Starting with the basics: Episode 9
Healthy Chicken Cordon Bleu
I’ve been really busy.
I think everyone can admit that there has been times that we have just stretched ourselves to far. We over commit to our friends. We over commit to our family. We over commit to our work.
This is where I’m at in my life.
It doesn’t help that I live in Ohio and the weather has been grey. I’ve been reading books, watching documentaries, and trying to convince my family to play board games with me..
This time of year just sucks.
I’m not trying to be Debbie Downer (which is a nod to my brother who inspired the name of this blog) , but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve also realized that it’s okay to step back and take a break.
I took a break from my blog because this is supposed to be an outlet for me. It’s something that I do in my spare time to share my love of food and give people a few tips for home cooking.
I took a break.
I needed a break. And when I need a break, I also need quick meals. So this is a quick meal. I want everyone to have a few meals under their belt that they can make when they feel a little run down. This meal is healthy, will still make you feel like you served your family a delicious meal, but it only takes 25 minutes.
Most of the ingredients you probably have in your pantry. I promise this meal will help with the crappy winter weather, help when you need a quick meal, and help if you are desparetly trying to get yourself off the couch and into the kitchen.
Lets get started cooking…
Ingredients are simple, Chicken, some seasoning, an onion, garlic, wine, dijon mustard, chicken stock, heavy cream, ham, and Swiss.
Begin by getting your ingredients prepped. If you start with a clean kitchen and prepped ingredients you will have so much more success in the kitchen. I can’t preach this enough. If you start with a sink full of dishes, half your ingredients in your pantry and refrigerator, ..you will feel overwhelmed. Do yourself a favor and start clean and prepared.
Season your chicken with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. I have an entire cabinet of seasonings. Italian seasoning should be in your arsenal.
Melt butter. I’m sure everyone can tell that I did this in a non- stick pan. MISTAKE. If I had to do this again, I would do it in a stainless steel skillet. A stainless steel skillet will allow the chicken to create a fond on the bottom. It will create a better sauce. You can use either, but make sure you brown and cook your chicken through.
Remove the chicken and place in a baking dish. Set it aside…. we have a sauce to make! Throw in the chopped onions, that you have already prepped. If you need a bit of olive oil, drizzle the pan. You will need a bit of oil to coat the pan. Cook the onions until they are soft.
Throw in your minced garlic and the sprigs of thyme. These will only need to cook for about 30 seconds.
This is where I realized…. non stick was not the way to go. It worked and everything was delicious. However, if I would have used a stainless skillet, I would have had a delicious fond at the bottom of my pan, and when I poured the wine in , it would of beautifully lifted from the bottom of the skillet and created an even more delicious sauce. However, if you are like me and are using a non stick pan, add the wine and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until it has mostly evaporated.
Add the chicken stock, heavy cream, and Dijon mustard. Bring it to a simmer. Make sure you keep tasting it and salt and pepper as you go. People take salt and pepper for granted. It literally makes your food SO MUCH BETTER.
While your sauce is simmering and becoming flavorful, go back to your chicken in the baking dish. It’s time to give it a bit of love. Top it with the deli ham and Swiss. Throw it under the broiler until it is nice and melty. Top it with that delicious sauce and serve it up to your favorite people!!
Healthy Low Carb Chicken Cordon Bleu
Ingredients
- 4 Thin Chicken breasts
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 2 Tbsp Butter
- 1/2 onion chopped finely
- 3 gloves of garlic minced
- 3-4 sprigs of Thyme
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 3 Tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- Deli sliced ham
- Sliced Swiss Cheese
Instructions
- Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Melt butter in skillet.
- Brown chicken on both sides until cooked through and transfer to baking sheet
- Heat Broiler
- Using the same skillet that you used to brown chicken
- While broiler is heating make the sauce
- Add chopped onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and saute for 30 seconds.
- Add white wine and de glaze the pan. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add chicken stock and Dijon mustard. Simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Add heavy cream and salt and pepper to taste.
- Add sliced ham and sliced Swiss to chicken and placed under the broiler until the cheese is hot and bubbly.
- Top the chicken with your delicious sauce and serve.
