Chicken Stuffed With Golden Onions And Fontina Food

CRANBERRY, FONTINA AND WALNUT STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Chicken -- now I like to take advantage of the frozen chicken breasts for this. They tender to be a bit smaller and once thawed are are bit easier to flatten out. I found some of the fresh boneless skinless breasts are so big they are actually too big for me, but use what ever you have. I just flatten mine with my mallet in between saran wrap, but you can use what method you like best.
• Filling -- In a medium sauce pan (use a oven proof pan) add 1 tablespoon of the butter and melt on medium heat. Add the celery, onion and garlic and just sweat on medium until they get nice and soft. Cook 4 minutes, then add in the cranberries and cook another 2 minutes and then the walnuts. Mix all until everything is soft and well combined. Remove and let cool slightly.
• Stuffing the chicken -- Just lay out your chicken breasts flat, salt and pepper and then add a little of the cranberry and vegetable stuffing. Top it with some fresh grated cheese. As I said, I love fontina, but you can use a gruyere or even swiss if you want. Then roll up the chicken. Just roll up and try to tuck in the sides as you go. I like to use a couple of tooth picks to secure it at the end.
• Dredging the Cooking -- Add flour, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper to a small bowl and the egg to a second bowl, now dredge each chicken in the egg and then the flour/breadcrumb mixture to coat well. Now, in the same pan you cooked the vegetables in add the remainder of the butter and olive oil and bring to medium high heat. Cook each chicken breast on all sides just a couple minute until lightly brown.
• Glaze -- Keep the chicken in that pan, it is going in the oven. But first, mix the apple jelly and sage and heat in the microwave in a measuring cup just 20 seconds to thin out. Then brush on the chicken on all sides. Transfer the pan to oven and cook on 375 for about 10-15 minutes, turn the chicken over half way through and brush on more glaze. until golden brown.
• Remove the chicken cover and let set a few minutes until the juices re distribute. Then slice into pretty slices and serve with my apple and onion wild rice. A nice farmers market green beans or roasted beets make this perfect.

CHICKEN BREASTS STUFFED WITH FONTINA CHEESE AND SPINACH

Steps:

• For sauce: combine wine, cream, lemon juice, vinegar, chopped shallot and pepper in medium saucepan.
• Boil until reduced to ¼ cup, about 8 minutes (can be prepared 1 day ahead).
• For chicken: Pound each chicken breast between sheets of wax paper to 7 x 4 inch rectangle.
• Place smooth side down on work surface.
• Rub ½ tsp olive oil and ½ tsp minced garlic over each chicken breast.
• Sprinkle each with 1/3 cup of Fontina cheese.
• Top each with 3 spinach leaves, overlapping if necessary.
• Starting at short end, tightly roll up chicken, jelly-roll style.
• Tie with string in several places (can be prepared 8 hours ahead).
• Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
• Heat remaining 2 tblsps oil in heavy, large ovenproof skillet.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper.
• Brown well on all sides, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer skillet to oven and bake until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer to plate and cool 5 minutes.
• Bring sauce to simmer.
• Add butter, one piece at a time, whisking just until butter melts and sauce is smooth.
• Spoon sauce onto plates.
• Cut string off chicken.
• Cut chicken crosswise into ½ inch thick slices and fan out on plates, overlapping.
• Serve, passing remaining sauce separately.

CHICKEN STUFFED WITH PROSCIUTTO AND FONTINA

Steps:

• Lay the chicken between sheets of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or rolling pin, pound to uniform thickness of about 1/2 inch. Season evenly on both sides with salt and pepper.
• Place a breast half cut side up on cutting board. Lay a slice of prosciutto on top, cutting it to fit and reserving any prosciutto trimmings.
• Lay a slice of fontina on top of prosciutto, cutting it to fit as well.
• Roll up chicken, tucking in the sides and forming a neat package. Use a toothpick to secure the bottom if needed. Place the chicken seam side down on a plate and repeat until all chicken is rolled.
• Combine half of the melted butter, garlic and parsley in a shallow dish. In another dish, combine bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
• Dip each stuffed breast half into the butter, then roll in the crumbs, coating it evenly.
• At this point, cover and refrigerate at least one hour or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 350. Thinly slice any leftover pieces of proscuitto and combine with remaining 1/4 cup of melted butter with the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Cook the prosciutto until crisp and reserve for a garnish.
• Cook the chicken in the melted butter until golden brown on each side.
• Arrange the chicken in a single layer in a baking dish, until heated through, 15 - 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pour the wine and broth into the skillett, bring to a boil and reduce the mixture to about 1/2 cup, scraping all of the browned bits off the bottom of the pan.
• When the chicken is done, remove from the oven and cover with tin foil for 5 minutes. Pour the sauce over the top or serve it on the side.
• garnish with the crispy prosciutto.
• serve immediately.