Name-Your-Own Chicken

 

We tried something new tonight.  It was consumed without complaint by all, from youngest to oldest at the table.  (To be fair, the oldest only complained one time in our marriage, and, well, I don't see that happening again. . . .) :o)

I have found that my pickier two middle children are more apt to try new things when they help in the prep work and they were more than happy to help with this one.  Nathan got to pound the chicken with the meat tenderizer and Teresa got to crush the crackers (both done in gallon size Ziploc bags--NO mess!)

I am calling this Name-Your-Own Chicken because I took it out of the Sept. 2012 Ladies' Home Journal last fall, probably--appropriately--sometime around September

In the magazine it is called "Mrs. Potter's Chicken."  The person renamed it in honor of the woman who shared the recipe with her.  Previously, Mrs. Potter named it "Marie Murphy's Chicken" in honor of her friend.

So, call it what you want, but I do suggest you try it!

 

1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp black pepper

Chicken breasts to fill 9x13 pan (sliced in half, if necessary, and pounded to about 1/4 inch thick)

2 T butter, melted

 

Heat oven to 425. Spray pan with cooking spray and set aside.  Combine cracker crumbs, Parmesan, and pepper in a shallow dish; set aside.  Pound each chicken piece to about 1/4 inch thick.  Coat chicken in melted butter (I use my glass pie plates for these sorts of things), and then dredge in cracker mixture, pressing crumbs firmly onto each piece.  Lay chicken in pan in a single layer.  Sprinkle any excess coating over the top.  Bake for 15 minutes or until golden and cooked through.