Pastor Mike Kelly: Chicken Parmesan and Garlic Red Smashed Potato

February 27, 2017 / By Pastor Mike Kelly

First off, I want to thank everyone for asking me to participate in this first ever Conference Blog Cooking Video. As I thought of what I was going to do for my presentation, and the recipe that followed, I thought that I would do a Christmas recipe to share, but I struggled with that. In the first place because I have been a Chef for so long and do not use recipes, so I was going to have to go through the steps to create one. Secondly, as I thought about Christmas recipes nothing traditionally associated with Christmas really struck me as something I wanted to do. So I thought more about Christmas and what it means, beyond Jesus, Christmas is about family and the love we share. So I thought why not do the dish that my wife loves the most that I cook, Chicken Parmesan and typically I serve that with Garlic Red Smashed Potatoes, a true favorite of the family. So that’s what I am going to do today. Below you will find the instructions for these dishes.

Chicken Parmesan:

What you will need:

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast ( pretty large) 1 per person
• Italian Style Bread Crumbs
• Panko Bread Crumbs
• Eggs
• Spaghetti Sauce – I make my own but, I find that Hunts 4 cheese in a can is quite good
• Italian Blend Shredded Cheese
• Cooking Spray (Pam)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On cutting board, place a large piece of cooking wrap flat, place your chicken breast on the wrap, cover with another piece of wrap, using a meat hammer, or a can of vegetable, pound out the chicken until it is ¼ and ½ of inch thick, be careful with this process that you don't tear the breast apart, (note if the chicken breast is an inch or more thick, before pounding, carefully butterfly the breast by slicing through the thickness, leaving about a half of an inch uncut) set breast carefully to the side while you repeat this process for the remaining chicken breasts. In bowl start with 6 eggs, cracked and whipped, in another bowl place panko bread crumbs and add ½ c grated parmesan cheese, in the third bowl place Italian bread crumbs, to this I add, additional Italian seasoning to taste along with granulated garlic, commercial seasoned bread crumbs lack enough seasoning. Taking one chicken breast at a time, dip in egg, dip in Italian bread crumbs, redip in egg, coat with panko bread crumbs, and place in a pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Bake until the internal temperature of the chicken reads at least 165 degrees, pull from oven, dab with sauce that has been warmed, add Italian cheeses and return to the oven until the cheese has melted.

Garlic Red Smashed Potato

What you will need:

• Red Skinned Potato – 5 pounds makes a nice serving for a family of 4
• Granulated garlic – to taste
• Butter – 1 stick
• Heavy cream – to desired consistency
• Salt – to taste
• Pepper – to taste
• Parmesan Cheese

Directions: Thoroughly wash red potatoes, place in water in pan and cook until the potatoes are fork tender. When tender drain and rinse and place in mixer. Add butter, that has been softened, add ½ cup of parmesan cheese, add seasonings, (Note: add a little at a time, you can always add more but cannot take it out) Slowly add the heavy cream until it reaches the desired consistency, and serve.