Crunchy Chicken with Honey Garlic Glaze

When I served this to my husband, he said it reminded him of General Tso's chicken from the Chinese restaurant. That made me really happy, because I LOVE General Tso's chicken, and have missed it since my diagnosis. Unfortunately, it was also a bit sad, because he DOESN'T like General Tso's. BUT, he is such a trooper, he ate it anyway. Just another reason why I love him so. :D

I served it with rice noodles, because that is what I had in the pantry, and we have already eaten a lot of rice this week. However, now that I think of it more like General Tso's chicken, I will probably cut it into smaller pieces and serve it with rice. Maybe I will even buy one of those Chinese take out boxes, and really try to fool myself. Hey people, it's the little things in life. . .

What You Will Need:
Large Skillet
Baking Sheet lined with Cooling Rack
Small Sauce Pan

Ingredients:
3-4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut horizontally
1/4 cup Olive Oil
Flour Dredge
1/3 cup Soy Flour
1/3 cup Tapioca Starch/Flour
1/3 cup Potato Starch
1 1/2 Tablespoon Ginger
1 Tablespoon Paprika
1 Tablespoon Nutmeg
2 teaspoons Salt
2 teaspoons Ground Pepper
1 teaspoon Thyme
1 teaspoon Sage
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
Egg Wash
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon Water
Honey Garlic Glaze
1/2 cup Honey
1/8 cup Tamari Soy Sauce
2-3 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Ground Pepper

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together four dredge ingredients. Set aside.

In a separate small bowl, beat together eggs and water. Set aside.

Cut chicken breasts horizontally to create thin fillets.

Pour olive oil in skillet and heat over low-medium heat. (Olive oil should cover bottom of skillet and be approximately 1/4 inch deep.)

Dredge chicken pieces in flour, egg, and flour.

Fry chicken in skillet until golden brown - approximately 2-3 minutes on each side. (Don't overcrowd your pan. Fry chicken in 2-3 batches.)

Remove chicken from pan, and place in baking sheet lined with a cooling rack. (This allows the oil to drain off, and the chicken to stay crispy.)

In small saucepan, heat olive oil and garlic over medium heat to soften. (Do not brown the garlic.)

Add honey, tamari sauce, and pepper. (If you want spicy sauce, you can add some pepper flakes. I would start with 1/8 teaspoon and slowly add until desired heat level.) Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat, and cool for a few minutes.

Dip chicken in sauce and serve.

Yummy, yummy in my tummy! 

TIP: If you or your kids don't like sauce, you can serve this as fried chicken. I actually didn't dip my kids' chicken in the sauce, and they loved it just the way it was. 

"Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

That is a lofty goal, but surely one to aspire to.

Sheryl

Parmesan Breaded Chicken

My mom used to make this all the time when I was a kid. I love the texture you get from fresh bread crumbs, the super moist chicken, and the little kick you get from the Parmesan cheese. My mom always fried the chicken breasts whole, but I like to cut them into halves or thirds to get more breading and to try to control serving sizes.

Besides being super tasty, this chicken is really easy to make. I like it fried in butter; but if you are concerned about calories, you have a couple options. You can fry it in olive oil, or go the really healthy route and bake it. 

What You Will Need:
Blender or Food Processor (to make bread crumbs)
Large Frying Pan
Rack placed in a Baking Dish

Ingredients:
3-4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cut into halves or thirds
1/2 cup Gluten Free Bread Crumbs I make my own from my Best Gluten Free Bread (posted on May 29, 2013). Slice bread and toast until crispy. Grind in blender or food processor. To make 1/2 cup of bread crumbs, use approximately 2 slices of bread. You can buy gluten free bread crumbs, but it is hard to find good ones. Besides, nothing is as good as fresh bread crumbs.
1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning
1 Large Egg
1 Tablespoon Water
4 Tablespoons Butter

Directions:
Clean and cut chicken breasts.

In a small bowl, mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning.

In a separate small bowl, beat egg with water.

Dip a piece of chicken in the egg mixture, then the bread crumb mixture, and set it on a plate.

Preheat 2 Tablespoons of butter in frying pan. If you want to bake the chicken, set the coated chicken on a rack set in a baking dish. Lightly spray with cooking spray, and bake at 350°F for approximately 15 minutes.

Fry half of chicken in frying pan until golden brown on all sides.

Place cooked chicken on a rack set in a baking dish. Set dish in oven to keep hot.

Add remaining butter to frying pan, and fry the remaining chicken.

Serve with buttery, Parmesan baked potatoes and steamed broccoli or your favorite side dishes.

I think my kids loved this dinner as much as I did as a kid and still do! Whether you fry it or bake it, this is sure to be a family favorite for years to come.

"Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs."~Mandy Hale

Sheryl