Chicken Parm - the Healthy Way!

So this Sunday I hosted the first official family dinner of the Spring.  It's been awhile, as I was feeling a little taken advantage of.  All I ask of my friends is that they bring a bottle of wine (if you bring chardonnay you will lose all future invites), and I cook them a gourmet meal.  Quite a few people had been forgetting their wine, or letting me know they would bring it the next week, and they wouldn't bring it.

After much thought, I decided to bring dinner back.  We had chicken parm with fettucini, home made red sauce, salad, and bread.

Healthy Chicken Parm - serves 6
1 1/2 Cups Panko Bread Crumbs
1/2  Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
1/4  tsp Dried Organo
1/4  tsp Dried Basil
2 Eggs
3 Chicken Breasts, cut in half
Salt and Pepper
Mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350.  In one bowl, mix salt, pepper, bread crumbs, oregano, basil, and parmesan cheese. In another bowl, beat the eggs.  Separate the chicken breasts to be in six pieces.  Pound out the chicken breast until they are flat, and dip in the egg.  Dip the chicken into the bread crumb mixture until the sides are coated and lay on a cookie sheet.

Bake the chicken for 18 minutes at 350.  Switch the oven to a low broil and place a thin slice of mozzarella on top.  Broil for 4 more minutes, and serve.

For a lower cholesterol version, use egg whites instead of full eggs.

Red Sauce
1 Large Can of Diced Tomatoes
Handful of Fresh Basil
1/4 Cup Diced Onion
1 Roasted Red Pepper, Diced
3 Garlic Cloves, Diced
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
3 TBSP Balsamic Vinegar
Other Italian Spices to Taste

In a large saute pan, spray olive oil with your mister.  Heat burner at medium low and add onions and cook until slightly tender.  Add roasted red pepper and minced garlic cloves.  Cook another minute, and add the tomatoes.  Cook, stirring frequently on low about 6 minutes.  Add basil, salt and pepper, and other Italian seasonings based on your preferences.  Once mixed, add balsamic vinegar, if you are lucky enough to live near an Oil & Vinegar shop, buy the tomato flavored balsamic.  It will change your pasta sauce in a revolutionary way!

Meanwhile, cook your pasta until al dente, making sure to add salt to your water before cooking.  Mix with the red sauce, serve, and add the chicken parm on top!

Next up, Easter dinner!