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Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Bacon Wrapped CHICKEN CALZONE (again)

Sigh, a few weeks ago, one of my favorite bloggers, Joanne from EATS WELL WITH OTHERS, ran a quick little quiz we all can relate to (click HERE for her original post)...
  • Question 1. How often would you say that you decide to cook something (or the converse - decide not to cook something) based on its blogworthiness?
  • Question 2. How often do you change a recipe just so it can be entered into a blog event and/or to make it just unique enough that it is blogworthy?
  • Question 3. When asked what you are cooking for the week, how often do those you are telling back away slowly while obviously trying to not make any sudden movements?
I have a new question to ask Joanne and my fellow blogger buddies...

Have you ever made a meal two nights in a row because your camera (or sadly, the camera operator) accidentally erased the photos of a blogworthy meal?

Fortunately, these were so good, that I didn't mind at all making and EATING these little beauties a second time...

here's what I did...

Assemble the ingredients...

Boneless/skinless Chicken Breasts
2 slices of bacon per breast
4 thinly sliced slices of Pepperoni per breast
2 TBS of Brie Cheese per breast
1 TBS of Stilton Blue Cheese per breast

Not bragging, just facts... $1.19 a pound!!!

Split the Chicken breast without slicing completely through. You want to make a pocket for the calzone stuffing...

Take the Blue Cheese, and the Brei, and wrap with several slices of pepperoni. Then stuff deep into the pocket of the chicken...

Wrap the chicken with the bacon slices and secure. I am lucky enough to own some stretchy cooking bands.


Of all the "gadgets" that I love to use, these reusable, dishwasher safe, heat resistant to 500 degrees, bands are my favorite. Amazon.com sells them for as little as $5



If Santa left these out of your stocking, reward yourself...

Baring that, secure with toothpicks so the bacon does not come lose during the cooking process

And the cooking process is to fry them first in about 1/2 inch of canola oil. Fry just til they are slightly browned.

And then bake at 350 degrees in a pre-heated oven for JUST 10 MINUTES... Please, do not over cook your chicken. It dries out and loses a lot of taste. Check with an instant read meat thermometer for an internal temperature of 170 degrees.

And listen as everyone says --- OHHHH, AHHHH!

This was REALLY REALLY good. Much faster and easier to make than It sounds (prep time, maybe 15 minutes and cooking time another 20) The mix of flavors is terrific!

I plated this with some home made beer battered onion rings (stay tuned for THAT!!!)


I suffered through this meal two nights in a row...

The things I have to do, just to entertain my 6 readers.
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22 comments:

  1. JoanneDecember 30, 2009 at 8:49 AM

    Dude, you have WAY more than six readers.

    So I've never had to remake a dish, but that is only because I am cooking for one and thus eat leftovers most nights. Meaning if I lose pictures from the first night, I usually have three more chances to get more. Convenient.

    These look fantastic, though. so if I were you I would HAPPY to eat them probably six or seven nights. I love those ties, what a great idea!

    And thanks so much for the shout out! You are too sweet, really.

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  2. CathyDecember 30, 2009 at 9:07 AM

    I got those cooking bands last year - best invention ever for the girl who can't tie knots ;)

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  3. Sherri MurphyDecember 30, 2009 at 9:20 AM

    These look marvelous! I'm thrilled you made them again.

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  4. Lea AnnDecember 30, 2009 at 9:20 AM

    Upon your recommendation I went and bought those cooking bands yesterday. Now I just need to use them. I've never made something two night in a row, if the pics don't turn out, I just saw "screw" it and vow to make it another time. This chicken looks sinfully wonderful!!! I've got to make this. Thanks for suffering for us and the post. :-)

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  5. KatDecember 30, 2009 at 9:22 AM

    Mouth is watering. Yumm
    Happy New Year to you and your family!

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  6. Heather S-GDecember 30, 2009 at 9:37 AM

    Yeah, those look pretty amazing! All that ooey, gooey cheese and bacon wrapped goodness...feelin' like Homer Simpson over here! And I've been contemplating getting some of those bands....

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  7. Chats the Comfy CookDecember 30, 2009 at 9:55 AM

    As one of your six readers, I thank you for what you do for us.

    I want brussel sprouts though. You hear that, brussel sprouts. They follow you wherever you go.

    I am waiting for the onion rings. They sound fabulous.

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  8. buffalodickDecember 30, 2009 at 10:03 AM

    Those look good! I've got about a mile of Butcher's twine I have to use up...

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  9. BobDecember 30, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    Ha! I've totally done that. I've also made something at night that turned out really well and remade it the next day when I had good lighting.

    The stuffed chicken looks awesome, but I can't wait for the beer battered onion rings!

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  10. Emily@MarvelousRecipes.netDecember 30, 2009 at 12:26 PM

    Those look marvelous! Hubby would definitely love me for making those! Happy New Year to you and your wife!

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  11. UnknownDecember 30, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    I've never seen those bands before...must geet some now. Chicken and bacon...and cheese...oh my...oh yum!

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  12. pamDecember 30, 2009 at 2:26 PM

    First I'm getting those bands, and then I'm making this chicken!

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  13. Donna-FFWDecember 30, 2009 at 2:35 PM

    I must go buy these for myself. I so can use them as I stink at securing things with toothpicks.. thanks for the tip. Checken looks great.

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  14. Katy ~December 30, 2009 at 3:17 PM

    That is just wrong...showing me the price you paid for the chicken. Add about $2 to the price and you have our sales price. That's it. I'm moving to Kansas.

    Until then, your chicken looks positively deeeee-lish. I am going to have to make it. With my $2.99 per pound on sale chicken.

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  15. tamilynDecember 30, 2009 at 5:04 PM

    I have those bands too and love them.

    I would leave out the pepperoni only because my delicate constitution can't process it.

    You know you have more than six readers :)

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  16. CatherineDecember 30, 2009 at 7:21 PM

    Sounds real good!
    Have a Happy blessed New Year!

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  17. MarthaDecember 30, 2009 at 7:25 PM

    I've made a dish twice in a row, in fact it was a bacon wrapped chicken dish but I made it twice because the kids begged to have it again the next night. If it's a photo issue I usual just wait to post it until the next time I make a dish.

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  18. theUngourmetDecember 30, 2009 at 7:58 PM

    I laughed when I read your addition to the list. I haven't done this yet but I'm sure the day will come! :D

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  19. Lyndas recipe boxDecember 30, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    Oooooo, these look so cheesy and good! Of course, the bacon is a definte asset too! Glad that you made them again just for us. :)

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  20. Ju (The Little Teochew)December 31, 2009 at 3:12 AM

    They DO look amazing! Yum yum. I'll have these 2 nights in a row any time. I am sure your "way-more-than-6" readers agree with me!!! Wishing you and your family a fabulous 2010 filled with lots of laughter and joy!!

    Ju

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  21. angelinthekitchenDecember 31, 2009 at 10:12 AM

    You mentioned the stuffed chicken "calzone" idea on my blog, and it's great to see the idea at work. Plus, everything is wrapped with bacon. Sigh ...

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  22. ChrisDecember 31, 2009 at 11:17 AM

    When you first said bacon wrapped calzone, I pictured it with dough and greasy bacon making it soggy and just ewwww.

    It works much better the way you did it, lol.

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