DIY Bench from old headboard

I have a new addiciton. DIY and repurposing. I love it! I love the creativity of people. Well this was my first project and I think it turned out cute!

I found this old headboard at the Deseret Industries for $8. I brought it home and Steve said, "What is that? It looks like something from the Brady Bunch."

 Hmm.

So it sat in our basement for a month or so. I stopped asking Steve if he'd help me with it because he kept laughing at me.

One day, he came home and handed me $30 and said, go get the stuff and I'll build it WITH you.

So, we did! And it was fun. I mean it helps that his dad has all the equipment you'd ever need to build things. But Steve & his dad kept making fun. And I kept telling them, "You're going to like my bench and you're going to want to sit on it.

So about $30 into it and that's what we came up with!

It doesn't quite fit in our kitchen like I thought it would (color wise), so I may end up using it somewhere else. But I love it! And Steve even got excited about it. When will he ever trust that I have a picture of something in my mind that will be absolutely FABULOUS?

Now I just need to get a picture of Steve & his dad sitting on it. ha!

Chicken Parmesan

This is another one for the hubster. He's been working so hard lately and the best way I can think to help him is to fatten him up (not that he could ever be fat!). But I've been trying to be a good little wife and greet him with his favorites. Well, this is his FAVORITE.

Enjoy!

{CHICKEN PARMESAN}

1 jar spaghetti sauce (make it easy on yourself, unless you're an over-acheiver)

6-8 chicken cutlets (the small ones, peeps)

Salt

1/2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded

4 slices provolone cheese

1 egg

1 T. flour

1/2 c. parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 c. panko bread crumbs

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. dried oregano

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Olive Oil

Lightly salt each side of chicken. In a shallow dish, whisk flour and egg until smooth. In a separate shallow dish, toss parmesan cheese and panko bread crumbs, garlic powder, oregano, and pepper together. 

Dip one piece of chicken at a time into egg mixture. Allow excess to drip off and then dip into bread crumb mixture, pressing gently to coat. Transfer to a plate and repeat with each piece of chicken. 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pour olive oil into skillet and heat to medium-high heat. Once pan is ready, add chicken cutlets and fry without moving them until bottom is crispy and golden brown, about 2 minutes. Then flip and cook other side for about 2 more minutes. Transfer to 9x13 pan. Top each each with 1/2 slice of provolone cheese. Pour spaghetti sauce over all and then sprinkle with additional parmesan cheese. Place in 375 degree oven until 165 degrees, internally. Broil for 2 minutes until nice and golden. Serve over pasta.

Source: Cooking Classy

Layered Eclair Cake

I do not like eclairs. But I DO like my husband. So I made this for him. And guess what, I LOVED it! I'm not a fan of the pastry part of the eclair. And I discovered its because I've never had FRESH eclairs.  This was really yummy and just what we needed to celebrate my husband. Love him.

{LAYERED ECLAIR CAKE}

Crust:
1 c. water
1/2 c. butter
1 c. flour
4 eggs

Filling:
1 (8 oz.) pkg cream cheese, softened
1 (5.1 oz.) pkg vanilla instant pudding
3 c. cold milk

Topping:
Homemade whipped cream (about 2 cups whipped)
chocolate syrup (like an ice cream topping)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 9x13 pan.

In a medium pan, melt butter in water and bring to boil. Remove from heat and stir in flour. Mix one egg in at a time, mixing completely before adding another. {this is where I got worried, but I just kept mixing and it turned out...no scrambled eggs} Spread mixture evenly into 9x13 pan. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

While the crust cools, make vanilla pudding according to package directions and allow to set up in the fridge. In a separate bowl, whip cream cheese. Slowly add pudding to cream cheese and mix until there are no lumps {this will take a few minutes, don't give up}

When the crust is completely cool, pour the filling in. Top with whipped cream and drizzle with chocolate sauce.

Enjoy!

Source: The Girl Who Ate Everything