Chicken Parmesan Bake

Am I the only one that struggles with meal planning? Seriously, it can be so challenging to make the husband happy, the child happy and then myself happy! I had been wanting to try a recipe of stuffed peppers that a friend shared on Facebook, but I was quickly informed by the Mr. that stuffed peppers wouldn't be enough for him for dinner. So, I immediately racked my recipe file (uhhum brain) to try and come up with a dinner idea. Then I remembered today is Chicken Day at Fresh Market! I'm sharing this because SO many of you do not know about it! $2.99/lb hormone/antibiotic-free chicken breasts every Tuesday! How can you beat that and who doesn't LOVE going to Fresh Market!? I was super good today and bought my chicken and a pack of mozzarella cheese! That's it! Normally my cart has a few bottles of wine and of course some flowers, but today I was in a hurry, so no time for extra items!

Ok, so onto the recipe. I found this one on Pinterest and tweaked it a bit. This is a perfect and quick go-to meal AND toddler-approved. I've made this for new mom meals too! I quickly came home from Fresh Market and threw my chicken breasts in the crock pot with chicken broth on low and headed out for a showing. This recipe is seriously so easy.

Chicken Parmesan Bake

- 2-3 lbs cooked and shredded/diced chicken (I use my crockpot, but you could grill or bake, too)

- Large jar spaghetti sauce or tomato sauce 

- 2 cups (1 package) mozzarella cheese (you can also mix with shredded parmesan too) 

- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs

- 1 tbsp olive oil 

1. Shred your cooked chicken and set aside. (I couldn't live without my Pampered Chef Salad Choppers to do the job right) 

2. Spray a 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray.

3. Layer the shredded chicken on the bottom of the dish.

4. Layer the spaghetti sauce on top.

5. Sprinkle the cheese on top of that. 

6. In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of Italian breadcrumbs with 1 tbsp of olive oil. 

7. Sprinkle on top of cheese. 

8. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes.
9. Serve with a salad, bread, pasta or by itself!

Enjoy! 

Can I Please Press Pause?!

Well, it's been several months since I have posted and that makes me sad. I love my blog because it documents our life. When I am feeling nostalgic, I'll look back at old posts. I'll remember when I was pregnant or when I blogged about Charlotte's birth story and it brings me back to that moment and I literally get to re-live it. My blog is like my life documentary! But, I've busy with life- being a mom to Charlotte and wife to Kyle, working as a real estate agent, traveling almost every weekend and I've been blogging over at Jacksonville Moms Blog. So, I've neglected The Chance Clan and I'm so sad about that.

Photo: Meredith Black Photography

I recently just filled out a questionnaire for a photographer that we will be taking photos with next month and her questions brought about so many emotions. One of them being, "what do you want to remember about this moment of your life?". Wow, such a deep question. I realize that 6 months from now, life will be totally different and Charlotte will be in the next stage of toddlerhood and who knows what she will (or won't) be doing. So, for now, I want to remember the things that make me smile, the things I don't ever want to forget and the things she may never do again, come tomorrow.

• -The way she says "sit dowwwnn" when she wants us to read to her or wants us to watch her play.
• -The fact that she will FINALLY sit down for 10 minutes and actually watch a movie or show. Frozen or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I know most kids won't let their parents turn the TV off, but it is nice to be able to sit and snuggle and watch a movie! 
• -The excitement she gets from singing "Happy Birthday". It literally is her favorite song. 
• -Her "surprise/ohhh" face. Quite possibly the best thing ever and so cute! All we have to do is say, "Charlotte do you want a surprise?!" 
• -When she says, "I missed you Mommy/Daddy!" after one of us has been gone or just came home. 
• -When she talks to Macey or her wooden Gator toy and says, "Come on, Mace/ Come on, Gator" 
• -The way she "lines up at the door" when it is time to go to school. 
• -The fact that she eats broccoli with no objection and actually asks for it! 
• -The fact that she has to be wearing a bracelet at all times and if it is from mommy's jewelry box that makes it even better. 
• -The snuggles I *still get* at bedtime. (I told Kyle tonight, how much longer do you think she will do this?) 
• -When she puts her hands together for prayers at night and says, "Amen". 
• -The love she has for her cousins, grandparents and aunt and uncle. So sweet! 
• -How she says the names of her teachers and classmates at school. "Diannna, Jooosieee, Ryan, Ira, Paisley, Leighton."
• -The fact that we can drive by something and she knows where we are going (to school or the pool) 
• -How she loves her baby dolls, pats their back, swaddles them in a blanket and "shh"s them to sleep.
• -The fact that she always responds to my "I love yous" with a louder and better version. And now, even says, "I love you more" 

I feel like I will be editing this post forever, because the list is seriously never-ending. There are so many things that I want to remember and I wish I could "please press pause" to make this sweet, sweet time of her life never end. In less than a month, Charlotte will turn 2. It's so surreal, but I'm so proud of the sweet little girl she has become. I know with each age there will be good and bad, but right now I want to savor these sweet moments.

Charlotte Hazel: 22 months- Tremblant, Canada