Simple Yogurt Parfait

I want to share my all time favorite treat! It is so simple and doesn't actually require any cooking, but with the weather warming up, I thought it would be nice to share! I enjoy this for breakfast, as part of my lunch, and it is also really good as a healthy night time snack.

1 6 oz. Yoplait Light Vanilla yogurt
1\2 C. chopped strawberries

Mix and enjoy!

I have tried other brands of vanilla yogurt, but have found Yoplait's to be the best tasting and most creamy.

I have also used peaches, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries in place of strawberries and it is equally delicious.

Frozen, pre-packaged fruit is also good. I prefer fresh fruit whenever possible.

Enjoy!

canned chicken.

i need your help. several weeks ago i bought a package {8 huge cans} of canned chicken at costco. at the time i was thinking... "how convenient! i'll use this for everything." but all these weeks later, i've only used one can {to make a chicken salad sandwich}. i just have no idea what to do with all of this canned chicken. so my question is:

what recipes do you use canned chicken in {if any}?

post your recipes, thoughts, ideas, etc in the comments or email me: arielesmith{at}hotmail.com.

♥ ariel

lemony pan fried chicken.

ingredients:
boneless, skinless chicken breasts {for however many you plan to serve}
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp paprika
2-3 tbsp butter
2-3 tbsp vegetable oil
juice from 1 lemon

directions:
using a meat mallot, pound each chicken breast until flattened {place chicken in a large zip lock bag or between 2 sheets of plastic wrap while you flatten}. combine flour, salt, pepper, garlic salt & paprika. spread mixture over a paper plate. in large frying pan or skillet, bring butter & vegetable oil to medium heat. coat chicken breasts in flour mixture. fry 2-3 breasts at a time, depending on the size of your pan, for 4-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through.

after all chicken breasts are cooked, squeeze juice from 1 lemon into the pan with the remaining butter & oil. let simmer for a minute. pour a teaspoon or two of the mixture over each chicken breast. serve with veggies & rice, or perhaps some yummy scalloped potatoes!

*if you're not into lemon everything like i am, you could skip that whole last part & just have plain old fried chicken. i was also thinking that adding a little honey to the sauce would be sooo good.

scalloped potatoes.

{sorry no picture, friends. but i swear i made them and they were de-lish!}

ingredients:4 cups peeled, sliced potatoes
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp onion, minced
2 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

directions:
in a small bowl or cup, combine flour, salt & pepper. grease casserole dish and layer: potatoes, sprinkling of flour mixture, a few dots of butter, a tsp of minced onion {or slightly less}, sprinkling of cheese, potatoes {etc... ending with cheese on top}.

warm the milk in microwave or on the stove top to scalding. remove any skin that formed on the top. stir in baking soda {this helps prevent curdling}. pour milk over potatoes. cover and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. after 30 minutes, uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes, or until potatoes in the center are tender. optional: after the full hour, sprinkle extra cheese on top and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

*tip: this will almost always bubble up and spill over. to prevent the mess, put a cookie sheet or a sheet of tin foil underneath to catch the drippings.

Banana Sour Cream Cake

I love fancy cakes that seem hard but really started with a box cake mix. It is the best deception if you want to seem like you worked really hard but didn't, it's the best!

1 pkg. (2 layer size) yellow cake mix
3 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 3)
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup oil
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 pkg (16 oz) powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
1 cup walnuts, finely chopped

Heat oven to 350

Beat cake mix, eggs, bananas, sour cream and oil with mixer on low until moistened, scraping bottom of bowl often. Beat on medium 2 minutes.

Pour into greased and flowered 13x9 in pan. Bake 35 min or until toothpick insterted into center comes out clean.

Cool completly in pan on wire rack.

Beat cream cheese and butter with mixer on medium until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating well after each addition.

Remove cake from pan and carefully cut in half.

Place one cake half, top side down on plate; spread with frosting. Top with remaining cake half, top side up. Frost top and sides.

Press nuts onto sides.