Celebrating a Birthday and Recipes

Tonight we celebrated

my hubby Eric's 42nd birthday. It was simple and 

wonderful which means 

PERFECT in my opinion. 

We stayed home to 

celebrate this year; 

my in-laws came over for

dinner and cake.  I was so proud of myself since I did all of the cooking and baking this year and it all tasted wonderful.......

mother-n-law approved!  

The Menu: 


Baked Chicken with feta Cheese wrapped in Bacon

• 8 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 4 cloves crushed garlic
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 4 slices feta cheese
• 4 slices bacon, fried and drained   (I used turkey Bacon)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees  
2. In a small bowl combine the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix together. Place chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish and pour oil mixture over chicken.
3. Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese on each Chicken breast  then wrapt with 2 slices of  bacon each. 
4. Bake uncovered for 30 mins. 

Asparagus

Wash and cut ends off Asparagus, lay on tin foil, sprinkle with olive oil and garlic.  Lay a few pieces of fresh thyme on top of asparagus.  Wrap tin foil closed and bake for 20 minutes in oven at 350 degrees.

Long Grain Rice

Cook rice (I use a rice cooker) when done transfer to a frying pan, add olive oil and seasonings (I use garlic and a little low sodium soy sauce).  Make a hole in the center of the pan and add a few eggs.  Once the eggs are fried stir in with rice.    

And, for the best part

Ultimate Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

2 cups flour

2/3 cup cocoa

1 1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. baking powder

1 2/3 cup sugar

4 eggs

1 t. vanilla

1 cup mayonnaise ( I used Hellman's Olive Oil Mayo) 

1 1/3 cup water

Grease and flour 2 (9") layer cake pans.  Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder together; set aside.  In large mixing bowl beat sugar, eggs and vanilla at high speed until light and fluffy.  At low speed beat in mayo.  Add dry ingredients alternately with the water, mixing well after each addition.  Pour in pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 - 35 mins.  Cool for 10 minutes.  Remove and cool completely on racks.  Frost.  

Peanut Butter Frosting

1 stick of butter

1 cup Natural Peanut Butter

1 teaspoon of vanilla

Powdered Sugar (about 4 cups) 

Milk

Mix butter and peanut butter until creamy, add vanilla.  Slowly add powdered sugar and milk until it becomes a good spreading consistency.

This cake is so moist and so yummy!  I highly recommend it. 

__________________________________________________________

Happy Birthday Eric.  I love you and was happy you loved your dinner, even

if you weren't feeling so good because of a yucky cold that invaded your body.