homemade crockpot sauce and chicken parmesan

So I can't take one ounce of credit for this meal .. in fact I went to the gym while my hubby cooked .. he's pretty grand! :) But this is my favorite meal .. I love Italian food!

We had a surplus of tomatoes that people had given us and simply couldn't eat them all .. so we decided that homemade tomato sauce was the answer! And what better meal to pair it with then Chicken Parmesan? This was the first time Justin had made homemade sauce .. and to make it super easy it was in the crockpot!

This is not necessarily a quick meal but would be very easy to make ahead and freeze for another time. Of course you can also substitute for a less  homemade version .. or make it even more homemade by making your own bread crumbs!

Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti and Tomato Sauce

To make the Chicken

Ingredients

• 4 thinly sliced, boneless, skinless chicken breasts 
• 1 cup of Italian bread crumbs
• 1 egg
• 1-2 cups of tomato sauce
• 1 cup of mozzarella or Parmesan cheese

1. Dip each chicken breast first in the egg and then in the bread crumbs.
2. Brown in a pan until each side is golden and crispy. Transfer to a baking dish.
3. Take  a spoon and spread a layer of sauce over top of the chicken breasts. Cover with cheese.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for around 20 mins.

To make the sauce

Ingredients

• 1 small can of tomato paste
• 6 cups of diced tomatoes
• 1 onion chopped
• 2 garlic cloves or 1 tablespoon of garlic powder 
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano 
• 1 tablespoon basil
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt and pepper

1. Use a food processor to chop tomatoes and onion into small pieces.
2. Combine all ingredients in Crockpot. Cook on low for around 3 hours. Stir frequently.

Enjoy with a side of spaghetti noodles with tomato sauce, garlic bread, and salad! Yum!

Oh, and don't forget to have your husband also make homemade cookies .. while your at the gym .. yes I see the irony in that! :)