Here's a delicious dinner (or lunch...or breakfast!) that is quick, easy, and uses hardly any ingredients at all! If you like chicken, pecans, and maple syrup, you'll love this!
Pecan-Maple Chicken
PREP: 5 min. COOK: 12 min. SERVES: 4
Pecan-Maple Chicken
PREP: 5 min. COOK: 12 min. SERVES: 4
Ingredients:
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons maple-flavored syrup
1/2 cup pecan halves
Directions
1. Between sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper, flatten each chicken breast to 1/4-inch thickness. (see bottom of journal entry for directions if you don't know how)
2. In 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt butter with salt over medium heat. Cook chicken in butter 1 to 2 minutes, turning once, until brown.
3. Stir in maple syrup and pecans. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning chicken once and stirring pecans once or twice, until chicken is no longer pink in center.
1 SERVING: CAL. 320 (CAL. FROM FAT 170); FAT 19g (SAT. FAT 6g); CHOL. 90mg; SODIUM 410mg; CARBS. 9g (FIBER 1g); PRO. 28g % DAILY VALUE: VIT. A 4%; VIT. C 0%; CALC. 2%; IRON 6% EXCHANGES: 1/2 OTHER CARB., 4 LEAN MEAT, 1 1/2 FAT CARB. CHOICES: 1/2
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*Modified Recipe*
I actually don't deviate a lot from the original recipe in this one, but here's how I do each step:
1. Between sheets of plastic wrap, I flatten the chicken breasts with either the heel of my hands or with a meat mallet.
2. I normally end up turning the chicken more than once. I find that the more you cook the chicken in this stage, the less longer it takes to cook overall. However, if you don't mind waiting longer and want a little more pecan-maple flavor, just cook the chicken to a light golden.
3. I normally chop the pecans a little bit; I find it makes it taste a little more pecany. As the chicken cooks I baste it with the maple syrup, which helps the maple flavor seep in a little more.
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**Superfast Extra-Easy Lazy Person's Recipe!!!**
If you really don't want to do any work, here's the quick and simple way of doing it:
1. Flatten the chicken as in the original instructions.
2. Cook the chicken in a microwave (make sure the center isn't pink).
3. Add maple syrup and pecans to your liking; you can put the chicken in the microwave again to let the flavor seep in a little more (Note: if you chop the chicken up and apply the maple syrup, this will help the flavor seep in even more).
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~How To Flatten Chicken Breasts--Two Ways~
1. Place chicken breast, smooth side up, between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Using flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound chicken breasts, working from center out, until 1/4 inch thick.
2. Or using the heel or your hand, apply firm pressure (pounding lightly if necessary) to chicken breasts, pressing until 1/8 inch thick.
*Modified Recipe*
I actually don't deviate a lot from the original recipe in this one, but here's how I do each step:
1. Between sheets of plastic wrap, I flatten the chicken breasts with either the heel of my hands or with a meat mallet.
2. I normally end up turning the chicken more than once. I find that the more you cook the chicken in this stage, the less longer it takes to cook overall. However, if you don't mind waiting longer and want a little more pecan-maple flavor, just cook the chicken to a light golden.
3. I normally chop the pecans a little bit; I find it makes it taste a little more pecany. As the chicken cooks I baste it with the maple syrup, which helps the maple flavor seep in a little more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Superfast Extra-Easy Lazy Person's Recipe!!!**
If you really don't want to do any work, here's the quick and simple way of doing it:
1. Flatten the chicken as in the original instructions.
2. Cook the chicken in a microwave (make sure the center isn't pink).
3. Add maple syrup and pecans to your liking; you can put the chicken in the microwave again to let the flavor seep in a little more (Note: if you chop the chicken up and apply the maple syrup, this will help the flavor seep in even more).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~How To Flatten Chicken Breasts--Two Ways~
1. Place chicken breast, smooth side up, between pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper. Using flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin, gently pound chicken breasts, working from center out, until 1/4 inch thick.
2. Or using the heel or your hand, apply firm pressure (pounding lightly if necessary) to chicken breasts, pressing until 1/8 inch thick.
...PEACE!