Chef Boy I Be Illinois Baked Chicken Parmesan Food

CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Using kitchen shears, trim off any white tendons at the ends of the tenderloins. Using the palm of your hand, gently flatten the tenderloins so that they are an even ¼-inch thickness. Season the chicken all over with 1¼ teaspoons of the salt and ½ teaspoon of the pepper.
• In a large shallow bowl, combine the panko, ¾ cup of the Parmigiano Reggiano, the oregano, the thyme, the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt, and the remaining ¼ teaspoon pepper. Mix well, making sure there are no clumps of cheese.
• Place the flour in another shallow bowl. Beat the eggs in a third bowl. Set up a breading station in this order: flour, eggs, panko. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper for easy clean up. Dredge the chicken in the flour, coating evenly; dip in the eggs, letting any excess drip off; then dredge in the panko mixture, turning and patting to adhere. Place the breaded chicken on the prepared baking sheet. (The recipe can be prepared up to this point, covered, and refrigerated up to 8 hours ahead of time.)
• Preheat the broiler and set an oven rack about 4 inches from the heating element. Bring the marinara sauce to a simmer over low heat. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking (with store-bought sauce, I find a generous pinch of sugar and fresh basil go a long way). Cover and keep warm.
• Line another baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment for easy clean up; set aside. In a large nonstick skillet, heat about ⅛ inch of oil over medium heat until shimmering. Place 5 or 6 tenders in the pan in a single layer and cook until the first side is golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Place the cooked chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Cook the remaining chicken in the same manner, adding additional oil only if necessary. You may need to lower the the heat as you go, so that the chicken doesn't brown before it is cooked through.
• Sprinkle the fontina and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano over the center of the chicken tenderloins, leaving the sides bare so that they remain crispy. Broil until the cheese is melted and bubbling, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a serving platter or individual plates. Spoon the marinara sauce over the cheese, again leaving the sides bare so that they stay crispy. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: The chicken tenders can be breaded and refrigerated up to 8 hours before pan-frying. The chicken is best and crispiest when fried right before baking, but it can also be fried up to 4 hours in advance and refrigerated. Reheat the chicken in a 350°F oven until warmed through, 15 to 20 minutes, before adding the cheese and proceeding with the recipe.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The breaded chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze the chicken on the baking sheet until firm, about 1 hour, then transfer to a resealable freezer bag or layer in an airtight container with sheets of parchment between the tenders. Defrost in the refrigerator before cooking.

THE BEST CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Line another rimmed baking sheet with foil. Cut two 12-inch sheets of plastic wrap.
• Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, making 4 roughly equal pieces; they should look like large chicken tenders. Place one sheet of plastic on a clean cutting board. Put one chicken piece in the center of the plastic and top with the other sheet of plastic. Pound the chicken with the flat side of a meat mallet, starting in the center and working your way to the edges, until the chicken is 1/4-inch thick. Transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken, one piece at a time. Liberally sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Put the flour in a pie plate and dredge the chicken 1 piece at a time, turning to coat and packing the flour into the crevices. Shake to remove any excess and return to the rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Whisk the breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Whisk the milk and egg in a medium bowl until combined. Dip the dredged chicken into the milk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Then pack the seasoned breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken. Very gently
• shake off any excess and return to the rack. Refrigerate uncovered at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat 1/3 cup of the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes and cook until very fragrant but not brown, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, basil and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the tomatoes are very tender and the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Smash the tomatoes with a potato masher until almost smooth; it's ok if it's a little chunky. Season with salt.
• Heat the remaining 1/2 cup oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cutlets and cook until the coating is golden brown, about 1 minute per side; the chicken will not be cooked through. Transfer to the foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer 3 inches apart. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Arrange an oven rack directly under the broiler and preheat to high. Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, spaced 3 inches apart. Top each cutlet with 2/3 cup of the sauce and spread evenly to coat. Sprinkle each cutlet with 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Broil until the cheese melts and starts to brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the spaghetti, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain and transfer to the remaining sauce. Gently stir until the sauce coats the pasta. Transfer the spaghetti to a serving dish and top with the chicken. Sprinkle with more Parmesan and serve with torn basil.

CHEF-BOY-I-BE-ILLINOIS' BAKED COD CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Combine cod, tomatoes, wine, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper in medium sauce pan. Simmer until fish flakes easily, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, slice potatoes and onion.
• Place half of the potatoes and onion in bottom of greased 10 inch square baking dish, lightly sprinkling with salt and pepper.
• Place flaked cod evenly over the top, and lightly salt and pepper.
• Pour one half of tomato sauce over this.
• Place remaining potatoes and onion on top, sprinkling lightly with salt and pepper, and then the remaining sauce.
• Cover with foil and bake approximately 45 minutes until potatoes are tender.
• Combine breadcrumbs and cheese and sprinkle over top of casserole and bake uncovered 15 minutes more. Can broil for a couple minutes to brown the top if desired.
• Let stand five minutes before serving.

CHEF BOY-I-BE-ILLINOIS' CHICKEN MARSALA

Steps:

• Pound the chicken breasts to 1/4 inch thickness, salt and pepper to taste.
• Brown in olive oil over medium high heat.
• After turning breasts over, add pancetta and oregano to pan while breast brown on other side.
• Add marsala wine, tomato paste and mushroom and allow sauce to reduce by one half.
• Scoop some of the mushrooms over each breast and top with a slice of provolone cheese.
• Cover skillet just until cheese melts.
• Serve by pouring marsala sauce over the breasts.

CHEF-BOY-I-BE-ILLINOIS' PORK TENDERLOIN ROSA DI PARMA

Steps:

• Combine sage, garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Cut a lengthwise slit down center of tenderloin to within 1/2 inch of bottom. Open tenderloin so lays flat, then on each half make another lengthwise slit down the center to within 1/2 inches of bottom. Cover with wax paper and flatten to 1/4 inch thickness. You can use a meat mallet, or do as I do and save an empty wine bottle with a long neck (usually white wine) so you have a place to hold onto while whacking.
• Spread the flattened tenderloin with the spice mixture from the first step, using your palm to cover the entire surface. Then top the seasoned tenderloin with ham slices, the spinach and spread 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano over the spinach, leaving a 1-inch border. Starting with a long side, roll up tenderloin so the stuffing is in a spiral pattern; then tie the roasts at 2-inch intervals with kitchen string. I personally think it's easier to use toothpicks rather than string. Lightly season outside with salt and pepper (don't overdo it because the ham and parm are salty).
• Bake uncovered, at 425°F for 25-30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160°F Transfer to serving platter, and allow to stand for 10 minutes before removing strings (or toothpicks) and slicing into four equal servings.

CHEF-BOY-I-BE-ILLINOIS' BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Whisk together the sour cream, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce and anchovy paste in a wide, shallow bowl (a pie plate works perfectly). The mixture will be quite thick, but that helps it adhere to the chicken and for the crumbs to adhere as well.
• Combine breadcrumbs, cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper, and oregano in another wide shallow bowl.
• Season both sides of breasts with remaining salt and pepper.
• Coat both sides of each breast first in the sour cream mixture, then in the bread crumb mixture.
• Place on a wire rack that is over a foil lined baking sheet that will accommodate the size of your rack.
• Spray both sides of each breast with olive oil cooking spray.
• Bake for 30 minutes at 450F until coating is nicely browned, then turn down to 400F and continue baking for approximately 30 minutes until a meat thermometer registers 165°F.
• You can use the time your chicken is baking to make some polenta to go along with it, and maybe some nice cauliflower gratin Recipe #360354.