Chicken Florentine In Puff Pastry Food

CHICKEN AND SPINACH IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE STYLE

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge the chicken in the flour to coat lightly. Shake off any excess flour. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until brown, about 5 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep it warm.
• Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and saute until the shallots are translucent, stirring to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, about 1 minute. Add the wine. Increase the heat to medium-high and boil until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the cream and boil until the sauce reduces by half, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Stir in the parsley. Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices to the sauce, and turn the chicken to coat in the sauce.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in another large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and saute until heated through. Season the spinach, to taste, with salt and pepper. Arrange the spinach over a platter. Place the chicken atop the spinach. Pour the sauce over and serve.

CHICKEN IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 14-in. square. Cut into four squares. , Spoon 2 tablespoons cream cheese into the center of each square; top with Muenster cheese and chicken., Whisk egg and water; lightly brush over edges. Bring opposite corners of pastry over each bundle; pinch seams to seal. Place seam side down on a greased baking sheet; brush with remaining egg mixture. , Bake at 400° for 18-22 minutes or until golden brown.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Pound chicken to 1/4-in. thickness; brush each with honey. Combine spinach and cheese; place about 2 tablespoons in the center of each chicken breast. Fold long sides over filling; fold ends up and secure with a toothpick. Place, seam side down, in a shallow pan. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. , In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic salt and pepper. In another shallow bowl, beat egg and milk. Dredge chicken in flour mixture, dip in egg mixture and roll in bread crumbs. , Heat oil in a deep-fat fryer to 375°. Fry chicken, several rolls at a time, for 1-1/2 minutes or until golden brown. Place in an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until juices run clear. Remove toothpicks before serving.

CHICKEN PICCATA POCKETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Beat cream cheese, lemon juice, salt and pepper on medium speed until well combined. Fold in capers and shallot., Unfold puff pastry; roll into a 12-in. square. Cut into 4 smaller squares. Spread cream cheese mixture over squares to within 1/4 in. of edges; top with chicken., Fold a corner of each pastry square over chicken, forming a triangle. Pinch triangle edges to seal and flatten with fork for tighter seal. Whisk egg and water; brush over pastry pocket, including edges. Discard leftover egg mixture. Pierce each pocket twice with a fork to vent., Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet until golden brown, 18-25 minutes. Remove from oven; cool 5 minutes. Serve pockets with lemon slices and parsley., Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked pockets on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet until firm. Transfer to an airtight container; return to freezer. To use, bake as directed, increasing time about 5 minutes.

CHICKEN, HAM AND SWISS CHEESE BAKED IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Lightly grease an 11 x 7-inch baking dish (if you are making 8 chicken pastries use a 13 x 9-inch baking dish).
• In a skillet melt the butter with oil.
• Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and cook until browned on both sides (about 8 minutes per side) then refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Set oven to 400 degrees.
• Unfold the pastry sheet and thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Roll out to a 14-inch square.
• Cut into 4 (7-inch) squares.
• Spread about 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard on the bottom of each square, then top with 1 slice of ham, then one (or two slices Swiss cheese.
• Place the browned chicken breast over the cheese.
• In a small bowl whisk together the egg and cold water, then brush the edges of the squares with the egg mixture.
• Fold the corners to center on top of the chicken, then seal the edges.
• Place seam-side down in preaped baking dish.
• Brush the tops with egg mixture.
• Bake for about 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

CHICKEN IN PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 430 degrees F.
• Combine cheese, basil, garlic, salt and pepper in processor until smooth and basil is finely chopped.
• Unfold both pieces of pastry carefully.
• Roll out on lightly-floured surface to 14 x 10 inch rectangle about 1/8 inch thick.
• Cut in half crosswise into 7 x 10 inch rectangle; repeat with second sheet of pastry.
• Spread ¼ of cheese mixture lengthwise, in approximate size of chicken breast, across center of each rectangle.
• Place chicken breast over, skinned side down.
• Lift long sides of pastry to meet in center over top of chicken; pinch overlap and short ends to enclose chicken snuggly.
• Trim away excess pastry leaving pinched overlap.
• Arrange seam side down, 2 inches apart, on a greased baking sheet; brush generously with beaten egg.
• Bake until puffed and golden and chicken is cooked through, 18-22 minutes.
• Note: Using Boursin Cheese in this recipe in place of the cream cheese is very nice, too.

CHICKEN WELLINGTON (PUFF PASTRY-WRAPPED CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Season the chicken breast with seasoning salt and pepper on all sides.
• Heat butter and oil in a skillet.
• Brown the breasts on all sides until almost completely cooked through; transfer to a plate.
• To the same skillet add in onions, garlic and sliced mushrooms; saute until the mushrooms lose their moisture and the onions are tender.
• Stir in parsley.
• On a floured surface, roll out each puff pastry sheet to a 14-inch square.
• Cut into four even 7-inch squares (you should have 8 squares total).
• Place each breast over each puff pastry square.
• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• In a small bowl combine the softened cream cheese with mustard, then spread over EACH breast.
• Then top with about 2-3 tablespoons mushroom/onion mixture.
• Brush the edges of each pastry square with water.
• Wrap pastry around the chicken breast, pressing edges to seal tightly.
• Place seam-side down on greased baking sheets.
• Brush the tops with egg wash.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
• Serve with mushroom sauce over the Wellington or on the side of the plate.
• Delicious!