That was a success

Sometimes I just am not in the mood to cook. There, I confessed it. I just do not want to cook. That does not mean, however, that my family does not want to eat. They remain just as ravenously hungry as always. I must submit to their needs and wants and come up with something to fix them for dinner. Sometimes this means fixing something totally off the cuff.

That would be last night. I need something fast. I needed something easy. I needed something that would use up the boneless skinless chicken breasts that were still taunting me in the refrigerator. What to do? I had been browsing through my freezer cookbooks the previous couple of days but I only had 4 large breasts to work with so I was not going to get much. I also did not have a lot of time as the result of a few things. The primary reason being procrastination and having to cool off after a bike ride with my youngest son, Lance, back from his school. That is my story at least, and I am sticking to it.

From the night before, I knew that I had a small amount of baking mix left. It was not enough to make pancakes, however. Let me rephrase that. It was not enough to make pancakes in the quantity that my family of three growing boys was going to consume them, especially with one teenager and one tween at the table. Nope, not enough. I could not make pancakes the evening before the lazy person’s way. I had to make them from scratch. Oh boy, another confession. Wow, two in one post. How are you going to handle that? Yes, I use a baking mix to make my pancakes. Now I must admit to also doctoring that mix a lot, but I use a mix to make my pancakes. There is a little secret about me that I bet most of you did not know. How will you ever live with yourselves knowing that, right?

Anyway, after having to make Pumpkin Pancakes from scratch, the evening before, I knew that I did have a little baking mix left. I could make something small like Chicken à la King or something with dumplings. Alas, I am still struggling with the “I do not want to cook” issue. Time was just ticking away. Fortunately, due to the fact that I needed to be at the oldest son’s, Andrew, high school for an Orchestra Booster Club officer meeting by 7:00pm and the older two boys, Andrew and Kyle, needed to be across the street at the track at the Intermediate School for Young Mens, I had decided that I was taking the youngest, Lance, to karate another night. It was just too much to get him to karate by 6:00pm too.

My concoction came together nicely and my children and husband loved it. I am grateful for a mother that always experimented with a little bit of this and a little bit of that in the kitchen. I am also grateful for Penzeys Spices and how wonderful they work together and make things so easy…

Just remember to make sure that your pan is large enough before you add the contents to the pan and stick them in the oven, or you will be cleaning the oven at a later time like I will be. Please make allowance for any liquids that might come out of things and boiling. I am just saying…You have been warned.

Easy Chicken and Cheesy Biscuit Puff Casserole

4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can of cream of chicken soup
1 bag of frozen green beans
2 cups of baking mix
3/4 cup milk (or amount needed for making biscuits from baking mix, plus a tad more)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or more if desired)
1 tsp Penzeys Mural of Flavor seasoning

Preheat oven to 375˚F. Cut chicken breast into 1″ cubes (approximate) and place in 9″x13″ pan. Mix in soup and green beans. Sprinkle with seasoning. Bake until chicken is cooked, about 40 minutes.

Stir contents of pan. Prepare biscuits per directions and mix in cheese. Drop biscuit dough onto casserole by the tablespoon in rows. Bake about 20 minutes, or until biscuits are cooked. 

Baking times are approximate because I had a pan that was slightly smaller than a 9’x13″ and it may take less time as a result. My oven is also not always acting like it should and cooking consistently, so sometimes takes longer. 

The kids and husband loved it and said I could make it again. It was quick and easy. I like those kinds of successes!