Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast Wrapped In Bacon Food

BACON-WRAPPED CHICKEN STUFFED WITH SPINACH AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly oil a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until it begins to brown, about 30 seconds. Quickly stir in spinach, and continue cooking until the spinach has wilted. Transfer the mixture into a bowl, and set aside to cool.
• Slice through the chicken breast horizontally to within 1/2 inch of one long edge, then open the meat like a book. Place each opened chicken breast in between two pieces of plastic wrap, and pound with a meat mallet to a thickness of 1/4 inch.
• Stir the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, and onion powder into the cooked spinach until blended. Evenly divide this mixture among the chicken breasts, then roll each into an oblong shape, like a burrito, tucking in the ends. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Wrap each breast with 2 strips of bacon, and secure with toothpicks. Place into the prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until the bacon is brown and crispy, and the chicken is no longer pink, 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from oven, and allow to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving.

SPINACH STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST WRAPPED IN BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Place each chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap or two thin cutting boards and pound to 1/4" thick.
• Thaw the spinach and drain by placing in a dish towel and squeezing out all of the water.
• Combine the garlic, sour cream and cream cheese. Whip with a spoon until combined and the cream cheese is smooth.
• Add spinach to the cream and separate into 4 equal parts.
• Place 1/4 of the creamed spinach in the middle of one of the flatten chicken breast and roll up.
• Wrap breast in bacon and secure with a toothpick.
• Repeat process for the other 4 chicken breasts.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
• Switch oven to broil and broil for 5 minutes to crisp up the bacon.

BACON WRAPPED BOURSIN STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS - A DEUX!

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
• Lightly oil an oven proof dish with the teaspoon of olive oil - using a pastry brush is best.
• Place one chicken breast between a large piece of cling film and gently beat it with a cook's mallet - beating until large and fairly thin - try NOT make any holes in the chicken! Repeat with the second chicken breast.
• Place the chicken breasts on a work board and spread half the Boursin cheese on each chicken piece - make sure it is spread evenly right up to the edges.
• Roll the chicken breasts up - tucking the last small "fillet" flap up and into the stuffed roll.
• Wrap the bacon pieces or pancetta ham around the stuffed chicken, making sure they do not overlap too much and the edges are sealed underneath.
• Gently lift them into the oiled oven dish.
• Season well with freshly ground black pepper. (Season with salt to taste - the bacon will make it quite salty, so watch out when seasoning with salt.).
• If using the lemon juice, pour over the top of the chicken breasts now.
• Scatter or arrange the cherry tomatoes around the chicken pieces. (I like to keep them on the vine.).
• Place in the middle of a pre-heated oven and roast for between 45 - 55 minutes; the cooking time depends on the size of the chicken breasts and your oven.
• Remove from the oven and place the chicken breasts on a plate - you can serve them whole or sliced. Garnish with watercress, as well as the roasted cherry tomatoes.
• Serve with a selection of seasonal fresh vegetables and a jacket potato, making sure you spoon the excess Boursin sauce over the top of the chicken pieces and the roasted cherry tomatoes!
• Tip:You can make an optional creamy sauce. On taking the chicken out of the oven, add the creme fraiche and white wine to the Boursin cooking juices in the oven dish, whisk together and then gently heat, whisking all the time, over medium heat on top of the stove, or decant the creme fraiche, wine and juices to a small saucepan and heat the sauce in the pan. (Make sure to keep the chicken warm whilst you do this.).
• TO FREEZE:.
• As soon as you have stuffed and wrapped the bacon around the beaten chicken breasts, wrap individually in cling film and put into a freezer container or a freezer bag. Take them out as required and allow to defrost for 4-5 hours at room temperature or overnight in the fridge.
• Cook as above.
• Can be frozen for up to 3 months with no adverse effects on the Boursin cheese.

SPINACH STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place spinach in a large glass bowl, and heat in the microwave for 3 minutes, stirring every minute or so, or until wilted. Stir in sour cream, pepperjack cheese, and garlic.
• Lay the chicken breasts out on a clean surface, and spoon some of the spinach mixture onto each one. Roll up chicken to enclose the spinach, then wrap each chicken breast with two slices of bacon. Secure with toothpicks, and arrange in a shallow baking dish.
• Bake uncovered for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, then increase heat to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C), or use the oven's broiler to cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to brown the bacon.