Sharing a family favorite

Tonight we fed the missionaries. We always eat better when we feed the missionaries. Why? Because I hope that there are kind souls in Slovenia that are filling my valiant brother's belly while he devotes his life to God for two years. Elder Hone and Elder Wheeler were delightful guests.

The missionaries' visit coincided with my desire to clear out the freezer, so we had chicken pillows (several ingredients were frozen before noon today). I mentioned our menu on Facebook and a few friends requested the recipe, so here you go.

Chicken Pillows
36 frozen Rhodes rolls
3 cups chicken, cooked and diced
8 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 T dehydrated onions
1/2 t. ground black pepper
1 cup bread crumbs

First, defrost the rolls according to package directions -- on a greased pan, under greased plastic wrap -- until they are soft but not raised. This took a couple of hours in my 65-degree kitchen. When they were ready I just stuck them in the fridge until I was ready to use them. (My cute sister gave me this great advice.)




Cook and chop up the chicken and mix with 1/2 cup of softened butter, cream cheese, onions, and pepper. It should look something like this.



Stretch out a soft roll into a flat circle, then scoop some chicken mixture into the center. Pinch the roll around the filling.



Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a small bowl and pour bread crumbs into a separate bowl. Dip the newly-formed "pillow" in butter and bread crumbs. Place on a baking sheet, crumb side up.



Take pictures of your children, who may or may not be watching TV in the buff.



Bake pillows at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes.



We like to drizzle the pillows with gravy (cream of chicken soup diluted with skim milk). Tonight we served the chicken pillows with strawberries, green salad, and Arizona-fresh lemonade. With two very hungry 19-year-olds and our always-ravenous Zachary at the table, we had about seven pillows left over after dinner. This meal was a lot of work, but it sure was yummy. I'm looking forward to lunch leftovers tomorrow!

Hungry?

I tried a new salad recipe tonight and it was super yummy. If you're thinking that salad=healthy, this won't be for you, but if you want a fun dish to impress your girlfriends (and your taste buds), try the Winter Salad I found here. {Just a note: I used bagged romaine, dehydrated onions, and olive oil instead of raw sweet onion and canola oil because that's what I had on hand.}

The cooking website that offers the recipe also brought Chicken Lo Mein into my life. Ah, I love this stuff! I use the light version {and twice as much} of the dressing called for in the recipe. And the recipe author is right; don't skip the cilantro!

I realize this post makes me sound all adventurous in the kitchen. I am SO not adventurous in the kitchen. I hate cooking, but I hate being in a meal-planning rut even more. Do any of you have great sources for new recipes, or are you willing to share something that your family really loves? I need some inspiration and would love your input. The comments box can fit a whole recipe, you know!