinga. And recently I received all three so that I could create my own Mexican feast.

I decided to make the Steak Carne Asada kit since it featured seasoning to make guacamole and I am a huge fan of anything involving avocados. I mashed the seasoning with one ripe avocado, set the finished guacamole aside and started making the steak. With just the seasoning pouch, water, oil and vinegar, this marinade couldn’t be easier. The smell had my mouth watering even before the meat was cooking! [Read more…]

Looking for a Different Main Course for the Holidays? Let’s Talk Turducken!

November 5, 2014 by Kathryn 57 Comments

My family loves turkey as a holiday main course, and it’s a long-standing tradition that I cook up a huge glazed turkey for any major celebration. But after years and years of holiday turkey meals, I have to admit that I was ready for a change. And Echelon Foods had the perfect solution for me…the Turducken!

Now I’d heard of the infamous chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey before, and I’d always been intrigued by the concept. But the execution seemed too complex for me to actually consider making the dish for my family. Echelon Foods has made the meal a great choice for anyone, though, with its Original Turducken: a turkey filled with boneless duck, chicken breast and stuffing that comes ready to roast and serves about 15 people!

[Read more…]

Fall Entertaining with Four Simple Recipes Using Jam

September 29, 2014 by Kathryn 43 Comments

As sad as it seems, summer has officially come to an end and while I know I’ll sure miss the warm and lazy days in the backyard, autumn does have its own appeal as well. And the hearty, comforting foods of the season are definitely a big part of autumn to me!

I love showing off the season’s delicious foods by inviting friends and family for a meal but, while I enjoy entertaining, I don’t want to spend all my time cooking either! Quick and easy recipes are a stand-by for me and so I recently set out to create some tasty fall recipes using jam that cook in less than 15 minutes and contain five ingredients or fewer.

Blueberry Brie Tarts

These simple appetizers have a gourmet taste and a rich flavour that guests will love. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place one package of 18 frozen tart shells on a cookie sheet. Fill each tart shell with three ½-inch cubes of Brie cheese. Bake for ten minutes, until cheese is melted. Top each tart with ½ teaspoon of Blueberry Jam and bake 2-3 minutes more, until jam is bubbly. Serve immediately. [Read more…]

Frozen Pudding Dots and Other Easy Recipes from Kraft Food Hacks #whatscooking

June 20, 2014 by Kathryn 88 Comments

I love to cook but most of the time, quick and easy is the name of the game in this house. And that’s especially true when June arrives! Between field trips, end-of-year parties, Zackary’s birthday and the normal work and activities that fill our lives, there simply isn’t a lot of extra time for cooking right now! But Kraft Canada is coming to the rescue for busy parents everywhere with its brand new website: www.kraftfoodhacks.com!

With a collection of clever recipes that take just a few ingredients and a few minutes to prepare, it’s a busy mom’s dream come true. I considered testing out one of the easy chicken recipes, but when I saw how adorable the Frozen Pudding Dots were, I knew I had to give them a try!

[Read more…]