Spinach-Cream Cheese Dijon Chicken AND Lemon Spinach Tomato Orzo

This recipe is from my daughter Anne who came home last weekend and prepared us this feast! It has gone on our short list, and takes just 25 minutes start to finish (unless you double it).

INGREDIENTS
For the Chicken
8 - 10 chicken tenderloins (we use the flash frozen ones, thawed. If you have a 75-lb-dog like our daughter does, thaw on top of fridge)
A few handfuls of fresh spinach
1 cup whipped cream cheese at room temp
Salt
Pepper
Grey Poupon Mustard
Toothpicks

For the Orzo
1.5 - 2 cups uncooked Orzo pasta
4-6 TBSP butter, to taste
1 full lemon juiced (do not use prepared juice, it makes a difference)
1 - 2 diced tomatoes
1 cup shredded Parmesan Cheese
A few handfuls of fresh spinach
Salt
Pepper

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat broiler to high. Move rack about 6" from top. Also put medium pot of water on high to boil for Orzo.

Cut tenderloins in half as if you are butterflying them. (8 tenderloins will make 16 pieces) Salt and pepper to taste.

Lay cut tenderloins on foil wrapped cookie sheets. Spread each with as much cream cheese as you like. Press 6-8 spinach leaves onto the cream cheese side of the tenderloins.

Roll up the tenderloins starting with the fat end, rolling toward skinny end and secure with a toothpick. Dollop each rolled tenderloin with Grey Poupon to taste. The rolled up chickens should be about 2" apart.

Broil about 8 - 10 minutes til tops are browned and chicken cooked all the way through. (Cut into one piece before removing from oven to be sure it is not pink)

Add Orzo to boiling water with 1 tsp salt.

While pasta is cooking, dice tomatoes.

When Orzo is cooked, drain and return to pot. Add butter, Parmesan and tomatoes and stir until cheese and butter are melted. Add salt and pepper and fresh squeezed lemon, mix.

Serve with chicken and enjoy! Big eaters will enjoy 6 tenderloins so plan accordingly.

Spot gave this 4 fat paws and sat under her big sister's chair the entire dinner

Life Changing Gravy (and Chicken)

Last night in honor of our son's birthday, I made our favorite new creation: Life Changing Gravy...And Chicken. Let me tell you how proud I am to have created this one! Until a month ago, I had never, ever, ever cooked a whole chicken. (I have also never had a soda, but that is another story.) Wow has the world ever opened up to me! I took some ideas from friends and created a monster, in a chickeny good way.


Prep Time: 20 +Min.
Marinade Time: 24 hours
Cook Time: 90 min.
Serves 6


GRAVY:
Using medium saucepan on medium heat, whisk 3 TBSP Unsalted butter with 1-2 TBSP Wondra til thick. Sprinkle in more Wondra as needed. Let boil briefly, then slowly add ¾ cup white wine. Whisk til smooth. Then slowly add 1 ¼ - 1 ½ cups heavy cream. Bring to boil. Add 2 TBSP fresh parsley and enough Kitchen Bouquet to turn mixture a light tan. Kosher salt and ground pepper to taste. Boil briefly again, then cover and simmer til thickened… about 15 minutes.


SERVE WITH WHITE RICE MADE WITH CHICKEN BROTH AND THIS CHICKEN:
Marinate 1 whole chicken (minus guts) in a Ziploc with 1/3 bottle Newman’s Olive Oil and Vinegar salad dressing, turning several times in a 24-hour period.

Place chicken in small roasting pan, stuff with one sliced lemon. Insert enough Boursin Cheese and garlic mix between skin and body – approx. 6 TBSP. Cover with sprinkled Kosher salt, ground pepper and Paprika individually applied. Then drizzle generously with refrigerated Lemon juice. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley. Tent and bake at 380 for one hour. Uncover, take temp, and cook uncovered the rest of the time until done, when instant thermometer reads 170.


COOKING ORDER:
• Chicken in and cooking 60 minutes
• Prep gravy after 1 hour
• Start gravy after 1:20
• Start rice at same time
• Everything is done after @90 minutes


DELICOUS, and leftovers remain moist. We also add a green veggie and/or salad. With our yummy rice, this creamy wonder is our newest hit. For Christmas we usually repeat our Thanksgiving feast, but this year we are going to reprise this meal.


Spot gives this a 4 paw rating.