Hot Chocolate Truffles

So I've been trying to come up with a good little gift for the boys' teachers for Christmas, I didn't want to spend too much money as that is always tight this time of year. So I decided I was going to make them something. I figured no one really will want a steak cake so I came up with Hot chocolate truffles.
I got the idea from pinterest where I saw a marshmallow stuck to a peppermint stick to use as a stir stick for your hot chocolate and I thought Why not have something that is the actual chocolate that I would stir into the warm milk...
Here is what I did, pretty much you are making a ganache....

2 bags semi-sweet or Dark or milk depending on your taste high quality chocolate chips
    (I used Giradellis)
2 cups Heavy Cream
1 T of sugar more or less to taste
pinch of salt
Crushed up candy canes
Hot chocolate mix

Place chocolate chips in a large bowl. Heat the cream in a sauce pan, add the sugar and salt to dissolve. Once the cream is simmering, pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Whisk till combined and smooth, it will look grainy at first and be a milky brown once it starts to incorporate it will get dark and silky shinny. Cover with Plastic and place in fridge overnight. Place crushed candy canes on a paper plate and the Hot chocolate mix on a separate one. Pull ganache from fridge and with a large spoon, spoon out large balls of the ganache. Place the ball in either the peppermint or the mix and roll to coat and form a ball. Wrap separately in plastic wrap and keep refrigerated.

To use, Heat a mug of milk up and drop your truffle into the warm milk, stir till completely melted and get lost in the silky chocolate heaven.

I placed about six in a cute little mug for their teachers and I'm going to write up some cute poemy type thing if I can be that creative! Of course you have to save one for yourself... quality control and man oh man are they GOOD!

Steak Cake

Darwin's Grandpa Glen Johnson turned 80 this pasted weekend. We were able to go back to Burns for the celebration, and I was asked to make him a cake. Darwin's Aunt Sharon came up with the idea of doing a big ole steak, I added the mashed potatoes and corn. It turned out really well! I was really worried about the steak looking cartoony but all in all it turned out pretty good. Everything on the plate is edible. The mashed potatoes, are chocolate cake that I covered in ivory fondant, I didn't want it smooth or pretty as it is suppose to be potatoes, the butter is a yellow starburst complete with Butterscotch "gravy". The corn is cake covered in ivory fondant, then I made three different shades of yellow and hand rolled the kernels. I then colored some sugar black for pepper. The steak is just cake covered in white fondant and then I hand painted it. All it all I think it is one for the portfolio!

Another Cake

It would seem as of late that I'm not cooking any other than cake....I assure you my family is eating regular balanced meals and not just cake. I just haven't blogged about the recipes and really haven't made anything new, lately...other than cakes. So yes this post is about yet another cake.
I made a Birthday cake for my friend Amy's son Dillon and her friend saw it and wanted a cake made for her son's Birthday. Batman was the desired theme. Here is what the cake looked like...

Overall I'm pleased with how it turned out. The little boy was pretty excited about the cake as well. My kids we're bummed because they weren't invited to the birthday party of the kid they don't know.

So I've had lots of people ask me for business cards and I've decided it is time to make my cake business a little more official. So I'm going to order some business cards, but I can not for the life of me come up with a name...any ideas?

Happy Halloween!!

I was asked to make a cake for a silent auction for the sixth graders fundraiser for their annual fieldtrip... They always put on a Halloween carnival and silent auction and it is usually a huge success. I made the cake above for the auction and also gave a gift certificate for a cake order up to 100servings. Not sure what happened but the auction was definately not as successful as it was last year, it seemed there were less people and less bidding. The Halloween cake went for $17... and the certificate for $40. I'm trying to tell myself it is ok and it went to a good cuase, but hurts alittle when I realize I know get to do a large 100 serving cake and the money earned for the school was only .40 a serving.... oh well, at least I can use towards my charitable contributions on my taxes...right? Anyhow, I was pleased with how the cake turned out.

Asian Fried Chicken

I made dinner for a friend the other night and I was feeling kind of at a loss as to what to do. Chicken is always a good affordable bet but I want to make it special and of course super tasty. This is the recipe I came up with and it was GOOD!

