CHICKEN PARMESAN with SPINACH

So last Saturday night I attended my first hockey game of the year.  Some may think that I go to all or most of the games, but that thinking would be incorrect.  Really the only time I go to a game is when I have family in town, or to see friends.   

So on this occasion my little cousin Matthew was in town with his girlfriend, Chanel.  My little cousin is way taller than me and is 24 years old, but he will always be my little cousin. 

Matthew is a giant hockey fan and was sooo excited just to go to a game in Florida, but when I took him up to the broadcast booth to see Billy, I think he almost peed in his pants.  

This is what the inside of the booth looks like; not as glamorous as one might have envisioned.

Billy, (aka, Handsome Husband) is telling Matthew and Chanel something totally fascinating about hockey!

This is the view from the top!  Notice how itty, bitty the people on the ice are.  With my old eyes  I am unable to make out the players on the ice; but no... I don't need glasses!

Going back in “The Way Back Machine”; on game days I ALWAYS had to prepare for Billy a big piece of chicken and a big ol’ bowl of pasta.  One of the chicken dishes I would make was Chicken Parmesan.  Well Chicken Parm is a festive dish, but to shake things up a little I invited sautéed spinach to the party…now sautéed spinach is on the permanent guest list!

Here's what you do.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Pound the chicken breasts so that they are an even thickness.

Make an assembly line with your flour, egg wash, and seasoned breadcrumbs. 

Dredge the chicken in flour, be sure to shake off the excess flour.

Dip the chicken into the egg wash.

Finally into the seasoned breadcrumbs.  Set to the side and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Saute the spinach in a large skillet in olive oil over medium high heat.  Be sure to season the spinach with a little salt and pepper.

All that spinach wilted down to this!  Put the wilted spinach into a strainer over a bowl to allow any liquid to drain off.

Use the same large skillet; unless you looove to do dishes, then use as many skillets as you like.  Cover the bottom of the skillet in olive oil.  Brown the chicken on each side for 3 to 5 minutes per side.

Place the browned chicken on a sheet pan or baking dish.

 

Layer on the spinach and tomato sauce.  I used this Easy Tomato Sauce.  Use whatever sauce you like.

The chicken that produced this breast was on steroids, so this giant piece of chicken required three slices of mozzarella.

Put into a hot oven for 15 to 20 minutes; until the chicken is cooked through, and the cheese is golden and bubbly.

Serve with your favorite pasta.

Do I even need to say it?  Yummo!

CHICKEN PARMESAN with SPINACH

Serves 4

4                                           Chicken breasts, boneless and skinless

½             cup                         Flour

2                                            Eggs

1              cup                         Panko breadcrumbs

½             cup                         Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1              tsp.                         Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning

           Salt and pepper to taste

1-6           oz. package              Baby Spinach

                                             Olive oil                                               

1              cup                         Tomato sauce or Marinara

8              oz.                          Fresh mozzarella, sliced into 8 slices

  1.       Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  2.       Pound the chicken breasts just to an even thickness.

  3.       You’ll need three shallow dishes.  In one dish add the flour. 

  4.       In another dish beat the eggs with just a splash of water.

  5.       In the last dish combine the Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, Herbs de Provence (or Italian seasoning), ½ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper.

  6.       Lightly dredge each piece of chicken first in the flour, then dip it into the egg wash, finally cover the chicken in the seasoned bread crumbs.  Set to the side.

  7.       In a large skillet, over medium high heat; sauté the spinach in a tablespoon of olive oil; season with just a pinch of salt and pepper.  When the spinach has just wilted remove it from the skillet to a strainer set over a bowl (to catch any liquid) and set it to the side.

  8.       Heat that same large skillet once again over medium high.  Add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan.

  9.       Brown the chicken in the hot skillet for 3 to 5 minutes on each side. 

  10.   Remove the browned chicken to a sheet pan or baking dish.

  11.   Top each piece of chicken with the wilted spinach, then tomato sauce, and finally cover the top with slices of mozzarella.

  12.   Cook the chicken in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes, until the chicken has cooked through and the cheese is bubbly and golden

13.   Allow the chicken to set for at least 5 minutes before serving.

  You may also like:

Chicken Mialanese

Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu