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.
Nikki Howser 03.08.2014
This looks delicious! And next time you have a photo shoot, you should give Lincoln some sweet fruit or juice right before…spike his blood sugar lol :)
Sarah 03.07.2014
This looks so yummay! Everything hubby likes. Although I don’t like mushrooms (and he loves them, poor hubby lol). I work at a burger place which has a veggie burger with a field mushroom for a patty and he gets it every time. Anyway, i wonder if i can saute the mushrooms separately and just add them to his plate haha.
Links We Love 03/07/14 - The Pretty Guinea Pig | The Pretty Guinea Pig 03.07.2014
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Amy 03.06.2014
Your son gets cuter and cuter, if that is possible. This chicken recipe, was awesome. I was sort of turned off by the name but it sounded fabulous and hooked me in. I’m so glad I got hooked too. We both loved it, the man and myself. Fabulous!
Jamie 03.06.2014
This was AMAZING!!! Thank you for such a great recipe.
Julie 03.05.2014
Yep! Man (and woman) pleasing. Made this Monday night and it was a huge hit!
Caitlyn 03.05.2014
My partner and I just opened our own sip and paint company here in Baltimore, called Pub and Paint (www.pubandpaint.com) – it was so exciting to see a blogger I follow doing this!
And your son is adorable whether he is smiling or not so I am sure the photos will turn out great!
Kelly Jo 03.05.2014
He is jut precious. And the chicken looks pleasing, for sure!
AmberLynn Pappas 03.04.2014
My husband would love this. He loves anything with bacon and mushrooms. Unfortunately for him he married a girl who is allergic to mushrooms and can’t stand bacon. :(
Our kids both had their “6 month photos” done at 7 months and our youngest failed to smile too. Mostly because I attempted to get his photos done by myself and with his older brother. Bad decision on my part.
Lisa 03.04.2014
You will end up loving those pictures! My favorite pictures of my now-13-yo son are his 2 year old pictures, when he cried and would not sit still for photos. We got 3 pictures, 1 of which you can see the tears in his eyes, and another his eyes are red from crying, but they are precious pictures!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons 03.04.2014
Love painting girls nights out :) My friends and I did one a few years back, except the painting we all did was this man and woman walking under an umbrella in Chicago or something. And my woman ended up looking exactly like Gwyenth’s character in Shallow Hal. The larger version. Oops.
My husband would LOVE this dish! Bacon and mushrooms and chicken AND pasta? You know what husbands like, girl!
Kim @ Roaming Raspberry 03.04.2014
Love the name! It’s hilarious!
Ashlee 03.04.2014
Sometimes I wish my boyfriend was more of a bacon lover, because this looks great! I may have to make it anyway and just leave the option of bacon, because goodness!
Also, love the artwork. We have a place near our house that operates on the same premise–I’ve been dying to try it out! And Lincoln is getting so big! It hardly seems like yesterday that you were posting that you’d had him.
Whitney @ To Live & Diet in L.A. 03.04.2014
My man would DEFINITELY be pleased if I made this :) He loved your bruschetta chicken and this looks like another winner. Thanks for sharing!
Kelly - LEFT SIDE OF THE TABLE 03.04.2014
Umm yes that looks super easy girl! Flavors are super simple and who doesn’t love a one pot meal?! Definitely going to try this. I’m a fan of using half and half instead of cream too! Cream can make a sauce like this too thick. Thanks for sharing! Happy FAT Tuesday :)
Rachel @ My Urban Oven 03.04.2014
Looks delicious!! Mushrooms and spinach have been a staple in our house this winter. We can’t get enough of them :) Hope you have a few cute photos in there!!
Alexandra Aimee 03.03.2014
This looks scrumptious! Can’t wait to try it!
— Alex at Cashmere Kangaroo
szkent 03.03.2014
Ok this is a bizarre question. In your photo is that served on a salad plate or a standard sized dinner plate?
Kristin 03.04.2014
It’s a salad plate!
Laurel 03.03.2014
This dish looks wonderful but I have to admit, I cringe a little at the “man-pleasing” business. I totally get wanting to prepare something that your partner loves but I like your original name of this dish (Ultimate Smothered Chicken) better. Just one woman’s opinion! :)
Pam 03.03.2014
I agree. Feels like a tiny time travel to the 50’s where your only value lies within keeping your husband happy. Ugh.
cheri 03.03.2014
What a great dinner, love this combination!