Chicken Parmesan
I’m not sure why it is but for some reason my students really want me to have kids. They seem pretty obsessed with asking me why I don’t have kids, telling me I’d be a good mom, and really just aren’t satisfied with my answer of “you are all my children!”
In truth, I don’t feel unfulfilled without kids. I have these pets which I take great joy in anyway.
Quite frankly, however, I think spoiling pets is a little overboard. I’ve seen dog weddings. Some people give their pets only bottled water. Some people cook all their pets’ food. That’s not really our style. I must confess something though. We’re thinking about having a birthday party for our dog Blue.
I think birthday parties for dogs are stupid. But I really want to have one. She’s going to be 10 this year. Our friends just lost their 10 year old shepherd to cancer. Celebrating her life while she’s alive is important to me. Coincidentally, her birthday is within 2 days of my husband’s (by the way, we made up her birthday since she came from a shelter when she was approximately 4 months old) and I think having a birthday party for your dog is way better than having one for your husband.
If I was throwing a birthday party for the Omnivore and I was serving his favorite things, I’d have to serve chicken parmesan for dinner. The man is drawn to this dish. If it is on a restaurant menu he HAS to order it. He can’t go out for Italian unless he’s craving chicken parm because he simply can’t consider any other option.
When I go out of town and he fends for himself for dinner, he buys frozen, breaded chicken breasts and, using jarred spaghetti sauce, approximates his favorite meal. Do I even have to say he’s constantly disappointed?
After trying the version I made, I think from now on he’ll just wait until I get home to make him this meal. And maybe he can order something other than chicken parm at the local Italian joint. This dish was really good – and simple, too!
Chicken Parmesan (adapted from Dainty Chef)
Ingredients
For the chicken:
2 chicken breasts, slice lengthwise in half
1 cup breadcrumbs
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. dry basil
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. oregano
2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. melted SmartBalance Buttery spread
your favorite marinara sauce
mozzerella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Set a metal rack over a baking sheet, spray with nonstick spray, and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine all the ingredients up to the salt.
- Dip chicken in melted butter, roll in bread crumb mixture, and transfer to prepared baking rack.
- Pour remaining melted butter over the breaded chicken.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken.
- When there is about five minutes or so left, spread a thin layer of marinara sauce and top off with the sliced mozzarella cheese. Continue cooking until cheese is melted.
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