Asian fried Chicken
10 thin cut boneless skinless chicken breast
2 cups flour
2 T ground Ginger
1 1/2 T ground Nutmeg
1 T garlic powder
1 T corn starch
2 tsp salt
2 tsp Ground black pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 T paprika
5 eggs
3 T water
1/2 inch veggie oil for frying

Heat the oil in frying pan. Combine flour and all the spices in a dish. Combine eggs and water to create an egg wash. designate one had your wet hand and one your dry (this makes you hands less likely to become globs of the flour and egg mixture) begin in the flour covering the chicken with the spiced flour mixture, then dip in the egg wash, then again in the flour, again in the egg wash and finally in the flour.  Place in the hot oil and fry for about 4-5 minutes per side till cooked completely through.

Honey soy glaze:
In a small sauce pot combine

1/2 c honey
4 garlic cloves minced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 scallion sliced
1 tsp pepper

Heat to simmer and allow to simmer for several minutes. Drizzle over the cooked chicken or on the side as a dipping sauce.

My one and only girl so far Emery Jade turned three yesterday! It seems like yesterday we were welcoming her into our home full of boys! Here are some fun facts about Emery:

• She was born prematurally at 35 weeks, but went home with us right away, just had to be in a car bed cause she was so tiny!
• She is GIRLY!! Which I completely encourage and love! We will see how long it lasts with all these boys!
• She LOVES to eat, her favorites are noodles and chicken, corn and cheese. She is not picky and eats very well!
• She loves babies and playing mommy.
• She LOVES her "boys" she always is asking when her boys will be home, she loves her brothers and is so kind and loving to them.
• She likes to think she is also the mom when it comes to her boys.
• Most pictures of her have the freezed mid word of Cheese grin. As pictured below
• If you ask her what she wants to be when she grows up she always replies a Mommy
• She wants to go to Preschool SO bad, and she is ready!
• She loves the Lion King and Mickey Mouse and all things princess.
• Her favorite dress is the one my mom made her for Miranda's wedding because, one it is big like a princess dress and two because Grandma made it.
• She is SO silly, she says the funniest things and does the cutest most silly things!
• She sounds like a cartoon character. 

one year old

And now three...freeze cheese grin!

 

And finally a pretty one. We are so very blessed to have this beautiful daughter in our home. She lights up our home. We are so proud of her and happy for her third Birthday! We love you Emery girl!

My Baby Carter is one!
When did the year fly by?!! It seems like it was just yesterday we were welcoming this little guy into our family.

Facts about Carter Steven Johnson

• He was born 4 weeks early weighing in at 6lbs 7 oz and was 19inches long
• He struggled breathing on his own.
• He took his first airplane ride before he was even 12 hours old
• He was in the NIcu for 10 days, on a ventilator for 24 hours and oxygen the rest of the time, till he could brethe on his own. One of his lungs was under developed.
• I stayed by his side the entire time he was in the NICU. At one point we thought we were going to loose him and it scared me completely, that when we were released and home I had MAJOR anxiety that something was still wrong and literaly didn't sleep for the first three months.
• He is a very calm and mellow boy but he lets you know when he is unhappy and tired.
• He is our chunky monkey, he has so many rolls on his arms that I call them his sleeves cause I can pull them up!
• He loves to eat any and all food, not a huge fan of bananas, but likes most other things.
• He weaned himself.
• He army crawled from 6 months to 9 when he finally decided to get a move on!
• He is our latest walker thus far as he hasn't started walking yet.
• He is a cuddler, he loves to be held, and when you put him down and he doens't want to be he flings his head inbetween his legs and cries or he will flail on to his stomach just like a temper tantrum!
• He is a momma's boy through and through!
• He has the sweetest little smile that brightens my day, he has dimples that are so adorable.
• He has an angry cry which is hillarious and really we need to record it but it is like he is cussing us out in baby talk of course, but it is like someone is crying at the same time as yelling, it really is quiet funny!
• He is our silent observer. He watches everyone intently.

I made him a train cake for his Birthday, he seemed very confused all day on his Birthday, and seemed to be wondering what the big deal was. He did enjoy the cake and prestents. I can't believe he is one! We are so happy for him to be in our family and so blessed by his beautiful sweet Spirit! We love you Carter!

Ughhh, the new school year has started and that means soccer is in full force. Just two and a half weeks in and I'm ready to be done.... Getting home at 6:30 monday- friday pretty much leaves our meals non-existent during the week at least. So I really haven't been cooking much... sad day I know! However, Darwin is gone this whole week, one more excuse not to cook but I wanted to post something and of course it has to do with cooking....

