Chicken Parmesan Recipe July 22, 2008

This is my favorite simple chicken parmesan recipe.  I serve it over whole wheat angel hair pasta.  Pair it with a side salad you have a delicious meal.

I lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded flat

1 jar of favorite pasta sauce or 2-3 cups of homemade pasta sauce

2-3 eggs, beaten

1 cup parmesan cheese, grated.  Fresh is best but you can use the Kraft version.

1 cup Italian style bread crumbs

2-3 cloves of garlic put through a garlic press

salt, pepper and seasonings to taste.

1-2 cups of flour

olive oil

1 large thin slice of mozzarella cheese per breast

Preheat oven to 375º.

In a small bowl combine flour with salt (around 1/2 Tbsp) and a few good grinds of pepper.  In another bowl add the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, garlic and additional seasonings of your choice.  If I’m using flavored bread crumbs I will only add crushed red pepper for taste, if I’m using plain bread crumbs I add oregano and other Italian spices.  Dredge each chicken breast through the flour mixtures, then the egg and finally into the breading mixture.  Make sure the breast is completely coated in breading and set aside.

In a large skillet preheat 2 Tbsp. of olive oil.  Over medium high heat cook the chicken breasts until the chicken is cooked through and the breading is crispy and golden brown.  I usually flip the chicken breasts every 2-3 minutes to keep the crust from burning.

Coat the bottom of a baking dish with a thin layer of pasta sauce.  Place the chicken breast into the baking dish and cover with remaining sauce.  Put 1 slice of mozzarella cheese on each breast.   Since I like mine spicier than the other members of my family I will add additional crushed red pepper to the top of mine at this point so I can tell which is the spicier one once it is cooked.  Cook until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 15-20 minutes.

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Photos July 22, 2008

While in Minnesota I really wanted to make a trip to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.   As some of  you know, I have a thing for cherries and featured at the Sculpture Garden is a giant cherry on a spoon.  I’ve seen pictures of it in the past and I really wanted to see it in person.  The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is located across the street from the Walker Art Center.  We happened to visit on the Monday which is the day that museum is closed.  Next time we are in Minneapolis the Walker Art Center is high on my list of things to do.

The gardens were lovely and I found it so peaceful to walk in the garden and view the fantastic pieces of art.  I really enjoyed the large scale pieces and was fascinated by not only the art but the engineering that had to go into each piece.  The kids were not as into the art as I would have liked.  They wanted to spend the time with their grandparents who don’t have the same interest in art as I do.  What can you do?  You try and expose them to culture and they could care less.  Sorry to break it to you kids, Spongebob is not fine art.

Two-way Mirror Punched Steel Hedge Labyrinth by Dan Graham

Walking Man by George Segal

Even the Pedestrian Bridges were sculptural near the gardens.

Spoonbridge and Cherry

Another angle.

Molecule by Mark di Suvero

Selections from the Living Series by Jenny Holzer