Lazy Jane Casserole

This was always one of my favorite dishes when I was a child. My mother had gotten the recipe from her sister, who was my favorite aunt. She was absolutely religious about remembering to send birthday presents to us girls. In fact, if it was my birthday, she would include gifts for my sisters, as well...same for my sisters' birthdays....all children got a gift. She never married or had children of her own, and was confined to a wheelchair for many years. She was my Pen-Pal, my confidante. She lived in Idaho and I was in Washington when we first began corresponding. I was probably 7 or 8 years old at the time. We later moved to California, where I only got to see her once a year, when my grandparents came to visit and brought her with them. She passed away in the mid-70s at a very young age (36, I believe) and her death hit me hard, as I loved her so much. She also gave my mom the Eastern Beef Casserole recipe that is available in my archives (and has become a favorite of my hubby!).

Lazy Jane Casserole

1 lb beef stew meat
1 can beef broth
3/4 tsp salt
1 large onion, sliced
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup burgundy or dry red wine

Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix all ingredients together (I brown the stew meat first, but that is not part of the original recipe); place in casserole dish and cover and bake for 3 hours.

I love and miss you, Aunt Gail!

Chicken Cordon Bleu

OK...we are going to try eating healthier in our household so I have been on the search for tasty recipes. I just refuse to give up taste to save calories. So I am making a lower-calorie Chicken Cordon Bleu, Sesame Green Beans and Parmesan Sage Potato Wedges. We are also having a nice green salad made with red leaf lettuce, cucumbers, celery, carrots, radishes and green onions. I made the homemade Herbed Ranch Dressing (see prior entries for recipe) but we'll be sparing with it - and I used 1% buttermilk instead of the wonderful, full-fat stuff! I found all 3 recipes through the 3fatchicks.com website.



Chicken Cordon Bleu

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 oz smoked ham, thinly sliced and divided into 4 portions
2 oz Swiss cheese, thinly sliced and divided into 4 portions
2 large egg whites
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 TBSP Dijon mustard
2/3 cup unseasoned dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 lemon wedges

Preheat oven to 400°. Coat a baking rack with cooking spray, then place the rack on a baking sheet and set aside. Butterfly each piece of chicken by slicing into the breast horizontally so you can open it like a book. Lay one quarter of the ham and cheese on one side of each breast, leaving 1/2" at the edge uncovered, then close each piece. (Here's what I do next: I tightly wrap each breast in cling wrap, twisting the edges and then refrigerate for 30 minutes...this should help keep the cheese from melting out). In a medium bowl combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Gently dip each piece of chicken in the crumb mixture, then into the egg white mixture, then again in the crumb mixture. Set on a baking rack. Bake 30 to 35 minutes (or longer if the breast are quite thick) or until crisp and lightly browned, and the chicken is no longer pink inside. Serve with lemon wedges.

This was actually very tasty and everyone enjoyed it very much.