It is a kitchen aid Redo:

here is a link to the tutorial I used http://youcraftmeup.blogspot.ca/2010/06/kitchenaid-makeover.html, it was super easy and looks great. I LOVE my kitchen aid but after almost nine years of heavy use, it was sad looking, drap and man oh man was it gross! It worked out nicely because it had to get a good deep cleanng before it could be painted. Anyhow, no pictures sadly, but the tutorial has some and Mine went from white to black only I didn't stencil it.
 Have fun Spraying!

My younger sister got married!!!

Just got back from a wonderful vacation to Colorado. It had been over 2 years since I had been home to visit my family and if it weren't for my sister getting married we probably wouldn't have made it out.
I still can't believe she is married! It was a BEAUTIFUL wedding and I'm so honored to have been able to make her wedding cake for her. She had a vintage themed wedding and it was gorgeous! My dear sweet mother spent day after day at her sewing machine making all the dresses and ties and vest and bow ties, she made all the flowers and accesories as well. it was gorgeous! I was so happy to be able to be there and make the cake, I am so proud of my sister as well as making the choice to get married in the Temple, for time and all eternity.

The cake was a four teired marbled cake with a creamed raspberry filling, butter cream and ivory marshmellow fondant. It turned out beautiful!

 The cake was decorated with Lace and fondant pearls, an antique crystal dish, flowers and pearls from our mother and grandmother.

She sure was a beautiful bride! Congrats Miranda and Marshall we are so blessed to have been part of your special day!

Happy Birthday to My first Born
Denver!

Holy cow when did you get to be so big! I can't believe he turned seven!!

He wanted a baseball cake, unfortunately he little brother Carter was really sick and I was up ALL night the night before, so the cake was definately NOT my best work... But he was happy and that is what mattered.

Facts about Denver:

• He is the most kind and loving brother, he always shares so nicely with others without us even having to ask him to. He will always remember his siblings and bring them home things and share.
• He has lost six teeth, the most recently on his birthday! so fun!
• He loves ALL sports, currently his favorites are baseball and hockey. He is very athletic and is doing very well in swimming lessons.
• He LOVES being a brother. He is always willing and wanting to help me and loves babies, he is always asking me when will I have another baby because Emery needs a sister or he could use another brother!
• He is learning to read and is doing so well! He is very interested in learning and is excited about reading and being in the first grade next year.
• He taught himself to ride a bike with out training wheels. One day he just all of the sudden could do it, we never once held the back of the seat and ran along side...sad I know.
• He is very sensitive, he has a tender heart and really feels the pain of others.
• He loves to watch movies and just hang out as a family.
• His favorite foods are crab, sweet and sour chicken, chicken enchiladas, german pancakes and all things breakfast. He is getting to be quiet the eater and not picky, which I love! I'm scared for the up coming days where I'm sure he will eat us out of a home!
• He is looking forward to being baptised in a year and is using this year to prepare(his words not mine!)
• He loves to vacuum! Which works for me!
• He likes to change his clothes...seriously he changes clothes a couple times each day which DRIVES ME NUTS! but man do we love him anyways!

We are so truely blessed to have him in our family, he is a wonderful example to his siblings and a helper to me! I love how he teaches me and how he loves completely! Happy Birthday Denver! We love you!!

He also got a pretty cool birthday gift of having a cousin born on the same day! He thinks it is pretty darn cool!

Creamy Italian Chicken Pasta

So I decide to do something I don't do often... are you ready?....I know you are scared as to what I could be talking about... it is quite shocking really..... I pulled out my Crock pot! gasp I know! Don't get me wrong they are fabulous inventions, and very nice when used... however, it's the whole remembering to pull it out and use it BEFORE it is an hour till dinner that gets me EVERY time! Well I did it the other day adn the result was quite nice! So here you go...

Creamy Itailian Chicken

4 lg. frozen chicken breast
1 T minced garlic
1 pkg cream cheese (8oz)
1 can cream of Chicken soup
1 cup water
2 pkgs Italian dressing seasoning mix
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
salt and pepper to taste

1 box penne(or shape of choice) pasta cooked Al dente

Throw frozen chicken, garlic, cream cheese, soup, seasonings, water and cheese into crock pot. Cook on low for four hours. Season with salt and pepper and toss with pasta. Devour...

