moments of mmm

Hello all! So sorry that I fell off the face of the Earth. Life gets complicated and sometimes you just need time to focus on a few things, and sadly this blog got put on the back burner. I am back though and ready to share some truly amazing dishes I have created over the course of a few months. There is lots of bacon and even some brussel sprouts! I know that totally sparked your interest

Today, we’re focusing on that interesting day we call Valentine’s.

There are so many things you could get your significant other on this so-called holiday of love. The classics of course are roses or a nice dinner out. But what about a dinner in? Several people actually asked me this week what suggestions I had for treating that special person in their lives. While I found it surprising that people were actually asking ME romantic advice, I think I have found the perfect gift that never gets old and you can re-use year after year.

Make your Valentine dinner and I promise he or she will literally melt. It’s truly the best way to say I love you.

If you’re totally procrastinating for that day like me and have no idea what to make, here is a super simple, super elegant and amazingly tasty take on chicken parmesan.

Can someone say holy run on sentence? Forgive me.

Chicken Parmesan

serves 2

1 cup homemade sauce or your favorite jarred marinara sauce (simple red sauce recipe follows)

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (sub any kind of breadcrumb)

1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 chicken breasts, pounded until 1/2 inch thick

3 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves stripped from sprig

1 sprig fresh rosemary, chopped

lemon zest

salt and pepper

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (try to find a block of good mozzarella and shred yourself!)

1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Warm pasta sauce in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat. In a small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and parmesan cheese. Set aside.

Meanwhile, pound out chicken breasts between two pieces of wax paper or in a plastic bag until it is 1/2 inch thick.

Season chicken with fresh thyme, rosemary, lemon zest, salt and pepper.

Heat olive oil over medium heat in a saute pan. Once pan is hot, add chicken breasts and cook each side for 3-4 minutes. The chicken should be seared well on both sides.

Transfer breasts into a small baking dish. Ladle over each breast, about a 1/2 cup of sauce, 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese, 1/4 cup of the breadcrumb-cheese mixture and dot with butter.

Place under a broiler on HIGH for 5-10 minutes or until the crust browns and the cheese melts. Garnish with fresh basil.

Serve with crusty bread and a green salad. A simply elegant meal.

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If you want to go the extra step–make homemade sauce! This one comes together in about 20-25 minutes, so there is no excuse to skip from scratch!

Easy Red Sauce from Scratch

makes about 2 cups

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 medium onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, minced

14 ounce can diced tomatoes (San Marzano are really tasty!)

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme

1/4 teaspoon fresh rosemary

3 leaves of fresh basil, chopped (unless your tomatoes have basil already in them!)

salt and pepper

Directions

Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Add in chopped onion and cook until translucent and slightly brown. About 5-6 minutes. Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add diced tomatoes, tomato paste and fresh herbs. Simmer over medium-low heat for 20-25 minutes or until sauce thickens. Taste and season with salt and pepper. I like mine chunky, but you can puree it if you prefer that!

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