Chicken Cordon Bleu

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts skinless and boneless
4 thin slices prosciutto di Parma
1/2 pound Gruyere, grated
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup panko bread crumbs
4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
1 clove garlic, peeled and finely minced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs
Extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lay the chicken breast between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, gently pound the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness. Remove the top sheet of plastic and lay 2 slices of prosciutto neatly over the top to cover the breast and sprinkle a quarter of the cheese over the prosciutto. Tuck in the sides of the breast and roll up tight like a jellyroll inside the plastic wrap. Squeeze the log gently to seal and twist both ends tight to form a nice log. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Season the flour with salt and pepper. Mix the bread crumbs with thyme, garlic and kosher salt, pepper, and melted butter. The butter will help the crust brown. Beat together the eggs and season so the flour, the eggs and the crumbs are all seasoned.

Remove the plastic wrap. Lightly dust the chicken with flour, dip in the egg mixture and gently coat in the bread crumbs. Lightly coat a baking pan with olive oil and carefully transfer the roulades onto it. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until browned and cooked through.

Source

Review: This was a great recipe for the classic French dish. I did not use fresh thyme so I put dried basil mixed in with the bread crumbs. I had a little trouble wrapping them so I just folded them in half and it was fine, little messy while coating them to flour, egg, and then bread crumbs. I served with rice and brussel sprouts. I tossed in some parsaley in the white rice to make it more dynamic. This was the most advanced meal I made yet.

Steamed Lobster

(copied directly from source)

Ingredients

• 4 live lobsters (1 1/2 pounds each)
• 2 lemons, halved, plus more for serving
• 1 tablespoon sea salt
• Lemon-Caper Mayonnaise, recipe follows

Directions

Fill a large steamer or soup pot, with about 2 inches of water, add the salt and squeeze in the lemon juice; toss the halves in there too for extra flavor. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

Place the lobsters in the steamer basket or directly in the pot, cover, and allow to steam until they turn bright red, about 15 minutes. Remove the lobsters from the pot and cool to room temperature, and then chill thoroughly before cracking open. Serve with lemon wedges and Lemon-Caper Mayonnaise as part of a raw shellfish bar.

Lemon-Caper Mayonnaise:

3 cups mayonnaise

4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

2 lemons, juiced

3 tablespoons capers, drained and coarsely chopped

2 handfuls chopped flat-leaf parsley

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and blend with a wooden spoon to combine. Set aside to allow the flavors to marry. Serve as a dipping sauce with steamed lobster and poached shrimp.

Yield: 3 cups

Source: Tyler Florence, Food 911, Food Network

Made this for Christian and I. I have been craving lobster all summer! Had it the night of the Jonas Brothers concert. Has it with the smashed potatoes and corn on the cob. We also had it with melted butter.