Honey Chicken

Do you ever get into things thinking, wow this is a great idea then quickly realizing you are freaking crazy? Well, hopefully i'm not alone on this, but I am at that point. I'm getting married in April so I am in pretty deep with wedding planning, I started this blog, and I also signed up for a Personal Training Certification class. I had been thinking about doing this for a while and the second 2015 hit, I figured, there is no better time than now! Right, well I must have drank 4 or 5 glasses of wine when I made that decision. It is A LOT of work, and doing it while wedding planning, and working, and living...OY I'm breaking a sweat just thinking about it. But hey! I'll be happy when I reach my goal! Speaking of, any local FLIPADELPHIANS wanna get in shape? Lemme know, I'd love to train you!

My time is so precious that I haven't even had the time to get a Mani and Pedi. My dogs are in need of a pedi, and my engagement ring has been crying every time I try and put it on in the morning. It says, "hell you think I'm going on that finger without fresh polish and those heinous cuticles...you gotta be kidding me!" Also, being this busy has caused me to think that my engagement ring is talking to me. UGH!

Anyway, enough complaining. This house betch is so excited for all that 2015 has to offer. Life is so precious. It is important to take advantage and live out every moment. So that is exactly what I'm doing. 

OK enough with the deep thinking and words of wisdom, do you want some dinner? DUH! My family surprised me during my bridal shower back in October with an amazing cook book that has all of my family and friends favorite recipes. One of my main motivations for starting this blog was to share some of these amazing recipes (not the secret ones). My past Jewish Great Grandparents would roll over in their grave if I gave away that brisket recipe! One of the recipes in the book is Honey Chicken. This was given to me by my wonder future mother in law, Marci! It is such an easy week night dinner. Perfect for people who are going crazy with a million things to do. I can even imagine what it's going to be like with Kids running around my house...House betch goals.

Honey Chicken

What you'll need:

Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breasts (however many you want to cook. This can be for one person or a whole family!)

Paprika

Garlic Powder

Honey

Pepper and Salt

Olive Oil

*Optional: Crushed Red Pepper*

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Take your chicken out and place the breasts on a cutting board. Cover them in saran wrap. Get out a mallet and begin pounding your chicken. Really take your stress and frustration from your day out on these babies. This will ensure that your chicken cooks evenly and you don't have to keep throwing it back in the oven for raw pieces.
3. Place your chicken breast in a Pyrex dish or any over safe/non-stick dish.
4. Drizzle Olive Oil over your chicken and season with a pinch or two of salt and a pinch or two of pepper
5. Take your garlic powder and shake it over your chicken. I guess it equates to about a tablespoon, maybe less of garlic powder.
6. Take your paprika and just go to town on that chicken. Don't be shy! Make sure your chicken is basically red, covered in paprika.
7. Next comes the honey. Squeeze the honey over your chicken. Again, however much you want.
8. Now, flip your chicken over in the dish and repeat steps 4-7.
9. If you want to add a little spice, take some crushed red pepper flakes and sprinkle a few over the chicken.
10. Place the chicken in the oven for 35-40ish minutes.

This is an easy weeknight dinner that you can throw together rather quickly, put in the oven and multitask with the million other things you've got going on in your life, while it cooks! Enjoy with some kind of rice, asparagus, green beans or steamed broccoli. Simplicity is key!

