Long long long time...

It has been a LONG time since I posted on this here blog.  There is a lot I could write about but I just don't have the energy to cover a year plus of time...all in all I'm here to say I'm back to start a new series of posts specifically focused on RECIPES! 

Cooking is an activity that I LOVE.  It relaxes me, makes me feel like I've accomplished something and adds leftovers to my fridge and sometimes pounds to my body :-)

If you are stuck in a cooking...What Do I Make for Dinner? rut may I suggest that you start checking in from time to time.  I've got a goal for 2012 and that's to share good, simple, and delicious recipes with my friends. 

Here is today's recipe! 

Disclaimer: I find recipes in magazines, cookbooks, online, blogs, etc.  The recipes that I share here are MY version of how I took the recipe and made it my own.  I'll make sure to give credit where credit is due but know that I change almost every recipe I have to make it my own. 

Caprese Chicken with Bacon

Photo taken by: me, Jennifer Rebecca Photos

[Today's Recipe is from: Taste of Home Magazine - by Tammy Hayden]

Ingredient List:

• 2-4 boneless chicken breasts
• bacon strips or real bacon crumbles (I used bacon crumbles)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1-2 plum tomatoes (I used roma tomatoes)
• 1 Tbsp (I used more) fresh/frozen basil leaves (I cut up fresh basil and freeze it in ice cube trays with water so that whenever I want "fresh" basil I have it)
• shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Place raw (thawed) chicken breasts in an ungreased (or greased-doesn't really matter) 13x9" baking pan; brush the chicken with olive oil and sprinkle with salt & pepper.
2. Top chicken with sliced tomatoes (I cut the tomatoes in sandwich type slices) and basil.
3. Sprinkle top of chicken with bacon crumbles. (see picture below)
4. Bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes (mine took way longer because the chicken breasts were HUGE). 
5. Top chicken with mozzarella cheese and bake 1-2 minutes longer or until melted.

Photo taken by: me, Jennifer Rebecca Photos

I served this chicken dish with mashed potatoes and green beans.
Quick & Delicious Green Beans:

• 1 can or half a bag of frozen green beans (whichever you prefer or have) place in a microwave safe bowl and cook with a bit of water for 1-2 minutes
• Melt 1 Tbsp of butter with Lemon Pepper Seasoning and poor over green beans.
• Stir green beans and enjoy. 

Taste's like Buca's green beans...or at least close. This is my own creation. 
Bon Appetit!