Happy Monday, everyone, I hope you had a nice weekend! We got pounded with more snow and negative degree highs…good thing wine warms the soul!
That’s right – while nasty weather forced us indoors nearly the entire weekend, I was able to sneak out on Friday night for wine and girl time at the new Pinot’s Palette that opened up in town. OMG IT WAS SO FUN!
Here’s the scoop – you bring the booze and snacks, they provide the paint, instruction, music, and fun. My girlfriend and I had a BLAST and agreed it would be awesome to go back for a double date or bachelorette party. My fancy wine bottle and champagne glass (which was supposed to be a wine glass, uhhh…) painting was perfect to hang in our master bathroom with the fancy chandelier the previous owners left behind – whee!
This weekend we also had Lincoln’s 6 month pictures taken (which actually took place on the day he turned 7 months – whoops!) Our sweet photographer braved the cold to come out to the house only to face our stone-cold baby. He cracked maybe 5 smiles the whole hour and a half shoot. Little stinker! ;) Can’t wait to see how they turn out though, his baby jeans and plaid button down just kill me!
After the grueling shoot, I made the men some sustenance…Man-Pleasing Chicken.
A few weeks ago I featured Witty in the City’s Man-Pleasing Chicken on Friday Favorites. I LOVED the concept – a simple chicken dish that her man could not get enough of. It inspired me to share one of Ben’s favorite chicken dishes of all time that’s not only man-approved, but goes from fridge to fork in just 30 minutes. That makes it IGE-approved, too. :)
Sauteed chicken breasts are smothered in a mouthwatering mixture of sauteed spinach, mushrooms, cream and parmesan cheese in this tasty, one-skillet supper. It’s then topped with bacon, of course, as you’d expect any man-pleasing chicken dish to be.
Man-Pleasing chicken is actually a recipe I made for a freelance project a few years ago under the name Ultimate Smothered Chicken. No matter what you call it, your man (or WOman) will go bonkers for this dish. Ben tasted it once and has asked for it again and again, which is unusual as he usually loathes repeat meals. This has made weekly spaghetti night, which I have been trying to make a “thing” for the past 5 years, rather difficult.
Anyway, this dish cooks in about 10 minutes but I tacked on an extra 20 for prep work. You know, chopping shallots and bacon, slicing mushrooms, and grating parmesan cheese. After the initial grunt work though, it’s smooth sailing. This chicken is tasty paired with roasted asparagus, or make it even heartier by serving over pasta or man-friendly mashed potatoes!
Start by browning 3 slices chopped bacon in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain then remove all but 1 teaspoon bacon grease from the skillet.
Turn the heat up to medium-high then season both sides of 4 chicken breasts that have been pounded thin with salt and pepper, and then saute for 3-4 minutes a side, or until no longer pink. You could use 4 regular-sized chicken breasts or do what I did and cut 2 breasts in half lengthwise to make 4 cutlets. This is a great way to make chicken go farther! Remove the chicken to a plate then tent with foil to keep warm.
Next melt 1 Tablespoon butter in the skillet then add 1 chopped shallot and 8oz sliced mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper then saute until the mushrooms turn golden brown, about 3 minutes.
Next, pile on the spinach! 4 cups baby spinach, to be exact, which will wilt in about 1 minute.
Finally, add 1/2 cup half & half (you could use heavy cream, but don’t use milk) and let it bubble and thicken for about 1 minute. Finish by tossing in 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese then stir until combined.
I prefer fresh grated parm by the way, if you can swing it!
Plate the chicken then spoon the luscious spinach-mushroom-cream sauce over top and finish with a sprinkling of crisp bacon, and a crack of black pepper. Like I said – Man-Pleasing Chicken! Enjoy!
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Man-Pleasing Chicken
Description
Man-Pleasing Chicken is one of my husband's favorite chicken recipes. From fridge to fork in 30 minutes!
Ingredients
- 3 slices bacon, chopped
- 4 chicken breasts, pounded thin
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 shallot or 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 8oz mushrooms, sliced
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1/2 cup half & half
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
Directions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat then add bacon and cook until crisp. Remove to a paper towel lined plate to drain then pour out all but 1 teaspoon bacon grease and turn heat up to medium-high.
- Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper then add to skillet and saute until no longer pink, 3-4 minutes a side. Remove to a plate then tent with foil to keep warm.
- Melt butter in skillet then add shallots and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and then saute until mushrooms are tender, 3-4 minutes. Add spinach then saute until just barely wilted, 1 minute. Add half & half then cook until sauce is thickened, 1 minute, then stir in parmesan cheese. Plate chicken then pour sauce on top and sprinkle with cooked bacon. Serve with pasta or mashed potatoes.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Molly Rose 03.03.2014
I’m saving this dinner recipe simply because I DO think my man will be pleased! :) love all your simple but delicious looking dishes iowa girl!
Christina 03.03.2014
Made this tonight for dinner – absolutely delicious!! Great combination of flavors!
Gin 03.03.2014
Somehow stumbled upon your blog this morning while making my grocery list….made this for dinner tonight for my 5 men…….plates were licked clean!! I served it with mashed potatoes this time and am also looking forward to trying it with pasta next time. I also need to tgel rid of some fresh asparagus so I served it with roasted asparagus too. My MiL and I also give it two thumbs up! So glad I discovered your blog …thanks :-))
Emily 03.03.2014
I’ll have to try this, pasta seems to be my husband’s love language:)
Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe 03.03.2014
This looks like such an easy yet flavorful weeknight dish!
Christel 03.03.2014
Enjoy your blog & pictures of Lincoln (my oldest son’s fav prez)!