Nutella French Toast Bake

Attention world, what I am about to throw at your is not for the weak-hearted. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Many of you that are probably reading this, woke up on Christmas morning to a beautiful tree decorated with lights, memorable ornaments and an INSANE amount of presents resting underneath of it. Well, my holiday ended just the day before. I had 8 crazy nights of presents! TAKE THAT CHRISTMAS! But I'm sure ALL of you are wondering, what do Jewish people do on Christmas? It is exactly what you hear and think. We eat Chinese food and go to the movies. It's the only thing open! Also, we speed on all of the roads while you guys are busy doing your Christmas thing. That is what we do most years but this year was a little different. You see, my Mother's birthday falls on Christmas. When people find that out, they normally say the same thing, "UGH, you poor thing! You probably were so disappointed on Christmas morning! You probably get gypped, that totally sucks!" But the response my mother normally gives is, well I'm Jewish and don't celebrate Christmas so I don't have that problem. MUAHAHA. So this year, for my Mother's 50th birthday we threw her a birthday brunch where all of our fellow jewish friends, who had nothing to do on Christmas morning, came over to eat bagels, shmear, kugel, you name the jewish food, it was at my parents house. I wanted to experiment with a french toast recipe so I offered to make some and bring it for the party. French toast is a breakfast staple for every House Betch's offspring. Kids eat that shit up...especially with powdered sugar and maple syrup.

I was making french toast for 20-30 people so I had to make this recipe pretty large. This is great for brunch parties and even as a dessert! You can even make this for one person as a sandwich on the stove. It is a very adaptable recipe. The key component is...wait for it...NUTELLA! Its gooey hazelnut goodness sends us basic white betches to this euphoric place every time we eat it. Don't ask, just pass the Nutella, OK!?!

This is what you will need:

Serves 12-15

• 2 loafs of Challah (depending on your dish, you will probably only use about 1 and a half loafs)
• 10 eggs
• 1/2 cup of Whole Milk
• 3/4 cup of half and half
• 2 Tbsp of Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/2 cup of brown Sugar
• Pinch of salt
• Stick of Butter
• 8 heaping Tbsp of Nutella
• 1 tsp of Cinnamon 
• 9 x 13 baking pan/dish - or whatever size you want - but it should be big

Directions:

1. Melt the butter in the microwave and combine it with the brown sugar. Take half of that mixture and pour it on the bottom of the pan/dish. Be sure to spread it all around.
2. Cut your challah about 1/2 - 3/4 inches thick
3. Arrange 1/2 of your slices of challah in the dish. It's OK if it overlaps
4. Spread Nutella over the slices of bread - as much or as little as you want
5. Place the remaining slices of challah over the Nutella
6. Cover the top of the challah slices with the remainder of the brown sugar and butter mixture
7. In a large mixing bowl whisk together your eggs, whole milk, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon and salt
8. Once it's all mixed together, pour over the entire bake. Make sure you get in some of the little crevices so the bottom is able to soak in. Don't feel that you have to use all of this mixture. It will be sitting over night, so use what you feel is right
9. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator for 3 - 12 hours. I let mine sit and soak overnight
10. After it finishes soaking/you wake up the next morning, preheat your oven to 350 degrees. While the oven is heating up, take your french toast out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes
11. bake your french toast until it is golden brown and set for approximately 30-45 minutes. Just keep an eye on it to see that it is getting golden on top. I then transported it over to my parents house and reheated it for 5 minutes on 350.

Now, this is already EXTREMELY fattening, so if you want to just go for the gold and send your heart into overdrive top with powdered sugar or maple syrup. I'm not that into sweets so I couldn't even think of doing that! 

Here are some pictures!

 

This is the egg mixture

The beauty of Nutella on Challah - This is the first layer

The top of the bake before putting the egg mixture on top. TRY everything in your power to not skim your finger along the top of the french toast to taste that butter and brown sugar mixture...you will end up just eating this entire thing raw. SO GOOD!

Goodnight my lovely french toast bake. I shall see you in the morning!

The finished product! Good morning my beautiful breakfast. You will put so many dimples in my ass, but I will love you regardless!

A piece of the french toast. I have to keep my girlish figure, so could only take a little sliver! The entire bake went!

The best part about this entire french toast experience? My lovely Jewish Grandmother said this was the most DIVINE thing she has ever eaten. There were a couple of moans coming out of peoples mouths as they took a bite...I'd say that this was an awkward success!