Week 265 Menu

Sunday: Italian beef sandwiches on homemade pretzel buns, rice, and salad

Monday: Dry-rub ribs in slow cooker

Tuesday: Homemade fish sticks

Wednesday: Parmesan chicken

Thursday: Homemade pizzas - everyone gets their own toppings

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Out

Week 264 Menu

Sunday: Fish tacos with chipotle mayonnaise on lettuce cups
Monday: Pumpkin pancakes
Tuesday: Leftovers from the week
Wednesday - Saturday: Play it by ear
   Smoky ribs in slow cooker
   Pot roast in slow cooker
   Baked pasta
   Chicken Noodle Soup in slow cooker
   Out?

Week 263 Menu

Sunday: Seared duck breast and roasted potatoes
Monday: Bagel dogs
Tuesday: Potato soup and grilled cheese
Wednesday: Lettuce cups with chicken carnitas and fixin's
Thursday: Pizza
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Out

Week 262 Menu

Sunday: I made Asian salmon at a friend's house

Monday: Yorkshire pudding with cranberry sauce

Tuesday: Chicken carnitas

Wednesday: Chicken nuggets

Thursday: Chicken noodle soup in the slow cooker (6yo is cooking!)

Friday: Leftovers

Saturday: Out

Week 261 Menu

Sunday: Out to eat with grandparents
Monday: Homemade ravioli and meatballs
Tuesday: Roasted sweet potato soup and crusty bread
Wednesday: Chicken nuggets and cauliflower rice
Thursday: Bagel dogs
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Out

Week 260 Menu

Sunday: Korean BBQ-flavored pork tenderloin and green beans

Monday: Pumpkin pancake muffins

Tuesday: Taco rice bake

Wednesday: Chicken nuggets and roasted brussel sprouts

Thursday: Individual pizzas

Friday: Leftovers? Out?

Saturday: "Make-up" Christmas dinner with my parents (rib roast, cornbread stuffing, goat cheese mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green salad, pumpkin pie)

Baked Chicken Nuggets

Chicken fingers. Chicken rings. Chicken nuggets. Wait. What? "Chicken rings?" Scott's college dorm cafeteria served chicken rings. Now they're a family joke. He always asks, "What part of the chicken do they come from??" Ever since he posed the question, that sticks in my head and I cringe a little (I mean, chicken rings??? Seriously?! So not natural).

I work a schedule where I am not home at dinner time, but I still like to have home-cooked dinners. I do my prep for dinner in the morning and make sure there is minimal kitchen work needed when Scott gets home with the kids. This recipe was so simple to throw together, I worried it wouldn't be any good. But, this one turned out to be a family favorite. If I get unsolicited compliments on a dinner, you better believe it's going in the regular rotation!!!

I've found I like a moist bread crumb (rather than a dried one). Since no one eats the heels of the bread, we save them in the freezer for just such an occasion that demands bread crumbs. If you're prepping them in the morning, just be sure you spray the wire rack with cooking spray. Believe me: I speak from experience!

Baked Chicken Nuggets

2 Chicken breasts

1/4 cup flour

1 egg (for egg wash)

1/2 cup bread crumbs

Bread Crumb Recipe
2 slices of bread
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, cubed
1 T chili powder
1 t garlic powder
**Process in a food processor until the parmesan and bread are completely broken up, and spices are incorporated.**

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Cube chicken into 1" x 2" pieces

3. Set up standard 3-bowl breading station: 

        - Flour with a healthy pinch of pepper

        - Egg, beaten

        - Bread crumbs mixture

4. Dip chicken pieces in flour, then egg, then bread crumbs.

5. Place chicken on wire rack that fits in a half sheet pan.

6. Bake for 10-15 minutes.
7. Serve with sauce of your choice.
        We prefer: honey, mustard, chili mayo (2:1 ratio of mayo to hot sauce), Ranch

Note: If you prep the chicken nuggets in the morning, spray the wire rack with cooking spray, lay the chicken nuggets out, place plastic wrap over the top, and refrigerate until they're needed.