A Blissful time with the Johnsons

About 2 or 3 weeks ago we had our cousins, Holly and Steven, over for dinner and a Family Home Evening. They usually live in Utah, but lucky for us they are living here for the semester! It was so wonderful to visit with them and catch up on what their life plans are. They have the cutest, sweetest little girl. She is SO strong. She could hang on the chin up bar all by herself! Wow! Go Emma. She is about 6 months older than Bryce. BUT since Bryce is so big they are about the same size. So it would really throw me off when she would respond so much differently, so much more advanced rather, than Bryce. I couldn't quite get it in my head that she was 6 months older so I kept thinking things like, "Oh no! Bryce can't do that. Oh Bryce doesn't do that yet! Should Bryce be doing that? How come Bryce doesn't recognize that." etc. I was all worried and had to keep reminding myself that she is older.
The night was great like I said all except for one thing. ME! I was over an hour late with dinner!!!! Yikes! I felt so so bad. Luckily it was pretty yummy, but still! Geesh Sara, you gotta get your act together when you invite people over. They even brought a side dish and dessert! Which were both amazing and I'm dying to set the recipe for both. They were so patient and helped out a lot. THANK YOU JOHNSONS for your help and endurance!
My half of the menu:

CHICKEN PICCATA (taken from Ina on Food Network)

Ingredients

nocoupons

• 2 split (1 whole) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 extra-large egg
• 1/2 tablespoon water
• 3/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
• Good olive oil

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

Place each chicken breast between 2 sheets of parchment paper or plastic wrap and pound out to 1/4-inch thick. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.

Mix the flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper in a shallow plate. In a second plate, beat the egg and 1/2 tablespoon of water together. Place the bread crumbs on a third plate. Dip each chicken breast first in the flour, shake off the excess, and then dip in the egg and bread crumb mixtures.

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan over medium to medium-low heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 2 minutes on each side, until browned. Place them on the sheet pan and allow them to bake for 5 to 10 minutes while you make the sauce.

Alfredo Sauce (My Aunt Lizzy's recipe)

2 cups whipping cream
1 1/2 cups sour cream
2/3 cups grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp white pepper (can use black pepper as well)

Just barely bring to a light boil in a saucepan and serve. Yum.

...and Fruit salad with yogurt mixed in.

See... that is not even very much. Is that really all I made? Wow, pathetic really. Was there something else? Hmmm....However, I figured out later why I was so off on my time. When I make the recipe for John and I we double it. But I had to quadruple it for all of us. I just didn't realize how much extra time that would take. Now I know at the expense of the Johnsons =(

But in the end it was a marvelous meal and night. Love you Johnsons!

P.S.

I REMEMBER!!! I also made YUMMY SALAD

~Yummy Salad Recipe

1/3 c. sliced almonds (toasted)

1/3 c. chow mein noodles (toasted)

2 tsp. sesame seeds (toasted)

8 c. torn romaine lettuce or spring mix (I've always used romaine)

4 green onions w/ tops (diced)

1 c. cooked wheat berries

5 (or more) bacon slices (cooked and crumbled)

Dressing

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. sugar

2 tbl. white wine vinegar (I have always used Distilled White Vinegar because that's what I have in my pantry and I don't know what white wine vinegar is all about=)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

In a baking pan, combine almonds, noodles, and seeds. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Set aside.

In a jar with a tight fitting lid-- combine oil, sugar, vinegar, salt and pepper. Shake well. If left to sit, this will seperate--shake again.

In a large bowl toss lettuce, onions, and wheat berries. Just before serving add the toasted almond mixture, bacon, dressing and TOSS!

AND here is the recipes from the food the Johnsons brought---super good!

Pecan Pie Bars

Crust:

3C flour

1/2 C. sugar

1 C. soft butter

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in the butter. Should become crumbly. Mix and press into a greased cookie sheet 15*10. Bake at 350 for 20 min.

Topping:

4 eggs

1 1/2 C light corn syrup

1 1/2 C. sugar

3 T melted butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 C. chopped pecans

Spread evenly over hot crust. Cook entire sheet at 350 for 20-35 minutes or until edges are done.

Oven Fried Taters

6 large potatoes

1/4 C. of oil

2 T. grated Parmesan Cheese

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. paprika

1/2 tsp. pepper

Cut potatoes as desired (wedges, fries etc). Put all ingredients in bag & mix. Then add potatoes and mush and mix. Spray pan or lay foil and spray. Spread out on in single layer on cookie sheet 400 for 20-30min. or longer if crisp. Golden & Tender. Possibly stir once during cook.