I have been participating in the Hellmann’s Chicken Challenge over the past couple of months and this time I think I hit the jackpot!  I love Chicken Cordon Bleu and I am always looking for a shortcut.  While I love the traditional way of baking Chicken Cordon Bleu, this alternative is wonderful for the busy mom who needs something simple and fast.    Here is a short video of me getting the chicken ready for the oven so you can see just how fast it actually is!

All you have to do to finish it is to top it with a slice of ham and add cheese!  I thought we had some Swiss cheese in our fridge, but my husband ate it all the night before and I didn’t have time to run to the store so I used what we had on hand.  While it isn’t as pretty as it could be here is how it turned out:

It is very yummy and I will definitely be making this again this week (after I buy some more cheese).

EASY CHICKEN CORDON BLEU

A classic recipe made simple.

4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes     Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
1/3 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
1/3 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs
4 thin slices cooked ham (about 2 oz.)
1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese (about 2 oz.)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil, then spray with no-stick cooking spray; set aside.
2. Brush chicken with Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise, then coat in bread crumbs. Arrange chicken on prepared baking sheet. Bake 15 minutes. Evenly top chicken with 4 slices ham, then cheese. Bake an additional 5 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Recipe courtesy of Hellmann’s .

I have been enjoying changing up my boring chicken routine these past few months.  I will be referring back to Hellmann’s a lot to spice up our dinners.

Hellmann’s® “Chicken Change-Up” aims to help parents manage dinner dilemmas in kitchens across America – and they want to hear what it’s like at your house!

From now until April 30, 2012, parents across the country can participate in the Hellmann’s® Chicken Change-up by trying one of the featured Hellmann’s® chicken recipes, sharing their recipe reviews and providing their own advice for managing dinnertime obstacles.  After participating, consumers can enter into a sweepstakes for the chance to win a $5000 grocery store gift card and other daily prizes.

Visit Facebook.com/Hellmanns to participate in the Chicken Change-Up, where you can find ideas on managing dinner dilemmas and enter for a chance to win daily prizes.

This is a sponsored post.  Hellmann’s product and additional incentives were provided to me.  All opinions stated are my own.

For Easter brunch I wanted to make something that would be easy.  I was after all 34 weeks pregnant.  I found this easy recipe on the McCormick website that used a cake mix.  It was so fast and simple and yet delicious that it will definitely be a part of my baked goods routine for brunches.

Easy Cinnamon Crumb Cake

Makes 24 servings.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

2 cups flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons McCormick® Cinnamon, Ground

1 cup (2 sticks) cold butter, cut into chunks

1 package (18 1/4 ounces) white cake mix

1 egg

1 cup sour cream

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugars and cinnamon in large bowl. Cut in cold butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

2. Beat cake mix, egg, sour cream, melted butter and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed about 1 minute or just until mixed.

3. Spread evenly in greased and floured 13×9-inch baking pan. Sprinkle evenly with topping mixture.

4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until cake pulls away from sides of pan. Cool on wire rack. Cut into squares to serve.

(from McCormick.com)

My husband and I loved this cake.  The hardest part was just cutting in the butter into the topping mixture, and it wasn’t hard it was just a little time consuming.  I successfully made this dish a few hours before we left on our Easter egg hunt.  We ate it all week because it made so much and our family is small! Of course we used McCormick spices and extracts when we make our baked goods.  I know I can always count on having the best ingredients on hand when I have McCormick.

Don’t forget about the McCormick contest ending today, April 22nd where you can win a Spring Basket full of McCormick products!  All you have to do is create a Spring Food Board on Pintrest and pin at least 5 McCormick recipes that you would make this spring.  Be sure to follow McCormick on Pintrest and check out my board.

Happy Baking!

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for McCormick. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Do you have a picky eater in your family?  Well, let me tell you about mine.  He is almost three years old and cute as a button.  He sleeps great and is usually pretty well behaved.  Our troubles are all with food.  He doesn’t want tot try anything new, and getting him to eat anything healthy is like pulling teeth.  It is a big source of frustration!
What is a mom to do? Well, I was challenged by Hellmann’s to change up our chicken routine and create a recipe that the whole family will love.  I decided to try the Succulent Chicken Parmesan recipe off of Hellmann’s website.

