A Special Day before Christmas Break!

WOOHOO! I am so excited to be sitting right in front of 11 days off.  Not to mention tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the entire year, but I have to say today was a pretty great day. We watched Because of Winn Dixie in my class and I got a bunch of cute stuff from my students.  Then I got some of my favorite things from a co-worker/friend and some special packages in the mail today!!

Coffee from my all-time fav coffee place on Long Island. Thanks Jo!

A special card and gift card to one of my pals and my favorite place  to go together. Thanks Doe :)

3 amazing things from Kathleen. My number one fav. tea that is only around during the holidays (JOY), a HungryGirl Survival Guide and a really nice smelling candle!!


Then we also received this...

haha how funny. Danny's uncle sent this to us.


SO getting back to this wonderful longggg weekend...


My favorite meal of the year is Christmas Eve with all of the fish! We are having scallops, shrimp, filet, calamari, lobster, mussels and crab. How can any of that be bad? Of course Danny and my two cousins don't eat fish so they will be having chicken parm. (Danny will be having that 2 days in a row...but trust me he's NOT complaining...)


I have mentioned that I am cooking for Christmas Day at Danny's parents' house. I did a couple of things before to make my life easier on Christmas day. After making our rounds to my family on Sunday we came home and made the sauce and chicken parmigiana. I then froze it and will take it with us tomorrow. 


Basically we will be having:
Appetizers: 

• traditional and roasted red pepper hummus
• mini meatballs and sauce
• crab dip
• spinach dip

Dinner:

• Beef tenderloin
• Chicken Parmigiana
• Mashed Potatoes (with a choice of sweet potato instead)
• Sauteed Green Beans
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Antipasta Salad

Dessert:

• Italian Cheesecake (will post recipe for this....one day....)
• Crumb Cake (will make Uncle Tommy guest post this recipe....)
• Whatever anyone else brings

To be honest I am a little concerned Uncle Tommy's crumb cake is going to show up my cheesecake. He does strive for perfection and my cheesecake has a couple of sad cracks in it! (because obviously the pan of water underneath did NOTHING!!) 

Anyways - To make the chicken parmigiana I used some of my whole wheat breadcrumbs from my whole wheat bread I made a couple days before. (I just put it in the food processor with some dried oregano, basil and parsley and pulse.)

Ingredients:

Thin sliced chicken breast

3 eggs (for about 6 breasts)

about 2 cups breadcrumbs (may need more)

Canola Oil

Salt

Pepper

Oregano

Parsley

Basil

Pecorino Romano Grated Cheese

Grated Mozzarella Cheese

I put the eggs on one plate and scrambled them. Then I put the breadcrumbs on another plate. I sprinkled all three plates (chicken, breadcrumbs and eggs) with salt, pepper, grated cheese, oregano, basil and parsley. I mixed it in well.  Then dipped chicken first in egg (both sides) and then in breadcrumbs.  Preheat canola oil with a teaspoon of butter (so it doesn't splash). When oil is hot, start putting chicken in oil. Let it fry on both sides. When it is done place paper towels on a plate (to soak up excess oil) and place chicken on plate. 

After they turn golden brown flip them over.

After chicken is done, first put a thin lining of sauce down on a tray.  Then put chicken in tray and put sauce on top. Then sprinkle more grated cheese and put a generous amount of sauce down.  Put grated mozzarella cheese on top and heat for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.

I just cannot believe how quickly time goes. It is Christmas Eve's Eve tonight! I wish it was socially acceptable to leave out Christmas decorations and a tree for way longer. 

Hope you have a great Christmas Eve's Eve! Remember part of making good choices is about letting yourself splurge every once in a while otherwise you set yourself up to binge! Enjoy some of those treats you can only get around this holiday season!