Gingerbread Loaf with Glacé Cherries

I'm back!  I know it's been a long time since my last post.  I've been super busy lately. This time of year always gets me inspired so I am committed to posting more regularly on here!

This loaf is super moist, and works with or without the cherries.  I like the bit of crunch and sweetness the cherries add.  I also love anything to do with gingerbread this time of year.  This recipe is super easy, but it takes a long time in the oven to cook because it does not have eggs in it and the applesauce makes it so moist.



Ingredients:

1.5 Cups White Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
2 1/3 tsp Ground Ginger
1 tsp Salt
1 Cup White Sugar
1/2 Cup Margarine
1 tsp Lemon or Orange Extract
1 Cup Apple sauce
Glacé Cherries, red and green

Directions:

1.  Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan.

2.  Combine all of the dry ingredients except the baking soda.  Combine the margarine, and sugar in a mixer until fluffy.  Then add the extract, baking soda, and apple sauce to the margarine/sugar mixture..  Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry, and then fold in the cherries.

3.  Pour the batter in the loaf pan and cook for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  I had to place some foil on the top of mine after about 40 minutes so the top wouldn't get too brown, but the inside would continue to cook through.

4.  Add some cream cheese icing if available and, enjoy!

Spinach and Feta-Stuffed Chicken Breast with Accordion Potatoes

We eat a lot of chicken in my house, and I was getting a bit bored of having it the usual way. I thought I would try stuffing it, because what doesn't taste better with cheese, am I right?  This was so delicious!!  We also eat a lot of potatoes, and this is one of the more creative ways to fancy up a normal, baked potato.  Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

3 Chicken Breasts (4 - 6 oz)
90 grams Feta (I used goat feta)
6 pieces of sun-dried tomato
2 Eggs
2 Cups Bread Crumbs 
1 Cup White Flour 
Spinach
Garlic
Russet Potatoes
Oil
salt and pepper


Directions:

1)  Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.

2)  The potatoes will take about an hour to cook, so you want to put them on before the chicken, which only takes 40 minutes.  Stab each potato with a fork so it won't explode in the microwave.  Microwave each potato for about 2.5 to 3 minutes each, they can all go in together.  For example, if you are doing three potatoes put them in for about 7.5 to 9 minutes.

3)  Give the potatoes some time to cool once they are out of the microwave because you will need to be able to handle them for the next step.  In order to create the accordion effect you want to slice the potato straight down, leaving about .25 to .5 of an inch at the bottom.  Do this across the whole potato, and then add sliced pieces of garlic in between the slats.  Sprinkle with dried rosemary, salt, and pepper.  I would recommend putting these in the oven before you start your chicken so they will be done around the same time.

4)  Using a sharpish knife, cut your chicken breast butterfly style.  Don't worry, it doesn't have to be pretty, just make sure you don't cut it all the way, leave about .25 to .5 inch connecting the two halves.

5)  Combine the chopped spinach, chopped sun-dried tomato and crumbled feta.  Spread 1/3 of the mixture evenly across the chicken breast.  Fold the top back over and place on a baking sheet.

6)  Now it is time to bread the chicken breasts.  This part is totally optional, of course!  The breading helps to keep the chicken moist but it is still awesome without this step.  Put the flour, beaten egg, and breadcrumbs in three separate bowls.  Dip the chicken in the flour, then the egg, and then the bread crumbs.  Place back on greased baking dish.

7)  Bake the chicken for 40 minutes, and the potato for an hour.

This was so good, I think I am going to have it again tomorrow =P