SUCCULENT CHICKEN PARMESAN

The juiciest & simplest chicken Parmesan recipe around

4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes     Cook Time: 23 minutes

• 1/4 cup Italian seasoned dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 lbs.)
• 1/4 cup Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup Ragu® Old World Style® Pasta Sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 2 oz.)

1. Preheat oven to 425°.
2. Combine bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese in shallow dish; set aside.
3. Add chicken and Hellmann’s® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise to large plastic bag; shake to evenly coat. Remove chicken, then lightly coat in crumb mixture. Arrange chicken on baking sheet.
4. Bake 20 minutes. Evenly top chicken with Pasta Sauce, then mozzarella cheese. Bake an additional 3 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked and cheese is melted.

Hellmann’s has a lot of options for tasty chicken that the whole family will enjoy, even those picky eaters like my TJ. This recipe was a nice change from our normal baked chicken routine.  My husband and I really enjoyed it.  It was also so simple to make and didn’t take much time at all.  I love that it was so easy and economical to make on a weekday after a long day at work.  You can pair it with vegetables or pasta like we did.

From now until April 30, 2012, parents across the country can participate in the Hellmann’s® Chicken Change-up by trying one of the featured Hellmann’s® chicken recipes, sharing their recipe reviews and providing their own advice for managing dinnertime obstacles.  After participating, consumers can enter into a sweepstakes for the chance to win a $5000 grocery store gift card and other daily prizes.

Visit Facebook.com/Hellmanns to participate in the Chicken Change-Up, where you can find ideas on managing dinner dilemmas and enter for a chance to win daily prizes.
Would you like to win a prize today?

Win It

Hellmann’s is giving away a Picky Eater Prize Package to one (1) lucky reader!

Hellmann’s Picky Eater Prize Package includes:

• Deceptively Delicious Cookbook
• Substituting Ingredients Cookbook
• Match & Munch Puzzle Sandwich Cutters
• Kid’s Bento Box
• Kid’s Chopsticks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a sponsored post.  Hellmann’s product and additional incentives were provided to me.  All opinions stated are my own.

I love an easy recipe.  Being a busy mom, wife, and teacher can take its toll on dinner.  I love to cook, but sometimes after a long day at work I can use a little help.  Betty Crocker makes creating a delicious meal fast and easy.  With all the different options that Betty Crocker offers, there is a potato pouch perfect for most any meal.  This time I took a box of Potatoes Au Gratin and made a yummy ham and peas dish out of it.  I took a lot of help from the store and used frozen peas (that I thawed) and diced ham.  It turned out to be a very yummy dish.  This is perfect as a side or for a meal.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Betty Crocker Au Gratin Potatoes
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 2 Cups Boiling Water
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup diced ham
• 1/2 cup cooked peas

Directions

1. Prepare potatoes according to package directions.
2. Layer on Ham
3. Layer on Peas
4. Stir to incorporate
5. Bake at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes

Be sure to check out more fast and delicious recipes at Spud Hub and enter to win one of  four $250 gift cards!

Win a $50 Visa Card from Betty Crocker to help create your dinner!

Want to win?

Leave a comment and tell me what your favorite potato recipe is!

(You must complete this entry before completing any of the bonus entries)

Bonus Entries:

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet: Win a $50 Visa Card from Betty Crocker and A Mom’s Impression Enter here: http://wyn.cc/ftobt
  (You may enter daily, just leave a comment with each Tweet’s link)
• Like A Mom’s Impression on Facebook
• Blog about this giveaway (Please leave a link to your post)
• Grab my Button and post it on your blog.
• Subscribe to A Mom’s Impression by Email (2 Entries, please leave 2 comments: Please remember to confirm your subscription)
• Comment on any non-giveaway post on A Mom’s Impression. (just tell me what post you commented on)
• List this giveaway on any giveaway site, or share on Facebook.

Please leave a comment about each entry, include a valid email address or you may contact me directly with your contact information.
Open to continental US residents only. This giveaway will end at midnight on December 3. Winners will be picked from Random.org. 
Good Luck!

This giveaway was made possible by Betty Crocker .This has been a sponsored post written on the behalf of Betty Crocker. All opinions are 100% mine.

