Truffled Stuffed Chicken Breast Food

GOAT CHEESE-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• With a chicken breast flat on a cutting board, using a sharp knife, about 1/3 of the way down the thick side, cut a deep pocket horizontally into the center of the meat about 3/4 of the way down, being careful not to cut through to the other side. (The pocket will be about 2 1/2 inches long and 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep.) Repeat with the remaining breasts. Wash hands well.
• In a small bowl, mash together the goat cheese, butter, chives, parsley, thyme, lemon juice and garlic. Season with a pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Divide into 4 equal pieces and form plugs to fit inside the chicken breasts. Insert 1 into each breast and press the edges of chicken meat to seal. Lightly season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• In a large shallow bowl, combine the flour and the Essence. In another bowl, beat the egg with the water.
• One at a time, lightly dust the chicken on both sides with the flour, then dip in the egg, shaking to remove any excess. Place again in the flour and turn to completely coat, shaking to remove any excess. Set aside.
• In a large, oven-proof skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Place the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Arrange the risotto in the center of 4 plates and place the chicken to the side. Arrange the carrots along the bottom of the plates, and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
• In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to very low to keep hot.
• In a large heavy saucepan, heat the oil and melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and garlic, and cook, stirring until fragrant and soft, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring, until wilted and their liquid is evaporated, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring constantly, until the grains are opaque, about 1 minute. Stir in the thyme. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until nearly all evaporated. Add 3/4 cup of the stock, the salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, until the stock is nearly all evaporated. Continue adding more stock 1/2 cup at a time as the previous addition is nearly absorbed, until the rice is tender and the risotto is creamy, 18 to 20 minutes. Stir in cream, 1/2 cup of the cheese, and the parsley and mix well.
• Remove from the heat and adjust the seasoning, to taste. If desired, stir in truffle oil to taste.
• Serve immediately, topping each portion with a sprinkling of the remaining cheese and ham.
• In a large stockpot, combine all the ingredients and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours, skimming the surface occasionally to remove any foam that forms on the surface.
• Remove from the heat and strain through a fine mesh strainer into a clean container. (If necessary, strain again.) Remove the meat from the bones and reserve for another use. Discard the bones and vegetables. Let the stock cool completely, and refrigerate overnight. Skim any fat that forms on the surface. Keep refrigerated in airtight containers until ready to use, up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• On a cutting board, using a sharp, heavy knife, cut the carrots in half crosswise, then in half lengthwise. With the flat edge down, cut into thin slices. Place the slices in a stack and slice into even matchstick pieces. (If a fine dice is required, these pieces in turn are chopped into equal small cubes.)
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the carrots and blanch until just tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and shock in the prepared ice bath to stop cooking and preserve color.
• When ready to serve the carrots, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. When foamy, add the carrots and cook, stirring, until warmed through and glossy, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat, sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.

TRUFFLED STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST

Steps:

• Lay the chicken breasts flat and make a slit using a very sharp knife, but do not go all the way through. This will make a nice pocket for the stuffing. Pound the breasts evenly using a meat mallet or small saute pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
• Place bread in a bowl and pour milk over; let soak for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat an ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil, then shallots. Saute shallots until softened, but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms and cook for 5 to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Cool slightly.
• Squeeze excess milk out of the bread and place in a large mixing bowl. Add mushroom-shallot mixture. Add Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, truffle oil, and egg. Mix well.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Stuff each breast with 2 to 3 tablespoons of stuffing; do not overstuff. Pierce the chicken with toothpicks to seal the stuffing in. Season each breast with salt and pepper.
• Heat remaining olive oil in the same skillet as used for mushrooms over medium heat. Brown chicken for 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink and juices run clear, about 18 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice chicken and serve.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375.
• Grease square pan,9x9x2 inch.
• Loosen skin from chicken breast halves by inserting fingers between skin and meat,gently separate in center but leave skin attached at sides.
• Prepare smoked gouda and spinach stuffing.
• Spread 1/4 of stuffing between meat and skin of each chicken breast.
• Smooth skin over breasts tucking under loose areas.
• Place chicken skin side up in pan.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle with butter.
• Bake uncovered 45-55 minutesm or until juice is no longer pink.
• For Stuffing: Mix cream cheese,gouda cheese and nutmeg,combine well.
• Stir in spinach.

BOURSIN AND PROSCIUTTO-STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• With a sharp fillet knife, cut a deep pocket horizontally in each chicken breast (taking care not to cut meat all the way through). The pockets should end up being about 3 inches long by 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep depending on breast size.
• Divide the chilled Boursin into 4 equal pieces. Place 1 piece in the center of each slice of prosciutto and roll up, enclosing the cheese. Stuff one roll inside the pocket of each chicken breast as deeply as possible. Press the edge of chicken pocket to seal. Gently season with salt and pepper. (Chicken breast may be refrigerated for later cooking at this point or individually wrapped and frozen.).
• Combine the flour and the Essence in a large bowl or plate. Beat the egg and the water in another bowl. Take the first breast and dust with flour, then dip in egg mixture. Gently shake to remove excess. Place breast in flour again and flip to coat completely then set aside. Repeat with each.
• Heat olive oil in a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat.* Gently add the chicken and brown on each side for 3 minutes. Place pan in the oven and bake the chicken for 7 to 10 minutes or until cooked through.**.
• Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve with Truffle-Scented Mushroom Risotto or other savory side.
• *If you do not have a skillet large enough to hold all 4 breasts at once, you may work in batches, setting aside the first batch and covering with foil to keep warm.
• **If necessary, you may also transfer chicken to a large roasting pan or sheet.