We have a 5.5 month old baby girl, Lydia, and also live in Iowa. I enjoy cooking from scratch (daily). We eat primarily organic. To save money we try to buy in bulk from Costco, etc. I have learned to make my own breads, sauces, etc. Being raised on the boxed stuff it is fascinating and fun to try new recipes! Tired of cold! Can’t wait for spring!!!
Just a FYI about carrageenan (hubby is a scientist):
Here is a quote:
“A clinical study conducted by Wakabayashi found that rodents were fed daily with a 5% carrageenan aqueous solution had a 100% incidence rate of colon metaplasis (abnormal replacement of cells of one type by cells of another/cancer) after 15 months.
As far as I know there have been no clinical studies conducted on humans, but they have been performed on mice, rabbits, guinea pigs, and mice and they all show a connection between carrageenan and colon cancer. ”
http://blog.healthkismet.com/carrageenan-cancer-health-inflammation
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/38/12/4427.full.pdf
Brenda 03.03.2014
This is similar to my hubs fav(minus the spinch). He likes to call it “chicken noodley mushroom stuff”.
Amy 03.03.2014
Will definitely make this.
But of immediate importance – WHERE is that couch from?? Currently couch shopping and that looks beautiful. Please share!!
Jess 03.03.2014
Hi there, Kristin and IGE readers! Long-time reader, first-time commenter here. :) I’m an Iowa girl living in the Twin Cities and am trying to convince my husband we should move back to Iowa. We’re making a scouting trip to Des Moines next weekend. Any suggestions on spots to visit or places to eat? Thanks SO much!
Amy 03.03.2014
La Mie for sure. For everything. So good.
Centro.
I’m a TC gal who lived in DSM for a couple years and those two were faves. I recently tried Django on a trip there and it was OK. Not as great as I hoped though. The Continental bar was very cool for drinks.
There really are a lot of great places there now though. And they have Hy-Vee which I swear is practically reason enough to move back (although the chain is coming to MN soon thank God!).
Kristin 03.04.2014
Ooo fun! Yes, La Mie for sure, and DEFINITELY Miyabi 9 if you guys love sushi. Centro is good for dinner, and Flying Mango is a great Caribbean-BBQ joint. Cafe di Scala is PERFECT for a romantic dinner – it was just voted as having the best chef in DSM, too. I hope this helps! :)
Helen @ Scrummy Lane 03.03.2014
Hello Kristin! I loved the title of this recipe, and I think my man would like it, so pinning!
Lea J. 03.03.2014
I think this is also probably woman pleasing chicken too. ;)
Lincoln is just the most precious, thanks for keeping the photos coming!
Chicago Jogger 03.03.2014
I love the combo of bacon, shallot and spinach – yum. Sort of like spaghetti night since the right noodles are involved!
Lara 03.03.2014
This looks excellent! Did you try the Witty in the City recipe you posted? I made it last night and it was … not good. I used good dijon mustard and real maple syrup and followed the recipe exactly and the chicken was dry and really was overly mustard-y and did not brown up like the photos. I rarely have recipe busts, but that recipe was definitely a bust. I was sad because it sounded so good!
Kristin 03.03.2014
Unfortunately I had a similar experience – another reason why I wanted to share this recipe! :) I know lots of other people liked that recipe so, as I always say, to each their own!
Lara 03.03.2014
Glad it wasn’t just me … your recipe looks great though and I can’t wait to try it!
Jana G 03.03.2014
I tried the Witty in the city version too, we also didn’t like it. It’s still in the fridge awaiting the trash can….but I will try this version, I know for sure all the ingredients will taste good together! :)
Nancy Gion 03.04.2014
I am so surprised so many didn’t like it? I have to say using chicken thighs was absolutely key to moist and tender meat. I “tested” the dish on my husband before bringing it to a neighborhood progressive dinner. I too found it to be a little mustardy so I changed it up and used honey mustard instead to give a little more sweetness. I served it to 12 neighbors and they went back for seconds and were sad when it was all gone!
Kristie 03.03.2014
Love your couch! Mind if I ask where it’s from?
Kristin 03.03.2014
Thanks! It’s from Homemakers.
Casey 03.03.2014
Looks great! If I left out the mushrooms, would I need to sub anything or change any of the other measurements you think? (My husband will not touch mushrooms…)
Kristin 03.03.2014
Good man – I hate mushrooms too! ;) Does he like artichoke hearts? Those would be a good replacement!
Jennifer 03.03.2014
Now this is a must try for me. I hate mushrooms too! I LOVE artichoke though.
Marie @ Little Kitchie 03.03.2014
Looks incredible!! And so nice that it’s such a quick dinner!
Madison 03.03.2014
I love this man-pleasing meal and I love even more that it’s quick! :)
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness 03.03.2014
Bacon, mushrooms and cheese?! That is definitely one Man pleasing chicken! I love that it is a 30 minute meal! I need more of those!
Pinned!
Maryea {happy healthy mama} 03.03.2014
Man-pleasing and ready in 30 minutes? Sounds like a winter to me. My husband is the opposite of yours. He craves sameness and always asks: “Can’t you just make the same thing twice?!” His mom had a weekly rotation of foods that he had week after week. I can’t imagine! Have a great week. :)
Kim | Just For Clicks 03.03.2014
Your son is precious. Keep taking those photos! I got lazy and so wish I had every milestone birthday photographed (they are now in middle school). Can’t wait to try this recipe… my son does not like chicken so much. But it’s such a great source of protein that I keep trying. He loves pasta and cream sauce — so can’t wait to make this for him! Pinning now.