As the days are getting colder, my husband and I like to warm our weekends up with homemade soups.  Last weekend I decided to make a corn chowder.  It turned out wonderful and rich and my husband loved the bread bowl!

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 large onion, chopped
• 2 14 oz cans chicken broth
• 2 red or white potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp poultry seasoning
• 1/2 tsp chili powder
• Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 3 cups fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 1 (4 ounces) can chopped mild green chiles
• 1 large raw chicken breast cut into 1-inch bites
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 2 cups shredded cheese (I used a cheddar/jack blend)
• 1 roasted red pepper, cut into 1-inch strips (jarred is fine)
• 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
• Hot sauce (I used a bit in the chowder and then served it on the side for those who wanted a bit more of a kick)
• Shredded cheese for garnish
• Bread bowls for serving

Directions

In a large Dutch oven, melt butter and add onions until translucent.  Add the chicken broth, potatoes, oregano, poultry seasoning, chili powder, salt, and freshly ground pepper to taste. Bring to a low boil and simmer about ten minutes, until potatoes are just barely tender. Add the corn and simmer until corn is heated through.

Remove about 1-1/2 cups of the chowder and puree in a blender or food processor. Return puree to the chowder and add green chiles and chicken. Simmer about 5 minutes to cook chicken. Add half and half and shredded cheese. Stir until incorporated and cheese has melted. Gently stir in red pepper, cilantro, and hot sauce.

Serve in bread bowls with additional shredded cheese and cilantro for garnish.

Based off a recipe I found on About.com

I love creating new recipes.  I often use store bought ingredients to help out as I am a busy mom and have a limited amount of time on my hands. I love the challenge of mixing fresh ingredients with ready made ingredients and the result is a yummy dish of food for my family.

I have always been fond of Betty Crocker products, but I hadn’t tried their mashed potatoes before.  Seeing as how I am from Idaho, we know how to make mashed potatoes from scratch, but it isn’t a quick process.  I love making potato croquettes from left over mashed potatoes, so I thought I would take Betty Crocker Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes and make them into croquettes.  The result, an extremely yummy appetizer or lunch!

Ingredients

• 1 pouch Betty Crocker Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• 1 1/3 cup water
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 1/2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 1 egg
• Bacon (optional, I used bacon bits)
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese (or your families favorite kind of cheese)
• Bread crumbs
• Vegetable Oil for frying
• Sour Cream for dipping

Directions

• Prepare Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes according to package directions.  Let cool completely.
• In a large mixing bowl mix egg, bacon, cheese, flour and potatoes together.
• Will a small scoop, portion out potato mixture into small balls and place on parchment paper.  Put this into the freezer for about 5 minutes.

• Roll potato balls into bread crumbs pressing down to make flat cakes.  Make sure bread crumbs completely cover the potato mixture.
• In a deep skillet, heat about a 1/2 inch of vegetable oil.  Place croquettes into the oil and fry for about 3 minutes each side.
• Serve with a side of sour cream!

For more recipes and ideas using Betty Crocker Pouch Potatoes be sure to visit the Betty Crocker Spud Hub.

Win a $50 Visa Card from Betty Crocker to help create your dinner!

Want to win?

Leave a comment and tell me what your favorite potato recipe is!

(You must complete this entry before completing any of the bonus entries)

Bonus Entries:

• Follow me on Twitter and Tweet: Win a $50 Visa Card from Betty Crocker and A Mom’s Impression Enter here: http://wyn.cc/5ib6k
  (You may enter daily, just leave a comment with each Tweet’s link)
• Like A Mom’s Impression on Facebook
• Blog about this giveaway (Please leave a link to your post)
• Grab my Button and post it on your blog.
• Subscribe to A Mom’s Impression by Email (2 Entries, please leave 2 comments: Please remember to confirm your subscription)
• Comment on any non-giveaway post on A Mom’s Impression. (just tell me what post you commented on)
• List this giveaway on any giveaway site, or share on Facebook.

Please leave a comment about each entry, include a valid email address or you may contact me directly with your contact information.
Open to continental US residents only. This giveaway will end at midnight on November 30. Winners will be picked from Random.org. 
Good Luck!

This giveaway was made possible by Betty Crocker .This has been a sponsored post written on the behalf of Betty Crocker. All opinions are 100% mine.