Tuscan Chicken In A Pesto Wine Sauce Food

TUSCAN CHICKEN TENDERS WITH PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a shallow bowl, mix cornflake crumbs, 1/4 cup cheese and salt. Place 1/4 cup milk in a separate shallow bowl. Dip chicken in milk, then in crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere. Place on greased racks in two foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pans. Bake 25-30 minutes or until a thermometer reads 165°., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, pesto, garlic powder, pepper and remaining milk and cheese; top with tomato and basil. Serve with chicken.

PHENOMENAL CHICKEN AND PASTA IN CREAMY PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• Place basil, garlic, Parmesan, pine nuts, and tomato in a food processor. Gradually add olive oil, while pulsing, until mixture is smooth and creamy.
• In a bowl, stir together chicken broth, 1 cup white wine, dried basil, oregano, and minced garlic. Stir in chicken pieces.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until just al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain, and rinse under cold water. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onions, and sprinkle with sugar. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent. Stir in sun-dried tomatoes and pine nuts, and cook about 3 minutes. Stir in chicken and marinade. Stir in 1/2 cup white wine. Simmer chicken pieces, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
• Add pasta and pesto to the skillet. Stir in cream, and cook until the sauce is thickened. Adjust salt and freshly ground pepper to taste, and serve with freshly grated Parmesan.

TUSCAN CHICKEN IN LEMON-WINE SAUCE (SCALOPPINE AL LIMONE)

Steps:

• Flatten each chicken breast by pounding gently with a flat meat mallet (Hint - pound chicken inside a Ziploc bag - no mess!). Sprinkle flattened breasts with salt and pepper. Then dredge chicken in flour; shake off excess.
• Heat butter and oil over HIGH heat; just before butter starts to brown, add the chicken pieces and saute quickly to brown, about 3 minutes. Flip and brown other side (3 more minutes). It doesn't need to be totally cooked through because it will cook more in the sauce later.
• Remove chicken to platter but leave all browned bits in the skillet.
• Add wine to browned bits in skillet and boil to reduce wine by almost half (about 3 minutes). Add chicken broth and bring to a boil.
• In a small bowl, whisk together egg and lemon juice. Stir egg/lemon mixture into simmering wine and broth, whisking constantly until sauce is smooth and a little thickened (about 2 minutes). It will thicken more when you put in the chicken breasts which have a flour coating.
• Add chicken and any juices back into the sauce; allow to simmer about 5 minutes until chicken is cooked through, turning chicken once. Add chopped parsley.
• Place chicken on platter and pour sauce over top; garnish with lemon slices and additional parsley sprigs.
• HINT: Please use FRESH lemons and parsley; it has a big impact on the flavor of the dish, and besides, no aspiring Italian chef would consider using otherwise!