Food & Drink | By Ilona Saari

ILONA’S HAM & CHEESE CHICKEN

with Lemony Broccoli

So, there I was ready to plan the evening supper and there was nothing in the refrigerator. Well, “nothing” is relative, there was some Swiss cheese, sliced ham for sandwiches, a little bit of spinach and other veggies, some nuts and jellies, mustard and ketchup, mayo, but nothing to inspire an evening meal. I checked the pantry. Cold cereal. Panko. Crackers. Some pasta (not in the mood for pasta). Some canned goods. Tuna. Jarred marinara sauce. Boring. I could go to the supermarket, but I was working on my new book and didn’t feel like it. I’d think of something.

And I did. Seeing the marinara sauce spurred my taste buds, but not for spaghetti. I opened the freezer. Yay! Some frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breasts still there from Costco. I’ll make chicken parm and a veggie side. Richard loves chicken parm and he’s been so wrapped up in rehearsals (he’s directing a play to open June 22nd at the Ojai Art Center Theater where he’s the Artistic Director), he’s been too busy to cook and y’all know I’m not a bad cook, but he’s the chef in the family… but I digress.

When the breast had thawed, it was time to start supper. I checked the refrigerator again and found some chilled chardonnay and poured a glass while I ferreted behind a bottle of teriyaki, sparkling water, diet coke, a dozen eggs, two bags of ground coffee, those jams, two frosted beer mugs (no beer) and a box of baking soda. No parm. Well, there was some store-bought parmesan (& romano), but no mozzarella. I have no idea why they call chicken parmesan, chicken parmesan, when it’s made with mozzarella, but I digress again.

BUT, there right in front of me was that store bought parm/romano and that Swiss and that ham! I wanted a supper with melty cheese, so the Swiss would just have to do…. and there’s that sliced ham… the spinach! Egg! Panko in the pantry! A figurative light bulb went off over my head.

Ingredients:

One large boneless, skinless chicken breast (2 if they’re small)
2 Swiss cheese slices
2 Ham slices
Fresh uncooked spinach leaves
Extra Virgin olive oil (or regular olive oil)
A sprig of rosemary
Panko (or bread crumbs)

Directions:

I preheated the oven at 350 degrees. I placed the breast between two sheets of wax paper and pounded the life out of it, then swooshed it around in the beaten egg. Both tasks are a great way to get rid of aggression… the wine helps.

I added some chopped fresh rosemary, parmesan & romano cheese, salt and pepper to the Panko,

then dredged the breast in the mixture.

I browned the breast in extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan

Then placed it in a Pyrex dish and covered the breast with the spinach leaves, ham slices, and Swiss cheese. Spinkled some EVOO on top and popped it in the oven for about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your oven and how melty you want the cheese.