Day 26: Chicken Parmesan

Tonight's meal was chosen based on two requirements. 1- What did I have in the house? I was not going out with two kids in the rain. 2-What would take less than 10 minutes in the kitchen since Paul was gone all day until about 5:30?

I took out my cookbooks and found this recipe in my WW: Simply Delicious cookbook. I had everything that it required plus noodles and spaghetti sauce to help make it a true chicken parm.

I'm not a huge fan of chicken parm in a restaurant because I find it to be way too rich. It's very cheesy and very greasy. However, I really like the flavor combination, so I am happy to find a less indulgent version of this classic Italian dish.

Chicken Parmesan(Serves 4)
4(1/4 lb) skinless boneless breasts
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons reduced fat mayo
1/2 cup plain dry breadcrumbs
1 large tomato, cut into 8 slices
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 basil leaves
1/2 cup part skim shredded mozzarella
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Step 1: Sprinkle the chicken with salt and brush both sides with mayo

Step 2: Put breadcrumbs in large Ziploc bag and add the chicken one piece at a time; shake to coat.

Step 3: Place chicken on a greased baking sheet and top with tomato, basil and cheese.

Step 4: Bake at 425 degrees until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is bubbly(about 12 minutes).

Step 5: Sprinkle with Parmesan. Serve with pasta and sauce if desired.

Calories: 297 WW: 7 points

Kitchen Play by Play: My breasts were huge(Clearly, I'm not talking about my breasts then :) ), so I pounded then down a little. I forgot to slather the first breast in mayo, and it still coated fine. I did not have fresh basil anymore, so I just sprinkled dried Basil on top of each breast. I did not measure the cheese at all. I just put enough to cover the whole breast which basically means I should add like 2 more points to my meal, but come on, the cheese is what makes it taste soooo good. I did 14 minutes in the oven just to be sure since they were very large pieces. I served it with noodles and store bought sauce. I made corn as our veggie. Paul topped his with leftover Asiago from the other night, and I refrained from adding any more calories to the dish and went sans cheese on top.

The Finished Product
Sorry, I probably could have presented it better :)

The Verdict:
Nicole: It was cooked to perfection. Juicy,tender and hot. I really enjoyed the fresh tomato under the cheese which is strange coming from someone who doesn't care for tomatoes. I also took the non-mayoed breast and could not tell the difference, so I may not bother if I make it again. Plus, then I'll have more calories for cheese since I loved how brown the cheese got on top. I enjoyed the noodles and sauce to go with it, but I'm not sure it needed it. Without it, it still passed for Chicken Parmesan. I give it a 4.

Paul: gives it a 4. "It was good."

Austin: I did not give him much to begin with because I knew he was tired and would probably lose focus, but what I did give him he gobbled up.