Forest Waterfall Cake

So about a week ago I was asked to do some sketches for some cakes for an event here in town. The Forest Service was celebrating their 40th year of volunteers, so I drew up several sketches along with prices and they picked from them. They were on a budget so I was only gonna do one layer of cake on each teir rather than the normal two, which would be more on point for the servings they wanted and the price... however once I got making it...it just wouldn't have looked right with only one layer of cake, so needless to say they got a steal. It was lots of work but lots of fun, however it was hard because I got sick along with the kids...no fun, My hands are raw from washing them so much! But it was worth it!




the front, everything is edible except the stump :) If I were to do anything differently I would listen to Darwin and do the fondant under the water fall blue rather than white as the "water" did kind of run off the edges and you could see the white underneath. over all it was a success!

The back side of the cake, I used a chocolate marshmellow fondnat recipe that I'd never worked with before and it cracked like crazy but I left it for this cake as it was rustic and dirt/bark like.

Now I'm going to bed!

Here is the most Recent of my cakes. This was for Darwin's cousin reception that was in Burns last weekend. It is a walnut carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. The carrot cake was a HUGE hit...it is a really tasty recipe so I thought what better place to share than on my blog :) So here it is....


Carrot Cake:

2 cups Sugar

1 ½ cups Oil

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking powder

2 cups flour

2 tsp cinnamon

3 cups grated carrots (sometimes up to 5 cups)

1 cup chopped walnuts

Cream sugar and oil until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla, and beat well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture. Mix on low speed just until moist. Fold in carrots and nuts. Bake at 350' for 50-60 minutes in greased and floured pan.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 stick of butter . softened

16 oz box of powdered sugar

8 oz package softened cream cheese

½ tsp vanilla

½ tsp lemon juice

Mix butter and cream cheese. Add powder sugar and beat well. Add vanilla and lemon juice and mix it in. Frost cake when cool

And here is one more recipe for kicks... so like the recipe says you should grease and flour your pans...this is kindof a pain and you are always wondering anxiously...did I grease and flour it enough...will the cake come out. Until alas, you flip that pan over and nothing happens.... well us cake people that do lots of cakes use something called cake release...

it is an 8 oz bottle and usually goes for about $5.00...now that can get pretty spending if you use it alot like I do....so I did alittle googling and found a homemade version and man oh man I'll never buy that kind again!

 So here it is for you all...

Cake Release

1 part veg oil

1 part shortnening

1 part flour

 whipped till combined and smooth Store in air tight container stir if necessary before use. I store it in a mason jar.

Happy Easter! Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter holiday, we had great fun filled with Esater egg hunts, good food, friends and great lessons about the resurection. I did the resurection egg lesson that I do every year and started crying as my kids knew exactly what item represented before I had a chance to tell them or read the scriptures. I was so proud of them and it reassured me that we were doing a good job teaching them the things they need to know. I'm doing yet another wedding cake this weekend and it is going to be carrot cake. The bride really wanted to use her mom's recipe and I thought I better do a test run to check the recipe. So I made an Easter cake. Great Fun! Now I'm trying to unclog my kitchen sink so I can get all the prep done for the wedding cake! And I really Don't want to call a plumber!! AHHHHH! Pictures of the wedding cake will come soon!

Chicken Bacon Pinwheels with a Garlic Cream Sauce

6 boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled, reserve some of the grease
1 large shallot small diced
2 clove garlic minced
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
milk (as needed to thin sauce out)
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Sliced Chives, garnish

saute the shallots and garlic in a bit of reserved bacon fat. Place in a bowl and add the bacon and cream cheese. Mix till well combined. Pound out the chicken breast till thin, and season each side with salt and pepper. Then spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture (you will have extra) over the chicken. Roll chicken up into a pinwheel and secure with a tooth pick. Saute the chicken in a bit of the reserved bacon fat until fully cooked. In a small sauce pan add remaining cream cheese mixture, add Parmesan cheese and enough milk to make a thin sauce.  Remove chicken from pan and allow to rest 5 minutes. Remove the tooth picks and then slice, drizzle the sauce over the chicken and finish with the chives, serve hot and enjoy!

