Have you made the pumpkin bread I posted a few weeks ago? If not, it really is quite good and I encourage you to give it a try. I made it again recently and added just a smidge more of each spice and I thought it gave the bread a bit more punch which I liked. If you are a guest for Thanksgiving this year, a loaf would make a nice gift for your hosts to enjoy before dipping into the leftovers!
Although it may not seem it from the infrequency of my posts, I am still doing a fair amount of cooking and trying out new recipes to keep things fun and interesting at dinner time. For example, the chicken dish I am posting today. I first saw a recipe for Marry Me Chicken on the New York Times. Most likely because I clicked on their post, another recipe from Southern Cooking for the same dish showed up in one of my feeds a short time later. Love those algorithms. Anyway, as I am partial to doing, I read both recipes carefully and considered the comments knowing that I would definitely make one of them because I adore sun dried tomatoes.
In fact, thinking about sun dried tomatoes takes me back to the apartment on Beacon Hill I lived in for a few years in my twenties. I loved my temporary home, despite its large floor-to-ceiling windows and it’s – wait for it – electric heat that cost this working girl a fair penny in the winter months. Anyway, I remember so many moments in this apartment, from a Friendsgiving extraordinaire, writing an application to a graduate school I never attended and being on the phone with my Dad when the Gulf War broke out. I also remember one time making a pasta with a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. It was my first foray into sun-dried tomatoes as an ingredient in my kitchen and I was hooked. They are sweet and chewy and have such a great flavor. They pair really well with pasta and chicken especially.
I remember enjoying my pasta in a little alcove where some of the aforementioned windows flanked 3 sides and gave me a perch to the street below. But with whom I enjoyed that meal and where that recipe is right now, I have no idea. Oh but I loved that apartment and while parking was a major pain, especially in the winter, I would appreciate having a chance to relive a few days in that place, shopping at DeLuca’s for a $3.00 apple (!) and walking to work up and over the hill. It was a wonderful time in my life.
Southern Magazine’s recipe won out in the end and it cautions to be careful for whom you make Marry Me Chicken because it could lead to wedding bells!
I made the chicken when one of our daughters came out to visit and since she is a vegetarian also made Smitten Kitchen’s Green Angel Hair with Garlic Butter which you should definitely make sometime soon as it was delish. Daughter’s comments – more garlic and maybe leave some of the roasted cloves in the pasta itself. I am going to make it again with her suggestions! She enjoyed that for her main and we had some of it along with the chicken.
At dinner, I mentioned what the name of the dish was and hubs decided to rename it “Stay Married to Me Chicken” which, was really cute as he can be 🙂
So, that’s what we are naming it here! I promise you it is really delicious and easy to make for a weeknight but maybe save it for a casual Friday night.
I’ve made just a few changes to the dish, one of which was to add more chicken which the sauce can take. The original recipe called for 12 ounces to serve 4 people. Sorry no. I’ve increased it to 1 1/2 pounds. Also, I did not have any high quality balsamic vinegar at the ready which is the only kind I would add to this dish (think drippy and thick). I did not add any and we did not miss it. I also did not have any fresh basil either but I do keep those packages of frozen pods of chopped basil that you can pick up at Trader Joe’s on hand and I tossed a few of those into the dish.
So, whatever your marital status, I do hope you give this chicken dish a whirl and if you don’t like chicken but are partial to sun dried tomatoes, I dare say this would make a fine sauce to pour over some pasta. Perhaps I will do that soon and transport myself back to my apartment on Beacon Hill.
Until next time…
bad photo of good food in my favorite pan from Our Place that my daughter gave me last Christmas!
One Year Ago: Faccia a Faccia in Boston, Massachusetts
Two Years Ago: Nutmeg and Black Pepper Popovers
Three Years Ago: Cookgroup Campfire
Four Years Ago: Amy’s Smoked Chicken and Wild Rice Soup (soooo good!)
Five Years Ago: Horiatiki Hummus
Six Years Ago: In Conversation with Jill Rosenwald
Seven Years Ago: Maple Roasted Carrot Salad
Eight Years Ago: Marcella’s Butter Almond Cake
Nine Years Ago: Holiday Survival Mix
This recipe is adapted ever so slightly from Southern Living. Originally named Marry Me Chicken, my husband cleverly renamed it Stay Married to Me Chicken so we are going with it! I did not add balsamic vinegar at the end of cooking as I did not have a rich, syrupy one which I think would be your best option here. We didn't miss it at all. I also threw into my sauce a few of those frozen basil cubes that I believe came from Trader Joe's because I did not have any fresh basil on hand. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts, pounded to an even thickness
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Flour
- 1 large shallot, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano, plus more for garnish
- Fresh basil leaves (see head note for an alternative)
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat a cast iron or stainless steel skillet big enough to fit the chicken over medium heat. Then add the oil and butter to the skillet.
- As the butter melts, season your chicken with salt and black pepper. Sift enough flour over both sides to coat the chicken (you don't need a heavy coating here, just a little bit which is why I like to sift it over the meat).
- Add the chicken to the skillet and cook until the outsides are lightly browned, about 2-3 minutes on both sides. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm.
- To the skillet, add the shallot, red pepper flakes, oregano and thyme and cook until the shallot starts to soften, about 3 minutes. You may need to add a drizzle of oil if your pan is too dry.
- Add garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook for just a minute until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Add the tomato paste and stir to coat the vegetables for another minute.
- Pour the wine and broth into the skillet and cook, scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the heavy cream. Stir to combine and simmer until the sauce begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and simmer in the sauce until the sauce clings to the chicken (about 4 minutes).
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the cheese. If using, you can add a splash of balsamic vinegar (i did not).
- Garnish with additional cheese and fresh basil leaves.
- Enjoy!
I like remembering your past amazing recipes when you post! Keep it up.
Love the new name! I will have to try this, looks delicious!
Yum, may give this a try for dinner tonight!