Better Than Martha's Chicken {What's for Dinner? 3/8/2010}

Parmesan & Parsley Crusted Chicken Breasts
w/ Goat Cheese & Basil Orzo

We didn't plan on changing this recipe at all, but we accidentally bought skinless chicken breasts instead of skin-on. At first I was annoyed but then we realized we could adapt it and hopefully make it work out okay. And guess what? I actually think our version looks and sounds BETTER than the Martha Stewart version. Take THAT, Martha!


Parmesan & Parsley Crusted Chicken Breasts
Adapted from this recipe

Prep: 10 minutes Total: 55 minutes
Serves 4.

Ingredients


* 1 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
* 1/4 cup plain dried breadcrumbs
* 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
* Grated zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tablespoon)
* Coarse salt and ground pepper
* 4 bone-in, skinless chicken breast halves (about 3 pounds)


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a small bowl, mix parsley, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and zest. Season the chicken breasts with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Beat one or two eggs and place in a shallow dish.
2. Dip each chicken breast in the beaten egg and then into the parsley/breadcrumb mixture. Place in a 9-by-13-inch roasting pan sprayed with Pam.
3. Bake until topping is golden brown, chicken is cooked through, and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the meat registers 165 degrees, about 30-45 minutes.


Goat Cheese & Basil Orzo
Source: Me

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orzo
• 1 tsp salt
  
• A handful of baby spinach, chopped or torn into pieces
  
• 1 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
  
• 2 Tbsp goat cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt & pepper, to taste

Directions

Cook orzo according to package directions. Once cooked, drain it and then immediately return it to the hot pan. Toss in the spinach stir into the pasta so it wilts a bit. Then put in the goat cheese, basil, cherry tomatoes, olive oil and salt & pepper. Toss and then eat!


This is what we deal with as we eat dinner at night {and yes, we do frequently eat off of the coffee table...don't judge. At least there are placemats!}. She sets her face on the table and then sticks her tongue out like a lizard hoping to find some food.