Green Chili Enchiladas are currently one of my favorite things...I don't know if it the sauce or the cream cheese I put in the filling or what but man oh man they are SO good!  Here's what I do:

makes about 24

5-6 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 T garlic powder
1 T onion powder
1 T cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 T veggie oil
1 onion, diced
1 T minced garlic
1 can diced green chillies
1 pkg cream cheese
24 flour tortillas( you can use corn but I prefer flour)
1 large can green chili enchilada sauce of choice
1 lb grated Monterrey Jack cheese

Toss the chicken in the Garlic onion, cumin, salt pepper, pepper flakes and oil. Place on a baking tray and bake at 350` till cooked through. Set aside to cool and rest. In a large pan, saute the onions and garlic till golden. Add the green chilies and cream cheese. Stir to allow the cream cheese to melt completely. Dice the cooled chicken into small cubes. Add chicken to the cream cheese mixture and mix well. Scoop into flour tortillas and roll, place on tray. Top with the canned enchilada sauce and then top with cheese. Bake at 350` for about an hour, serve hot with rice and beans on the side!

Here is Porter with his Stars wars cake! I had to laugh because my kids like me have never really seen Star wars, but it was all he wanted and all he could talk about. He loved it but was bummed that the legs didn't move... Sorry son I'm not going to get in to mechanical cakes!

I can't believe he is five! Here are some facts and things we LOVE about Porter:

• I think he is going to one day legally change his name to Porter Cowboy, he loves everything  and when asked his name Porter Cowboy is what you get.
• We thought we were going to loose him at six months old, when he had his Craniosynostosis surgery. One of the scariest things I've ever experienced. We have been so blessed that he did so well and continues to do well.
• If you ask him about his scar on his head he will tell you a long story about how Parker hit him in the head with a hockey stick and gave him that scar....?
• He loves to play independently, he will find one thing whether it is cars or his soldiers and play by himself for hours.
• Some of his favorite toys are cars, his little green soldiers, his horses and cowboy things of course, dinasours, and his fighter jets.
• He loves all sports, but is really good at basketball. He is excited to start T-ball here in a few weeks.
• He has inherited some of his father's OCD... it really is quiet annoying. He likes things a certain way and doesn't handle change well. For example when he is coloring all of the crayons have to be in a certain order and in a line, if someone needs a color he has, he can't handle it... thus we have a huge bucket of crayon in our house to eliminate any fighting over the yellow crayon. :)
• His favorite color is green.
• some of his favorite foods are, cheese roll ups, any and all things breakfast, steak and green beans and broccoli.
• He is our story teller and comedian, for a kid who didn't say anything other than screams till he was almost three we sure can't seem to get him to be quiet now!!
• He loves to sing and be silly, he loves to give hugs and kisses.
• He loves babies, and there is rarely a prayer that is said by him in which he doesn't pray for more siblings....(his Dad is so proud)
• He is our tough guy, he is always trying to wrestle or box his siblings and he is the one that if he gets hurt he most often just shruggs it off.

We are so very blessed to have Porter part of our family, he brings joy and comedy into it daily. He is such a character and wesure do love him and hope he had a wonderful birthday and felt how much we love him!

Chicken and noodles with Thai Peanut Sauce

This is going to be our dinner tonight! Chicken and Noodles with a Thai Peanut Sauce. My hopes are that my kids will hear peanut Butter and noodles and chicken and will not only try it but love it as well!
Here is the recipe and I'll have to post latter how it went over :)
3 T plus 1 tsp soy sauce
2 T plus 2 tsp lime juice
1 T plus 1 T cooking oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
3/4 lb spaghetti
3 scallions

In a medium bowl marinate the chicken with 3 T soy, 2 T lime juice and 1 T oil, garlic and ginger. Coat chicken well and marinate for at least ten minutes. In a sauce pan combine the remaining soy, lime. Add the peanut butter, broth, sugar, salt, and red pepper flakes. Remove chicken from marinade and add marinade to the other ingredients in the sauce pan. Bring to a high simmer and whisk till smooth. Heat a grill pan and grill the chicken till cooked. Cook the pasta till al dente. add remaining oil to a frying pan, add the cooked chicken  and pasta and sauce. Add the scallions and toss well. Serve hot.

My Dear sweet son Parker turned 4 yesterday! it is crazy to think he is four already! Even more crazy to realize he and Porter are the same age now! Even though it is only for 2 weeks! He wanted a ninja turtle cake so a sculpting I went! It turned out pretty good except for as I went to place the fourth ninja turtle on the cake it slip and fell to ground and shattered...ooops.. oh well he still was happy with the cake.

Parker is such a joy to have in our home! He has blessed our family so very much. Facts about Parker....

• He is very mischievous and I swear the wheels are always turning in his head planning his next move or plan of attack.
•  He is our pickiest eater, some of his favorites are chicken nuggets(so much that he asked Santa for a bag for Christmas!) hot dogs, pretty much any type of meat and shrimp, french fries and pancakes.
• He likes to chew on things (I blame this on the fact that as a baby he would NOT take a binky or bottle...but that is just my theory) So if it is nerf or plastic, rubber or fabric beware. He once ate an entire nerf football...no joke it is strange and disturbing.
• He loves to hug and kiss his brothers and sister, he is so sweet and kind and always worried when one of them is crying or hurt.
• He has a sweet spirit and is already a little missionary. He always remembers to pray at meal times even if he is at school he will bless his lunch. He bore his testimony at Church for the first time and it consisted of him singing a primary song over the pulpit.
• He is very athletic like all my boys and is very excited to get to play T-ball here in a couple of weeks.
• He is very very smart. He can spell and write correctly each of his family members names and can repeat words of a song after hearing them only once. I wonder if his memory is almost photographic or something.
• His favorite things to play with are his Dinosaur World and dinosaur tail, pretty much anything dress up even if it is his sisters princess costumes, and he loves to color.
• He is soft spoken and very obedient.
• Most recently he figured out how to climb on top of the refrigerator...something mom is not happy about. Hopefully our chat about safety will stick!

We love him so very much and we are so blessed to have him in our eternal family! Hope that he had a wonderful day full of fun, love, presents and cake! Love you Parker!

Tuscany White Bean and Chicken Pasta

This was our dinner last night and super easy and tasty

3 Boneless skinless chicken breast
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 squeeze anchovy paste (you may think you don't like anchovies but really you do...the paste is great cause then you don't have to touch  them)
1/2 onion diced
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 can white beans
1 pkg penne pasta
3 T prepared pesto
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and saute in some olive oil till cooked, remove from pan and let rest. Add the onions and garlic and anchovy paste to the pan, cook till soft and paste is melted. Add tomatoes and beans and pesto. Meanwhile cook pasta till al dente. Slice chicken and add to the beans and tomatoes. Season to taste. Add pasta and toss well, add Parmesan cheese and serve with crusty bread.

Wow, it has been over a month since I posted last and I swear, I've been cooking pretty much every night...it's just been crazy. I'm seeing a preview of what my life will be like sooner rather than later, with all five of the kids being in school and sports and activities...and we are still only in kindergarten and preschool! Ahhhh! Oh well, we are very blessed. Here is what I made for dinner last night and I liked it, my kids didn't eat much of it but that really doesn't say much as they are picking eaters regardless of what I make!
Growing up my mom would make us chicken roll, I don't remember what all it had in it other than cream cheese and chicken and you dip it in cream of chicken soup although I'm sure I have her recipe...somewhere. Anyhow, well talking to my sister Jessica the other day and she said they had chicken roll the other night and when she said it it sounded so good...so I decided to make it, but I wanted to desperately use up some of the things in my fridge so I made my own version...
Italian Chicken Roll:
1/2 batch Never Fail Dinner Rolls found here http://simplehomegourmet.blogspot.com/2010/06/never-fail-dinner-rolls.html
1 pkg cream cheese softened
4 boneless skinless chicken breast marinated in Italian dressing seasoned with salt and pepper then grilled and sliced
1/4 cup pesto
2 T sun dried tomatoes, dice small
1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
salt and pepper to taste
egg wash
Alfredo or marinara for dipping(heated through)

Roll out the dough to a large rectangle. In a bowl combine the pesto, sun dried tomatoes and cream cheese, spread onto the center of the dough leaving about three inches on each side. Top with the cooked sliced chicken, top with the cheeses season with salt and pepper. Cut 1 in slices in the dough on the long sides of the rectangle leaving the ends in tack. fold ends over then weave or braid the strips of dough over the end pieces, creating a braided loaf. Coat with egg wash and sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese if desired. Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes until golden brown and bread is cooked through. Serve with warm marinara or Alfredo for dipping.  Enjoy!