Oven-Baked Parmesan Chicken

I think Grandma concocted this recipe when she had to use up what she had in the fridge. Chicken Cordon Bleu sounded good but there was no Swiss cheese or ham. What's a creative cook to do? Use what you have and call the dish something else. Then later on work on it, perfect it, and call it your own. That's the 411 on this one.

One other plus for improvising a recipe is that it helps you stay within your budget. Very seldom did Grandma buy expensive cuts of meat except for special occasions. Neither would she purchase unusual and costly ingredients that had limited use in recipes. So she had some mozzarella cheese left over after making a casserole dish and some bacon left over from breakfast. That became her ham and cheese for "Chicken Cordon Bleu," which was then officially renamed "Oven-Baked Parmesan Chicken." The result? Amazing. Keeper factor from 1-10? 15.

Don't be afraid to improvise. Don't be afraid to try complementary ingredients in a dish. Bacon can be substituted for ham. Different cheeses can work in place of one another too. I think one key to being a good cook is fearlessness. Let's be fearless in the kitchen, people!

Oven-Baked Parmesan Chicken

4-5 boneless skinless breasts

4 slices cooked bacon, halved

4 slices mozzarella cheese

1 tablespoon dried basil

salt and pepper

dried parsley (or real parsley, finely minced)

Dipping mixture:

2 eggs, lightly beaten

Crumb coating (process in food processor to crumbs):

3-4 slices of Italian or French bread

1/4 cup Parmesan & Romano blend cheese

1 tsp garlic powder or 2 cloves of garlic

Preheat oven to 400F. Put aluminum foil in bottom of baking dish and spray with canola or olive oil spray.

Pound chicken breasts, sprinkle one side with basil, top with cheese and bacon, and season with salt and pepper. Roll up and hold with toothpick (be sure to remove these after cooking).

Dip chicken roll in egg and then cover with crumb coating, pressing to coat thoroughly. Place in baking dish and sprinkle with parsley.  Bake 25-30 minutes until golden brown and chicken is fully cooked.