What's For Dinner?

Hi everyone! I am so excited to be guest posting for Mara during her wedding week. If you are like me, I’m sure you can’t wait to see her incredible pictures and hear all about the day.
I happen to be a newlywed myself. The first year of marriage has been a whirlwind, and I must say that I am most proud of saving my husband from his daily dinners of plain egg whites, plain whole wheat pasta, and plain turkey burgers. I find nothing wrong with these foods, except that he would mix them all together. He ate this every single night, with the exception of a pizza or occasional grilled chicken salad from a restaurant close by.
Not to mention, he smells a heck of a lot better now that he is no longer eating egg whites every day. Not much better, though.
I am a firm believer in moderation, and have a pretty big sweet tooth. My husband and I both enjoy being active and exercising, but we also love to eat. We prepare most of our food ahead of time, but I do love to cook dinner every night. Cooking is relaxing for me, and my husband thoroughly enjoys eating flavorful dishes. And I enjoy him not smelling like eggs. It is a win-win situation.
Recently, I made Onion and Apple Smothered Chicken. The crisp apples and soft onions created an incredible texture with the chicken, and the sauce I prepared them in created a sweet and tart ‘gravy.’ We ate it with a side of my favorite, perfect smashed potatoes.

Onion and Apple Smothered Chicken4 chicken breasts 1 medium apple, chopped1/2 sweet onion, sliced3 tablespoons olive oil2 eggs, lightly beaten1 cup flour + 2 tablespoons1/2 cup apple cider vinegar1 1/2 cups chicken stock 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Preheat oven to 400.
Heat a skillet on medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Crack eggs and lightly beat in a bowl. Place 1 cup of flour on a plate, and season with salt, pepper, or spices if you’d like. Dip chicken into egg mixture, then dredge through flour to coat. Place in skillet and let brown on each side, about 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining chicken breasts. Once chicken is brown, place in a baking dish and bake for 15 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink.
In the same skillet, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Add apples and onions, and saute for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add apple cider vinegar, and let bubble and boil to thicken, about 3-5 minutes. Use a wire whisk to scrape any bits of flavor from the bottom. Add chicken stock. Whisk in flour and brown sugar. Taste, and add any salt and pepper if needed.
Remove chicken from oven and pour onion and apple sauce over chicken.

The Best Smashed PotatoesServes 6-8 3 lbs baby yukon gold potatoes1 stick unsalted butter1/2 cup heavy cream1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Cut baby potatoes in half, and add to a pot of cold water. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 20 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain potatoes, then add back to the pot on low heat. Add butter and heavy cream, and mash for 1-2 minutes. Taste, and add salt and pepper if needed.
Serve warm.



We always like to have a bit of dessert, so these Sin City cookies are the perfect, light treat.

Sin City Cookies2 egg whites3/4 cup sugar1 tablespoon cocoa powderpinch of salt1 cup dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375.
Beat all ingredients together, except chocolate chips, until stiff peaks form – about 6 minutes. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop in spoonfuls on a baking sheet.
Place in oven, turn off oven, and let cookies sit inside for 8-10 hours.
This is perfect to do while you’re sleeping!

I enjoy a lot of variety with dinners, so we rarely make things twice. I hope you enjoy this recipe, and I must say that the potatoes are incredible. Do you have any favorite dinners or side dishes? Let me know.

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